MODIFIED SCHEME BASED ON SEMI-ANALYTIC APPROACH FOR COMPUTING NON-PROBABILISTIC RELIABILITY INDEX

A new computation scheme proposed to tackle commensurate problems is devel- oped by modifying the semi-analytic approach for minimizing computational complexity. Using the proposed scheme, the limit state equations, usually referred to as the failure surface, are obtained from transformation of an interval variable to a normalized one. In order to minimize the computational cost, two algorithms for optimizing the calculation steps have been proposed. The monotonicity of the objective function can be determined from narrowing the scope of interval variables in normalized infinite space by incorporating the algorithms into the computational scheme. Two examples are used to illustrate the operation and computational efficiency of the approach. The results of these examples show that the proposed algorithms can greatly reduce the computation complexity without sacrificing the computational accuracy. The advantage of the proposed scheme can be even more efficient for analyzing sophistic structures.     

Accurate and approximate integrations of Drucker–Prager plasticity with linear isotropic and kinematic hardening

Up to now, some explicit approximate integration schemes based on exponential maps, for non-hardening material obeying Drucker–Prager’s criterion, have been presented. Two new exponential-based approximate formulations, for associative Drucker–Prager plasticity are developed in this article. Both are consistent and explicit algorithms. The linear isotropic and Prager’s kinematic hardening behavior are assumed. Furthermore, an accurate solution for the constitutive equations is derived. The accuracies of the suggested approximate algorithms are assessed by creating related iso-error maps. In addition, by using piecewise strain load histories, and calculating computation times, the robustness and efficiency of the formulations are demonstrated.     

Kinematic manifestations of localisation phenomena in steels by digital image correlation

The aim of this paper is to show that recent advances made in the field of speckle image processing give valuable information useful in understanding and modelling of localisation phenomena. The potentialities of the proposed imaging method are illustrated by examples extracted from tensile tests performed on steel specimens. Having introduced the underlying motivations of this experimental work, this paper briefly focuses on the image processing technique and its reliability. Then, it describes the characteristics of the strain field within and outside of a propagating Lüders band. The properties of strain states associated with diffuse and localised necking are also investigated. The catalyst role of possible geometrical defects is pointed out. Finally, a method is proposed to construct, despite localisation, a local stress–strain correspondence.     

Numerical solutions of coupled Burgers' equation

Two new algorithms based on cubic spline function technique are proposed for solving Burgers' equation in one space variable and coupled Burgers' equation in two space variables. The algorithms have been analysed for their stability and convergence. Two test examples have been solved for illustrating the merits of the proposed numerical method. The method can be extended for solving non-linear problems arising in mechanics and other areas.     

传热结构的多目标拓扑优化设计研究

深入分析了传热结构多目标拓扑优化设计中的几个关键问题。提出了基于结构柔度最小化和结构散热弱度最小化的多目标拓扑优化设计方法,建立了传热结构的多目标拓扑优化设计模型,推导了传热结构多目标拓扑优化中用于迭代分析求解的优化准则算法和敏度分析方程。通过数值计算验证了理论和算法的有效性。     

A numerical method for the computation of bifurcation points in fluid mechanics

Two original algorithms are proposed for the computation of bifurcation points in fluid mechanics. These algorithms consist of finding the zero values of a specific indicator. To compute this indicator a perturbation method is used which leads to an analytical expression of this indicator. Two kinds of instability are considered: stationary and Hopf bifurcations. To prove the efficiency and advantages of such numerical methods several numerical tests are discussed.     

A new variable-order singular boundary element for calculating stress intensity factors in three-dimensional elasticity problems

A new three-dimensional variable-order singular boundary element has been constructed for stress analysis of three-dimensional interface cracks and internal material junctions. The singular fields in the vicinity of crack front or junction have been accurately represented by the singular elements by taking account the variable order of singularities and the angular profiles of field variables. Both the singular stress fields and displacement fields are independently formulated by the element’s shape functions. Different kinds of displacement formulations are investigated. The formulation combining singular and linear terms is found to be the most accurate one. The mixed-mode stress intensity factors are treated as nodal unknowns. The variation of stress intensity factors along the line of singularity can be obtained directly from the final system of equations and thus no post processing, such as three-dimensional J-integral or domain integral, is necessary. Numerical examples involving stress singularity, such as penny-shaped cracks in homogeneous and dissimilar material interface, plates with through-thickness cracks, and a dissimilar inclusion, are investigated. The analysis results are in good agreement with those reported in the literature.     

