Large-deflection and postbuckling of beam-columns with non-linear semi-rigid connections including shear and axial effects

The non-linear large deflection-small strain analysis and post-buckling behavior of an out-of-plumb Timoshenko beam-column of symmetrical cross section subjected to end loads (forces and moments) with non-linear bending connections at both ends, and its top end partially restrained against transverse and longitudinal translations are developed in a classical manner. A set of non-linear equations based on the “modified shear equation” that includes the effects of (1) shear deformation and the shear component of the applied axial forces; and (2) shortening of the beam-column due to both axial forces and “bowing” are presented. The proposed method and corresponding equations can be used in the large deflection-small strain analysis of Timoshenko beam-columns with non-linear bending connections, as well as lateral and longitudinal non-linear restraints at the top end. This paper is an extension of previous work presented by the senior author on the large deflection and post-buckling behavior of Timoshenko beam-columns with linear elastic semi-rigid connections and linear elastic lateral bracing. Three comprehensive examples are included that show the effectiveness of the proposed method and corresponding equations. Results obtained in the three examples are verified against analytical solutions available in the technical literature and against results from models using the FEM program ABAQUS.     

Stochastic non-linear response of a flexible rotor with local non-linearities

The effects of uncertainties on the non-linear dynamics response remain misunderstood and most of the classical stochastic methods used in the linear case fail to deal with a non-linear problem. So we propose to take into account of uncertainties into non-linear models, by coupling the Harmonic Balance Method (HBM) and the Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE). The proposed method called the Stochastic Harmonic Balance Method (Stochastic-HBM) is based on a new formulation of the non-linear dynamic problem in which not only the approximated non-linear responses but also the non-linear forces and the excitation pulsation are considered as stochastic parameters. Expansions on the PCE basis are performed by passing via an Alternate Frequency Time method with Probabilistic Collocation (AFTPC) for estimating the stochastic non-linear forces in the stochastic domain and the frequency domain. In the present paper, the Stochastic Harmonic Balance Method (Stochastic-HBM) that is applied to a flexible non-linear rotor system, with random parameters modeled as random fields, is presented. The Stochastic-HBM combined with an Alternate Frequency-Time method with Probabilistic Collocation (AFTPC) allows us to solve dynamical problems with non-regular non-linearities in presence of uncertainties. In this study, the procedure is developed for the estimation of stochastic non-linear responses of the rotor system with different regular and non-regular non-linearities. The finite element rotor system is composed of a shaft with two disks and two flexible bearing supports where the non-linearities are due to a radial clearance or a cubic stiffness. A numerical analysis is performed to analyze the effect of uncertainties on the non-linear behavior of this rotor system by using the Stochastic-HBM. Furthermore, the results are compared with those obtained by applying a classical Monte-Carlo simulation to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology.     

Large free vibrations of a beam carrying a moving mass

The focus of this work is to develop a technique to obtain numerical solution over a long range of time for non-linear multi-body dynamic systems undergoing large amplitude motion. The system considered is an idealization of an important class of problems characterized by non-linear interaction between continuously distributed mass and stiffness and lumped mass and stiffness. This characteristic results in some distinctive features in the system response and also poses significant challenges in obtaining a solution.

In this paper, equations of motion are developed for large amplitude motion of a beam carrying a moving spring–mass. The equations of motion are solved using a new approach that uses average acceleration method to reduce non-linear ordinary differential equations to non-linear algebraic equations. The resulting non-linear algebraic equations are solved using an iterative method developed in this paper. Dynamics of the system is investigated using a time-frequency analysis technique.     

