On the thermodynamics of fluids defined by implicit constitutive relations

In this paper, we develop a thermodynamically consistent theory for describing the response of nonlinear viscous fluids whose constitutive equations are of the form f (T, D) = 0. We show that such constitutive equations which include classical constitutive equations wherein the stress is expressed explicitly in terms of the kinematical quantities, provide a rich class of physically meaningful fluid response functions which allows us to describe a wider range of material behavior, including that of a general class of incompressible fluids, incompressible fluids with pressure dependent viscosity, and Bingham (or pseudoplastic) materials.     

An anisotropic viscoelastic soft tissue model at large strains

Soft biological tissues represent complex inhomogeneous, and as a rule multiphase materials subjected to large strains under in vivo mechanical conditions. Apart from a number of other structural-related features they are characterized by a ratedependent material behavior which is attributed to fluid-solid interactions as well as intrinsic viscoelastic properties of the solid matrix. The authors propose to model rate-dependent phenomena of the solid phase of soft biological tissues within the context of a thermodynamically consistent phenomenological material approach resulting from an overstress concept. Due to the presence of directed fibrous constituents soft tissues should be considered as anisotropic materials. Therefore, the viscous overstress model has been completed by a transversely isotropic approach. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Direct connection of rheological elements at large strains: Application to multiplicative viscoplasticity

In the field of nonlinear continuum mechanics, rheological models are often used to exemplify the structure of complex material models at large strains. For this purpose, different rheological elements are combined in series and parallel connections. Ihlemann [1] developed an innovative concept, which enables the direct connection of rheological elements within the framework of multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient. In the contribution at hand, this approach is applied to multiplicative viscoplasticity. Towards this end, the relations for parallel and series connections are introduced and several individual material models, i.e. the rheological elements, are defined. By analytical and numerical evaluation of the connection relations, a viscoplastic material model from the literature is reproduced. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Influence of the nonlinear matrix material behaviour on the effective properties of textile-reinforced thermoplastics

For a consistent lightweight design the consideration of the nonlinear macroscopic material behaviour of composites, which is amongst others driven by damage and strain-rate effects on the mesoscale, is required. Therefore, a modelling approach using numerical homogenization techniques is applied to predict the effective nonlinear material behaviour of the composite based on the finite element simulation of a representative volume element (RVE). In this RVE suitable constitutive relations account for the material behaviour of each constituents. While the reinforcing glass fibres are assumed to remain linear elastic, a viscoplastic constitutive law is applied to represent the strain-rate dependent, inelastic deformation of the matrix material. In order to analyse the influence of the nonlinear matrix material behaviour on the global mechanical response of the composite, effective stress-strain-curves are computed for different load cases and compared to experimental observations. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A thermodynamically consistent constitutive model for fluid mud

In this contribution, an approach towards a thermodynamically consistent constitutive model for fluid mud is presented. Fluid mud exhibits highly non-Newtonian, thixotropic behaviour. It can be classified as a structured fluid. Typically, its viscosity is modeled using Bingham-type rheological models of different complexity [1, 2]. Here, the three-dimensional non-Newtonian constitutive behaviour will be modeled based on a visco-elasto-plastic model. At the current stage, a Drucker-Prager-like yield function has been formulated. Viscosity is assumed to be a function of shear viscosity. First results show the general ability to represent experimental data. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

MHD Couette flow of a viscous stratified fluid of large conductivity

The MHD Couette flow of a viscous stratified fluid of large electrical conductivity with suction and injection at the plane boundaries is studied when the plane boundaries are maintained at different temperatures. The Oseen type governing equations are formulated using the method suggested by Greenspan for stratified fluids. Introducing the similarity variables, the linearised equations are solved to obtain the velocity and temperature distributions. The results show that the behaviour of velocity and temperature in fluids of large conductivity is different from the behaviour of velocity and temperature for fluids of finite conductivity. The effect of the magnetic field on the load capacity is investigated for the case when the width of the channel is small.     

Density-driven compactional flow in porous media

In the mathematical modelling of compactional flow in porous media, the constitutive relation is typically modelled in terms of a nonlinear relationship between effective pressure and porosity, and compaction is essentially poroelastic. However, at depths deeper than 1 km where the pressure is high, compaction becomes more akin to a viscous one. Two mathematical models of compaction in porous media are formulated and the nonlinear equations are then solved numerically. The essential features of numerical profiles of poroelastic and viscous compaction are thus compared with asymptotic solutions. Two distinguished styles of density-driven compaction in fast and slow compacting sediments are analysed and shown in this paper.     