多裂纹扩展的数值流形法

数值流形法的求解体系建立在两套覆盖(包括数学覆盖和物理覆盖) 和接触环路的基础之上,实现了对连续和非连续问题的统一求解. 在处理裂纹问题时,数学覆盖无需与裂纹重合,方便岩体破坏过程的模拟. 通过在裂纹尖端影响区域内的物理片上增加用于模拟应力奇异性的增强位移函数,发展了扩展的数值流形法. 在此基础上,提出一种多裂纹扩展的控制算法,并给出了裂纹扩展过程中材料体的整体响应. 针对典型的线弹性断裂力学问题, 给出的数值算例表明所建议的方法是正确有效的.      

Damage Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Structures Using Fractal Analysis of Residual Crack Patterns

Currently, assessing the performance and safety of reinforced concrete structures relies on routine-based visual inspection (VI). Cracks width measurements are commonly used as a convenient indicator of damage; however other factors, such as distribution and pattern of the cracks should be considered equally important in measuring the extent of damage present in the structure. As a result, condition assessed by VI is subjective in nature and depends on the experience, knowledge, expertise, and judgment of the inspector carrying out the assessment. A new approach based on the fractal analysis of residual crack patterns is proposed in this paper to assess the structural integrity of reinforced concrete elements. A new damage index is presented to quantitatively perform a damage classification. The methodology is validated through experimental studies on two large-scale reinforced concrete shear walls subjected to a displacement controlled reversed cyclic loading. Damage grades are also identified based on width of cracks and proposed damage index (DI). The results demonstrate a more accurate estimation of damage grades using DI. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the DI can estimate the relative stiffness loss of the specimens with acceptable accuracy.     

A continuous-discontinuous cellular automaton method for cracks growth and coalescence in brittle material简

A method of continuous-discontinuous cellular automaton for modeling the growth and coalescence of multiple cracks in brittle material is presented. The method uses the level set to track arbitrary discontinuities, and calculation grids are independent of the discontinuities and no remeshing are required with the crack growing. Based on Grif- fith fracture theory and Mohr-Coulumb criterion, a mixed fracture criterion for multiple cracks growth in brittle mate- rial is proposed. The method treats the junction and coales- cence of multiple cracks, and junction criterion and coales- cence criterion for brittle material are given, too. Besides, in order to overcome the tracking error in the level set ap- proximation for crack junction and coalescence, a dichotomy searching algorithm is proposed. Introduced the above the- ories into continuous-discontinuous cellular automaton, the present method can be applied to solving multiple crack growth in brittle material, and only cell stiffness is needed and no assembled global stiffness is needed. Some numerical examples are given to shown that the present method is efficient and accurate for crack junction, coalescence and percolation problems.     

Dynamic stress intensity factors of multiple cracks in a functionally graded orthotropic half-plane

In the present paper dynamic stress intensity factor and strain energy density factor of multiple cracks in the functionally graded orthotropic half-plane under time-harmonic loading are investigated. By utilizing the Fourier transformation technique the stress fields are obtained for a functionally graded orthotropic half-plane containing a Volterra screw dislocation. The variations of the material properties are assumed to be exponential forms which the equilibrium has an analytical solution. The dislocation solution is utilized to formulate integral equation for the half-plane weakened by multiple smooth cracks under anti-plane deformation. The integral equations are of Cauchy singular type at the location of dislocation which are solved numerically to obtain the dislocation density on the faces of the cracks. The dislocation densities are employed to determined stress intensity factor and strain energy density factors (SEDFs) for multiple smooth cracks under anti-plane deformation. Numerical examples are provided to show the effects of material properties and the crack configuration on the dynamic stress intensity factors and SEDFs of the functionally graded orthotropic half-plane with multiple curved cracks.     

Thermoelastic analysis of multiple defects with the extended finite element method

In this paper, the extended finite element method (XFEM) is adopted to analyze the interaction between a sin-gle macroscopic inclusion and a single macroscopic crack as well as that between multiple macroscopic or micro-scopic defects under thermal/mechanical load. The effects of different shapes of multiple inclusions on the material thermomechanical response are investigated, and the level set method is coupled with XFEM to analyze the interaction of multiple defects. Further, the discretized extended finite element approximations in relation to thermoelastic prob-lems of multiple defects under displacement or temperature field are given. Also, the interfaces of cracks or materials are represented by level set functions, which allow the mesh assignment not to conform to crack or material interfaces. Moreover, stress intensity factors of cracks are obtained by the interaction integral method or the M-integral method, and the stress/strain/stiffness fields are simulated in the case of multiple cracks or multiple inclusions. Finally, some numer-ical examples are provided to demonstrate the accuracy of our proposed method.     