A computationally efficient non-linear beam model

Aerospace structures with large aspect ratio, such as airplane wings, rotorcraft blades, wind turbine blades, and jet engine fan and compressor blades, are particularly susceptible to aeroelastic phenomena. Finite element analysis provides an effective and generalized method to model these structures; however, it is computationally expensive. Fortunately, the large aspect ratio of these structures is exploitable as these potential aeroelastically unstable structures can be modeled as cantilevered beams, drastically reducing computational time.In this paper, the non-linear equations of motion are derived for an inextensional, non-uniform cantilevered beam with a straight elastic axis. Along the elastic axis, the cross-sectional center of mass can be offset in both dimensions, and the principal bending and centroidal axes can each be rotated uniquely. The Galerkin method is used, permitting arbitrary and abrupt variations along the length that require no knowledge of the spatial derivatives of the beam properties. Additionally, these equations consistently retain all third-order non-linearities that account for flexural-flexural-torsional coupling and extend the validity of the equations for large deformations.Furthermore, linearly independent shape functions are substituted into these equations, providing an efficient method to determine the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the beam and to solve for time-varying deformation.This method is validated using finite element analysis and is extended to swept wings. Finally, the importance of retaining cubic terms, in addition to quadratic terms, for non-linear analysis is demonstrated for several examples.     

A finite-volume ELLAM for non-linear flux convection-diffusion problems

In this paper, a modified finite-volume Eulerian-Lagrangian localized adjoint method (FVELLAM) extended for convection-diffusion problems with a non-linear flux function is introduced. Tracking schemes are discussed using viscous Burgers’ equation. It is shown that in order to have smooth results, only the new time level values should be used in tracking process. Then, the proposed method is employed to study immiscible incompressible two-phase flows in porous media. Various one- and two-dimensional test cases involving internal sources and sinks are solved and accuracy of solution and performance of the method are investigated by comparing the results obtained using FVELLAM with those of fine grid solutions. Finally, it is concluded that although proposed FVELLAM produces satisfactory results even on coarse grids and allows fairly large time-steps, its major advantage is in solving convection-dominated problems in heterogeneous media.     

Non-linear vibrations of parametrically excited cantilever beams subjected to non-linear delayed-feedback control

Non-linear feedback control provides an effective methodology for vibration mitigation in non-linear dynamic systems. However, within digital circuits, actuation mechanisms, filters, and controller processing time, intrinsic time-delays unavoidably bring an unacceptable and possibly detrimental delay period between the controller input and real-time system actuation. If not well-studied, these inherent and compounding delays may inadvertently channel energy into or out of a system at incorrect time intervals, producing instabilities and rendering controllers’ performance ineffective. In this work, we present a comprehensive investigation of the effect of time delays on the non-linear control of parametrically excited cantilever beams. More specifically, we examine three non-linear cubic delayed-feedback control methodologies: position, velocity, and acceleration delayed feedback. Utilizing the method of multiple scales, we derive the modulation equations that govern the non-linear dynamics of the beam. These equations are then utilized to investigate the effect of time delays on the stability, amplitude, and frequency–response behavior. We show that, when manifested in the feedback, even the minute amount of delays can completely alter the behavior and stability of the parametrically excited beam, leading to unexpected behavior and responses that could puzzle researchers if not well-understood and documented.     

Damage localization using transient non-linear elastic wave spectroscopy on composite structures

To reduce the costs related to maintenance of aircraft structures, there is the need to develop new robust, accurate and reliable damage detection methods. A possible answer to this problem is offered by newly developed non-linear acoustic/ultrasonic techniques, which monitor the non-linear elastic wave propagation behaviour introduced by damage, to detect its presence and location.In this paper, a new transient non-linear elastic wave spectroscopy (TNEWS) is presented for the detection and localization of a scattered zone (damage) in a composite plate. The TNEWS analyses the uncorrelations between two structural dynamic responses generated by two different pulse excitation amplitudes by using a time-frequency coherence function. A numerical validation of the proposed method is presented. Damage was introduced and modelled using a multi-scale material constitutive model (Preisach-Mayergoyz space).The developed technique identified in a clear manner the faulted zone, showing its robustness to locate and characterize non-linear sources in composite materials     

Shear deformation effect in non-linear analysis of composite beams of variable cross section

