Influence of Transverse Shear on Stochastic Instability of the Elastic Beam

In the case when Kirchhoff–Love hypotheses do not give satisfactory results, we have to take the rotatory inertia and transverse shear into account. This paper studies the elastic beam subjected to stochastic axial load, when transverse shear is taken into account. By using the direct Liapunov method, the bounds of the almost sure instability of beams as the function of the damping coefficient, variance of the stochastic force, geometric parameters, mode number, section shape factor and intensity of the deterministic component of axial loading, are obtained. Calculations are performed for the Gaussian process with zero mean and variance ², as well as for the harmonic process with amplitude A.     

Unsteady free surface wave-induced separation: Vortical structures and instabilities

Vortical structures and instability mechanisms of the unsteady free surface wave-induced separation around a surface-piercing NACA0024 foil at a Froude number of 0.37 and a Reynolds number of 1.52×10⁶ are studied using an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) code with a blended k?ε/k?ω turbulence model and a free surface tracking method. At the free surface, the separated flow reattaches to the foil surface resulting in a wall-bounded separation bubble. The mean and instantaneous flow topologies in the separation region are similar to the owl-face pattern. The initial shear-layer instability, the Karman-like instability, and the flapping instability are identified, and their scaling and physical mechanisms are studied. Validation with experimental fluid dynamics (EFD) and comparison with complementary detached-eddy simulation (DES) indicate that URANS resolves part of the organized oscillations due to the large-scale unsteady vortical structures and instabilities, thereby capturing the gross features of the unsteady separation. The URANS solutions show an initial amplitude defect of 30% for the free surface oscillations where the shear layer separates, and the defect progressively increases downstream as URANS rapidly dissipates the rolled up vortices.     

Shear layer instabilities in low-density transverse jets

The near-field shear layer instabilities forming in round transverse jets of variable (reduced) densities relative to the crossflow are investigated through gas-phase experiments. Jets composed of helium and nitrogen mixtures are injected from a converging nozzle mounted flush with an injection wall into air crossflow, allowing the jet-to-crossflow density ratio S to be varied between 1.00, the equidensity case, and 0.14, at constant jet Reynolds number Re _j ?=?1,800. Jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratios J are examined in the range $\infty>J\geq5$ at incremental values of the density ratio S. The results of single-component hotwire measurements in the jet shear layer indicate that a transition to global instability likely occurs as J is brought below approximately 10, and/or as S is brought below approximately 0.45?C0.40. This observation appears to link many previous independent studies of both equidensity transverse jets and low-density free jets, which may become globally unstable under alteration of J and S, respectively. However, the dynamical character of the transition to global instability in the low-density transverse jet displays differences under independent variation of J and S, which may indicate the predominance of different modes.     

Influence of system parameters on dynamic behavior of gear pair with stochastic backlash

The influence of stochastic backlash on nonlinear dynamic behavior of spur gear pair with stochastic assembling backlash is discussed. Bifurcation diagram and maximum Lyapunov exponent diagram of the system are presented to evaluate the influences of load ratio, damping ratio, and backlash on the dynamic behavior of the system. The results show that backlash has great contribution to light-loaded gear pair. Therefore, dynamic behavior with stochastic assembling backlash is analyzed. Two novel indexes are introduced to evaluate the dynamic behavior of the system, dynamic instability exponent and critical variance. In addition, the relationship between the dynamic instability exponent and variance of the backlash, and the relationship between the critical variance and the mean value of the backlash are studied. The results show that it is not the unique way to improve the dynamic behavior of the system by minimizing the assembling backlash, which provide a novel way to determine the machining precision requirements, tolerance for assembling, and etc.     

Influence of inlet shear on the 3-D flow past a square cylinder at moderate Reynolds number

Unsteady three-dimensional (3-D) numerical simulations of linear shear flow past a square cylinder at moderate Reynolds number (Re=200) are performed. The shear parameter (K) considered in this study is varied as 0.0, 0.1, and 0.2. For the uniform flow (K=0.0) case, the chosen Re falls in the transition Reynolds number range. The low frequency force pulsations of square cylinder transition phenomena are observed to decrease with increasing shear parameter. The evolution of streamwise vortical structures indicates a mode A spanwise instability in the uniform flow. Unlike in uniform flow, mixed mode A and mode B spanwise instability is observed in the case of a shear flow. The autocorrelation function of the lift and the drag coefficients is improved for any particular separation distance with increasing K.     

Stability and non-linear second-order elastic analyses of beam and framed structures with semi-rigid connections using the cross method

The main objective of this publication is to present an extended version of the Moment Distribution Method (MDM) for the stability and non-linear second-order analysis of indeterminate beams and framed structures made of beam-columns of symmetrical cross-section including the combined effects of shear and bending deformations, axial loads, and semi-rigid connections. The proposed method along each member has the following advantages: (1) it can be utilized in the first- and second-order analyses (including buckling analysis) of indeterminate beams and framed structures made of beam-columns with rigid, semi-rigid, and simple end connections; (2) the effects of semi-rigid connections are condensed into the bending stiffness and fixed-end moments without introducing additional degrees of freedom and equations of equilibrium; and (3) it is accurate, powerful, practical, versatile, and an excellent teaching tool. Analytical studies indicate that shear deformations, semi-rigid connections, and axial loads increase the lateral deflections and affect the internal moments and reactions of continuous beams and framed structures. These effects must be taken into account particularly in slender structures and when they are made of beam or columns with relatively low effective shear areas (like laced columns, columns with batten plates or with perforated cover plates, and columns with open webs) or with low shear stiffness (like short columns made of laminated composites with low shear modulus G when compared to their elastic modulus E) making the shear stiffness GA_s of the same order of magnitude as EI/L². These effects become even more significant when the external supports are not perfectly clamped. Three comprehensive examples are included that show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

The determination of dynamic fracture toughness of AISI 4340 steel by the shadow spot method

Dynamic crack propagation experiments have been performed using wedge loaded double cantilever beam specimens of an austenitized, quenched and tempered 4340 steel. Measurements of the dynamic stress intensity factor have been made by means of the optical method of caustics. The interpretation of experimental data, obtained from the shadow spot patterns photographed with a Cranz-Schardin high speed camera, is based on an elastodynamic analysis. The instantaneous value of the dynamic stress intensity factor K^d_I is obtained as a function of crack tip velocity. Finally, the interaction of reflected shear and Rayleigh waves with the moving crack tip stress field is considered.     