A micromechanically motivated model for ferroelectrics combined with polygonal finite elements

Piezoelectric materials are one of the most prominent smart materials due to their strong electromechanical coupling behaviour. Ferroelectric ceramics behave like piezoelectric materials under low electrical and mechanical loads, but exhibit pronounced nonlinear response at higher loads due to microscopic domain switching. Modern smart devices consist of complex geometries that may force the ferroelectrics employed within them to experience higher fields than they were originally designed for, so that the material responds within its nonlinear region. Hence, models predicting the nonlinear effects of ferroelectrics under complex loading cases are important from the design point of view. Within standard finite element models dealing with electromechanical problems, each grain may be subdiscretized by several finite elements. This problem can be approximated or rather overcome by a polygonal finite element method, where each grain is modelled by solely one single finite element. In this contribution, a micromechanically motivated switching model for ferroelectric ceramics, as based on volume fraction concepts, is combined with polygonal finite element approach. Related representative numerical examples allow to further study and understand the nonlinear response of this material under complex loading cases. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Computation of the effective nonlinear material behaviour of composites using X-FEM - Analysis of the matrix material behaviour

For a consequent lightweight design the consideration of the nonlinear macroscopic material behaviour of composites, which is amongst others driven by damage and strain–rate effects on the mesoscale, is required. Therefore, the modelling approach using numerical homogenization techniques based on the simulation of representative volume elements which are modelled by the extended finite element method (X–FEM) is currently extended to nonlinear material behaviour. While the glass fibres are assumed to remain linear elastic, a viscoplastic constitutive law accounts for strain–rate dependence and inelastic deformation of the matrix material. This paper describes the process of finding suitable constitutive relations for the polymeric matrix material Polypropylene in the small–strain regime. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modeling a swimming fish with an initial boundary value problem: Unsteady maneuvers of an elastic plate with internal force generation

In order to model unsteady maneuvers in swimming fish, we develop an initial-boundary value problem for a fourth-order hyperbolic partial differential equation in which the fish's body is treated as an inhomogeneous elastic plate. The model is derived from the three-dimensional equations of elastic dynamics, and is essentially a simple variant of the classical Kirchhoff model for a dynamic plate. The model incorporates body forces generating moment to simulate muscle force generation in fish. The initial-boundary value problem is reduced to a beam model in one spatial dimension and formulated computationally using finite differences. Interaction with the surrounding water is represented by nonlinear viscous damping. Two example applications using simple but physically reasonable physiological parameters are presented and interpreted. One models the acceleration from rest to steady swimming, the other a rapid turn from rest.     

Multiscale Modelling of the Effective Viscoplastic Material Behaviour of Textile-Reinforced Polymers Using XFEM

In this contribution a modelling approach using numerical homogenisation techniques is applied to predict the effective nonlinear material behaviour of composites from simulations of a representative volume element (RVE). Numerical models of the heterogeneous material structure in the RVE are generated using the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) which allows for a regular mesh. Suitable constitutive relations account for the material behaviour of the constituents. The influence of the nonlinear matrix material behaviour on the composite is studied in a physically nonlinear FE simulation of the local material behaviour in the RVE ­ effective stress-strain curves are computed and compared to experimental observations. The approach is currently augmented by a damage model for the fibre bundle. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Numerical approaches to thermally coupled perfect plasticity

The partial differential equations describing viscoelastic solids in Kelvin–Voigt rheology at small strains exhibiting also stress‐driven Prandtl‐Reuss perfect plasticity are considered and are coupled with a heat‐transfer equation through the dissipative heat produced by viscoplastic effects and through thermal expansion and corresponding adiabatic effects. Numerical discretization of the resulting thermodynamically consistent model is proposed by implicit time discretization, suitable regularization, and finite elements in space. Numerical stability is shown and computational simulations are reported to illustrate the practical performance of the method. In a quasistatic case, convergence is proved by careful successive limit passage. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013     

NONLINEAR GALERKIN METHOD AND CRANK-NICOLSONMETHOD FOR VISCOUS INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW

1.Introduction'NonlinearGalerkinmethodisnumericalmethodfordissipativeevolutionpartialdifferentialequationswherethespatialdiscretizationreliesonanonlinearmanifoldinsteadofalinearspaceasintheclassicalGalerkinmethod.Morepreciselygoneconsidersafinitedimension…     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of orthotropic and prestressed membrane structures

A new methodology for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of orthotropic membrane structures using triangular finite elements is presented. The approach is based on writing the constitutive equations in the principal fiber orientation of the material. A direct consequence of the fiber orientation strategy is the possibility to analyze initially out-of-plane prestressed membrane structures. An algorithm to model wrinkling behavior is also described. Examples of application to a number of membrane structures are presented.     

Finite elements using absolute nodal coordinates for large-deformation flexible multibody dynamics

A family of structural finite elements using a modern absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) is discussed in the paper with many applications. This approach has been initiated in 1996 by A. Shabana. It introduces large displacements of 2D/3D finite elements relative to the global reference frame without using any local frame. The elements employ finite slopes as nodal variables and can be considered as generalizations of ordinary finite elements that use infinitesimal slopes. In contrast to other large deformation formulations, the equations of motion contain constant mass matrices and generalized gravity forces as well as zero centrifugal and Coriolis inertia forces. The only nonlinear term is a vector of elastic forces. This approach allows applying known abstractions of real elastic bodies: Euler–Bernoulli beams, Timoshenko beams and more general models as well as Kirchhoff and Mindlin plate theories.