In this paper the non-linear analysis of a composite Timoshenko beam with arbitrary variable cross section undergoing moderate large deflections under general boundary conditions is presented employing the analog equation method (AEM), a BEM-based method. The composite beam consists of materials in contact, each of which can surround a finite number of inclusions. The materials have different elasticity and shear moduli with same Poisson's ratio and are firmly bonded together. The beam is subjected in an arbitrarily concentrated or distributed variable axial loading, while the shear loading is applied at the shear center of the cross section, avoiding in this way the induction of a twisting moment. To account for shear deformations, the concept of shear deformation coefficients is used. Five boundary value problems are formulated with respect to the transverse displacements, the axial displacement and to two stress functions and solved using the AEM. Application of the boundary element technique yields a system of non-linear equations from which the transverse and axial displacements are computed by an iterative process. The evaluation of the shear deformation coefficients is accomplished from the aforementioned stress functions using only boundary integration. Numerical examples are worked out to illustrate the efficiency, the accuracy, the range of applications of the developed method and the influence of the shear deformation effect.     

The non-linear dynamic response of the Euler-Bernoulli beam with an arbitrary number of switching cracks

In this study the non-linear dynamic response of the Euler-Bernoulli beam in presence of multiple concentrated switching cracks (i.e. cracks that are either fully open or fully closed) is addressed. The overall behaviour of such a beam is non-linear due to the opening and closing of the cracks during the dynamic response; however, it can be regarded as a sequence of linear phases each of them characterised by different number and positions of the cracks in open state. In the paper the non-linear response of the beam with switching cracks is evaluated by determining the exact modal properties of the beam in each linear phase and evaluating the corresponding time history linear response through modal superposition analysis. Appropriate initial conditions at the instant of transition between two successive linear phases have been considered and an energy control has been enforced with the aim of establishing the minimum number of linear modes that must be taken into account in order to obtain accurate results. Some numerical applications are presented in order to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach for the evaluation of the non-linear dynamic response of beams with multiple switching cracks. In particular, the behaviour under different boundary conditions both for harmonic loading and free vibrations has been investigated.     

Coupled axial/torsional vibrations of drill-strings by means of non-linear model

In the present work a geometrically non-linear model is presented to study the coupling of axial and torsional vibrations on a drill-string, which is described as a vertical slender beam under axial rotation. It is known that the geometrical non-linearities play an important role in the stiffening of a beam. Here, the geometrical stiffening is analyzed using a non-linear finite element approximation, in which large rotations and non-linear strain-displacements are taken into account. The effect of structural damping is also included in the model. To help to understand these effects comparisons of the present model with linear ones were simulated. The preliminary analysis shows that linear and non-linear models differ considerably after the first periods of stick-slip. The behavior is more evident with the increase of the friction in the lower part of the drill.     

Linear and non-linear vibrations of fluid-filled hollow microcantilevers interacting with small particles

Linear and non-linear vibrations of a U-shaped hollow microcantilever beam filled with fluid and interacting with a small particle are investigated. The microfluidic device is assumed to be subjected to internal flowing fluid carrying a buoyant mass. The equations of motion are derived via extended Hamilton's principle and by using Euler-Bernoulli beam theory retaining geometric and inertial non-linearities. A reduced-order model is obtained applying Galerkin's method and solved by using a pseudo arc-length continuation and collocation scheme to perform bifurcation analysis and obtain frequency response curves. Direct time integration of the equations of motion has also been performed by using Adams-Moulton method to obtain time histories and analyze transient cantilever-particle interactions in depth. It is shown that exploiting near resonant non-linear behavior of the microcantilever could potentially yield enhanced sensor metrics. This is found to be due to the transitions that occur as a matter of particle movement near the saddle-node bifurcation points of the coupled system that lead to jumps between coexisting stable attractors.     