Thermomechanical modelling of a NiTi SMA sample submitted to displacement-controlled tensile test

Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) undergo an austenite–martensite solid–solid phase transformation which confers its pseudo-elastic and shape memory behaviours. Phase transformation can be induced either by stress or temperature changes. That indicates a strong thermo-mechanical coupling. Tensile test is one of the most popular mechanical test, allowing an easy observation of this coupling: transformation bands appear and enlarge giving rise to a large amount of heat and strain localisation. We demonstrate that the number of transformation bands is strongly associated with the strain rate. Recent progress in full field measurement techniques have provided accurate observations and consequently a better understanding of strain and heat generation and diffusion in SMAs. These experiments bring us to suggest the creation of a new one-dimensional thermomechanical modelling of the pseudo-elastic behaviour. It is used to simulate the heat rise, strain localisation and thermal evolution of the NiTi SMA sample submitted to tensile loading.     

A contact force model in the dynamic analysis of contactable cracks

In this paper a finite element method in the time domain is proposed to analyze the dynamic response of contactable cracks. By this method, the contact normal stress caused by impact or contact of the crack faces can be directly obtained and then the motion of the model containing the contactable cracks can be calculated, and the processes of contact, slip and separation of the crack faces can also be correctly determined and simulated. The method proposed can be used to study the scattering problems of an elastic wave caused by the crack and the dynamic extension problems of the crack arising from impact or cyclic loading. Numerical examples indicate that the method is efficient and accurate enough. It is also shown that the effect of dynamic contact of crack faces on the motion of itself and the area near the crack is significant by comparing the results with the contact considered and neglected.     

Damping associated with porosity and crack in solids

When a material is subjected to alternating stresses, there are temperature fluctuations indicative of damping. Temperature effects give rise to entropy production. An analysis is made to obtain the entropy produced for a vibration cycle. This corresponds to the reciprocity of temperature rise and strain yielded that alter the material damping factor (MDF) as a function of shape and magnitude of material porosity or existing cracks. A homogeneous, isotropic, elastic bar is considered. It consists of uniformly distributed cavities or a single-edge crack subjected to alternating axial stresses. Dynamic characteristics of the porous or cracked medium are determined to evaluate the damping factor of the bar and/or of the material. The experimental data correlate well with the analytical results. The calculated damping factor in this work can be used as an indicator of structural integrity.     

Distributed adaptive tracking backstepping control in networked nonidentical Lagrange systems

In this paper, the problem of adaptive tracking control in networked nonidentical Lagrange systems is investigated via backstepping schemes. Two distributed tracking control algorithms are designed for directed network topology graph with a spanning tree, where both the leader’s position and its velocity are assumed to be varying. Some generic criteria for adaptive tracking control algorithms with uncertain external disturbance and parametric uncertainties are presented. It is shown that the proposed algorithms only require a subset of the followers access to leader’s position. Furthermore, the adaptive control algorithm for uncertain external disturbance systems is robust, and it can avoid online measurement for neighbors’ velocities and efficiently eliminate the chattering during tracking. The results show that all followers can track the leader’s dynamics. Two examples and their simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.     

Rock burst of deep circular tunnels surrounded by weakened rock mass with cracks

Rock masses containing pre-existing cracks are considered as non-homogeneous geomaterials. During excavation of tunnels, pre-existing cracks may nucleate, grow and propagate through rock matrix, then secondary cracks may appear. The stress concentration at the tips of secondary cracks is comparatively large, which may lead to the unstable growth and coalescence of secondary cracks, and consequently the occurrence of fractured zones. For brittle rocks, the dissipative energy of slip and growth of pre-existing cracks and secondary crack growth is small, but the elastic strain energy storing in rock masses may be larger than the dissipative energy of slip and growth of pre-existing macrocracks and secondary crack growth. The sudden release of the residual elastic strain energy may lead to rock burst in crack-weakened rock masses. Based on this understanding, the criteria of rock burst in crack-weakened rock masses are established. The influences of the in situ stresses, micromechanical parameters and physico-mechanical parameters on the distribution of rock burst zones and area of rock burst zones are investigated in detail.     

Interaction of cracks with bonds between their faces in an isotropic medium reinforced by a regular system of stringers

A problem of an elastic isotropic medium with a system of foreign (transverse with respect to crack alignment) rectilinear inclusions is considered. The medium is assumed to be attenuated by a periodic system of rectilinear cracks with zones where the crack faces interact with each other. These zones are assumed to be adjacent to the crack tips, and their sizes can be commensurable with the crack size. Interaction between the crack faces in the tip zone is modeled by introducing bonds (adhesion forces) between the cracks with a specified strain diagram. The boundary-value problem of the equilibrium of a periodic system of cracks with bonds between their faces under the action of external tensile loads and forces in the bonds is reduced to a nonlinear singular integrodifferential equation with a kernel of the Cauchy kernel type. The condition of critical equilibrium of the cracks with the tip zones is formulated with allowance for the criterion of critical tension of the bonds. A case of a stress state of the medium containing zones where the crack faces interact with each other is considered.