A new semi-analytical method for the non-linear static analysis of an infinite beam on a non-linear elastic foundation: A general approach to a variable beam cross-section

We propose a new non-linear method for the static analysis of an infinite non-uniform beam resting on a non-linear elastic foundation under localized external loads. To this end, an integral operator equation is newly formulated, which is equivalent to the original differential equation of non-uniform beam. By using the integral operator equation, we propose a new functional iterative method for static beam analysis as a general approach to a variable beam cross-section. The method proposed is fairly simple as well as straightforward to apply. An illustrative example is presented to examine the validity of the proposed method. It shows that just a few iterations are required for an accurate solution.     

Numerical analysis of large elasto-plastic deflection of constant curvature beam under follower load

This paper describes a method to analyze the elasto-plastic large deflection of a curved beam subjected to a tip concentrated follower load. The load is made to act at an arbitrary inclination with the tip tangent. A moment-curvature based constitutive law is obtained from linearly hardening model. The deflection governing equation obtained is highly non-linear owing to both kinematics and material non-linearity. It is linearized to obtain the incremental differential equation. This in turn is solved using the classical Runge–Kutta 4^th order explicit solver, thereby avoiding iterations. Elastic results are validated with published literature and the new results pertaining to elasto-plastic cases are presented in suitable non-dimensional form. The load to end angle response of the structure is studied by varying normalized material and kinematic parameters. It is found that the response curves overlap at small deflection corresponding to elastic deformation and diverge for difference in plastic property. The divergent response curves intersect with each other at higher deflection. The results presented also show that the approach may be used to obtain desired non-uniformly curved beam by suitably loading a uniform curvature beam.     

On non-linear stability in unconstrained non-linear elasticity

A method of obtaining a full three-dimensional non-linear Hadamard stability analysis of inhomogeneous deformations of arbitrary, unconstrained, hyperelastic materials is presented. The analysis is an extension of that given by Chen and Haughton (Proc. Roy. Soc. London A 459 (2003) 137) for two-dimensional incompressible problems. The process that we present replaces the second variation condition expressed as an integral involving a quadratic in three arbitrary perturbations, with an equivalent sixth-order system of ordinary differential equations. The positive definiteness condition is thereby reduced to the simple numerical evaluation of zeros of a well-behaved function. The general theory is illustrated by applying it to the problem of the inflation of a thick-walled spherical shell. The present analysis provides a simpler alternative approach to bifurcation problems approached by using the incremental equations of non-linear elasticity.     

Surface and non-local effects for non-linear analysis of Timoshenko beams

In this paper, we present a non-local non-linear finite element formulation for the Timoshenko beam theory. The proposed formulation also takes into consideration the surface stress effects. Eringen׳s non-local differential model has been used to rewrite the non-local stress resultants in terms of non-local displacements. Geometric non-linearities are taken into account by using the Green–Lagrange strain tensor. A C⁰ beam element with three degrees of freedom has been developed. Numerical solutions are obtained by performing a non-linear analysis for bending and free vibration cases. Simply supported and clamped boundary conditions have been considered in the numerical examples. A parametric study has been performed to understand the effect of non-local parameter and surface stresses on deflection and vibration characteristics of the beam. The solutions are compared with the analytical solutions available in the literature. It has been shown that non-local effect does not exist in the nano-cantilever beam (Euler–Bernoulli beam) subjected to concentrated load at the end. However, there is a significant effect of non-local parameter on deflections for other load cases such as uniformly distributed load and sinusoidally distributed load (Cheng et al. (2015) [10]). In this work it has been shown that for a cantilever beam with concentrated load at free end, there is definitely a dependency on non-local parameter when Timoshenko beam theory is used. Also the effect of local and non-local boundary conditions has been demonstrated in this example. The example has also been worked out for other loading cases such as uniformly distributed force and sinusoidally varying force. The effect of the local or non-local boundary conditions on the end deflection in all these cases has also been brought out.     

Effect of the geometry on the non-linear vibration of circular cylindrical shells

The non-linear vibration of simply supported, circular cylindrical shells is analysed. Geometric non-linearities due to finite-amplitude shell motion are considered by using Donnell's non-linear shallow-shell theory; the effect of viscous structural damping is taken into account. A discretization method based on a series expansion of an unlimited number of linear modes, including axisymmetric and asymmetric modes, following the Galerkin procedure, is developed. Both driven and companion modes are included, allowing for travelling-wave response of the shell. Axisymmetric modes are included because they are essential in simulating the inward mean deflection of the oscillation with respect to the equilibrium position. The fundamental role of the axisymmetric modes is confirmed and the role of higher order asymmetric modes is clarified in order to obtain the correct character of the circular cylindrical shell non-linearity. The effect of the geometric shell characteristics, i.e., radius, length and thickness, on the non-linear behaviour is analysed: very short or thick shells display a hardening non-linearity; conversely, a softening type non-linearity is found in a wide range of shell geometries.     

Modified Lindstedt-Poincare methods for some strongly non-linear oscillations: Part II: a new transformation

In this paper, a modified Lindstedt-Poincare method is proposed. In this technique, we introduce a new transformation of the independent variable. This transformation will also allow us to avoid the occurrence of secular terms in the perturbation series solution. Some examples are given here to illustrate its effectiveness and convenience. The results show that the obtained approximate solutions are uniformly valid on the whole solution domain, and they are suitable not only for weakly non-linear systems, but also for strongly non-linear systems.     

Airy stress function for describing the non-linear effect of simply supported plates with movable edges

The general form of the solution of the Airy function for the stress distributions that describe the non-linear effect developed from the large deflection of simply supported plates with movable edges are found by superposition of the Airy functions, which satisfy the large deflection condition and the boundary conditions of the edges. Each term of the Airy function consists of a particular solution and a homogeneous one. The particular solution satisfying the large deflection condition is classified into six cases, depending on the combinations of the modal numbers of the comparison functions. The corresponding homogeneous solution is found to make each Airy function satisfy the boundary condition by using the Fourier series method. The solution is applied to the non-linear analysis of the deflection of the simply supported plates with movable edges under transverse loading, and is verified by comparison with other investigation.     

Linear and non-linear vibration and frequency response analyses of microcantilevers subjected to tip-sample interaction

Despite their simple structure and design, microcantilevers are receiving increased attention due to their unique sensing and actuation features in many MEMS and NEMS. Along this line, a non-linear distributed-parameters modeling of a microcantilever beam under the influence of a nanoparticle sample is studied in this paper. A long-range Van der Waals force model is utilized to describe the microcantilever-particle interaction along with an inextensibility condition for the microcantilever in order to derive the equations of motion in terms of only one generalized coordinate. Both of these considerations impose strong nonlinearities on the resultant integro-partial equations of motion. In order to provide an understanding of non-linear characteristics of combined microcantilever-particle system, a geometrical function is wisely chosen in such a way that natural frequency of the linear model exactly equates with that of non-linear model. It is shown that both approaches are reasonably comparable for the system considered here. Linear and non-linear equations of motion are then investigated extensively in both frequency and time domains. The simulation results demonstrate that the particle attraction region can be obtained through studying natural frequency of the system consisting of microcantilever and particle. The frequency analysis also proves that the influence of nonlinearities is amplified inside the particle attraction region through bending or shifting the frequency response curves. This is accompanied by sudden changes in the vibration amplitude estimated very closely by the non-linear model, while it cannot be predicted by the best linear model at all.     

Application of vector-valued rational approximations to a class of non-linear oscillations

By combining a perturbation technique with a rational approximation of vector-valued function, we propose a new approach to non-linear oscillations of conservative single-degree-of-freedom systems with odd non-linearity. The equation of motion does not require to contain a small parameter. First, the Lindstedt-Poincare perturbation method is used to obtain an asymptotic analytical solution. Then the range of validity of the analytical representation is extended by using the vector-valued rational approximation of functions. For constructing the rational approximations, all that is needed is the coefficients of the perturbation expansion being considered. General approximate formulas for period and the corresponding periodic solution of a non-linear system are established. Two examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.