Turbulence production in flow over a wavy wall

Measurements of the spatial and time variation of two components of the velocity have been made over a sinusoidal solid wavy boundary with a height to length ratio of 2a/λ = 0.10 and with a dimensionless wave number of α⁺ = (2π/λ)(v/u ^?) = 0.02. For these conditions, both intermittent and time-mean flow reversals are observed near the troughs of the waves. Statistical quantities that are determined are the mean streamwise and normal velocities, the root-meansquare of the fluctuations of the streamwise and normal velocities, and the Reynolds shear stresses. Turbulence production is calculated from these measurements. The flow is characterized by an outer flow and by an inner flow extending to a distance of about α^?1 from the mean level of the surface. Turbulence production in the inner region is fundamentally different from flow over a flat surface in that it is mainly associated with a shear layer that separates from the back of the wave. Flow close to the surface is best described by an interaction between the shear layer and the wall, which produces a retarded zone and a boundary-layer with large wall shear stresses. Measurements of the outer flow compare favorably with measurements over a flat wall if velocities are made dimensionless by a friction velocity defined with a shear stress obtained by extrapolating measurements of the Reynolds stress to the mean levels of the surface (rather than from the drag on the wall).     

Flow around a circular cylinder—structure of the near wake shear layer

The separated shear layer in the near wake of a circular cylinder was investigated using a single hot wire probe, with special attention given to the shear layer instability characteristics. Without end plates to force parallel vortex shedding, the critical Reynolds number for the onset of the instability was 740. The present data, together with all previously published data, show that the ratio of the instability frequency f_sl to the vortex shedding frequency f_v varies as Re^0.65, which is in agreement with the Re^0.67 dependence obtained by Prasad and Williamson [1997, J Fluid Mech 333:375–402]. However, the distribution of f_sl/f_v and the spectra of the longitudinal velocity fluctuation (u) suggest that, on either side of Re=5,000, the shear layer exhibits lower and upper subcritical regimes, in support of the observations by Norberg [1987, publication no. 87/2, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden] and Prasad and Williamson [1997, J Fluid Mech 343:235–265]. The spectra of u provide strong evidence for the occurrence of vortex pairing in wake shear layers, suggesting that the near wake develops in a similar manner to a mixing layer.     

SHEAR BEAM MODEL FOR INTERFACE FAILURE UNDER ANTIPLANE SHEAR (Ⅱ)- INSTABILITY

Based on the (Ⅰ) of the present work, the behavior of shear beam model at crack initiation stage and at instable propagation stage was studied. The prime results include: 1) discriminant equation which clarifies the mode of instability, snap-back or snap-through, was established; 2) analytical solution was given out for the double shear beam and the load-displacement diagram for monotonic loading was presented for a full process; and 3) the problem of the energy release induced by instability was discussed.     

Effect of quasi-periodic gravitational modulation on the convective instability in Hele-Shaw cell

The aim of the present paper is to examine the effect of a quasi-periodic gravitational modulation on the onset of convective instability in Hele-Shaw cell. The quasi-periodic modulation considered here consists in a modulation having two incommensurate frequencies. This study is an extension of a previous work by Aniss et al. [Asymptotic study of the convective parametric instability in Hele-Shaw cell, Phys. Fluids 12 (2) (2000) 262-268] in which only a periodic gravitational modulation was considered. We have shown that for Pr=O(1) or Pr?1, the gravitational modulation has no effect on the convective threshold as expected. However, for Pr=O(ε²), it turns out that a modulation with two incommensurate frequencies has a stabilizing or a destabilizing effect strongly depending on the frequencies ratio.     

Steady and transient shear flows of polystyrene solutions I: Concentration and molecular weight dependence of non-dimensional viscometric functions

Start up from rest and relaxation from steady shear flow experiments have been performed on monodisperse polystyrene solutions with molecular weight ranging from 1.3 × 10⁵ to 1.6 × 10⁶ and concentration c ranging from 5% to 40%. A method of reduced variables based on the use of a characteristic time τ_w is proposed. τ_w is defined as the product of zero shear viscosity with the steady state elastic compliance.Reduced steady and transient viscometric functions so obtained depend on the ratio M/M_e (where M_e is the entanglement molecular weight). Limiting forms are obtained when M/M_e ? 18. In steady flow, a simple correlation is found between shear and normal stresses.In stress relaxation experiments, independent of shear rate, the long-time behaviour can be characterised by a single relaxation time τ₁, which is identical for shear and normal stresses. τ₁ can be simply related to the zero shear rate viscosity and the limiting elastic compliance.     

Effective elastic properties of porous materials: Homogenization schemes vs experimental data

In this paper, we focus on the prediction of elastic moduli of isotropic porous materials made of a solid matrix having a Poisson's ratio vm of 0.2. We derive simple analytical formulae for these effective moduli based on well-known Mean-Field Eshelby-based Homogenization schemes. For each scheme, we find that the normalized bulk, shear and Young's moduli are given by the same form depending only on the porosity p. The various predictions are then confronted with experimental results for the Young's modulus of expanded polystyrene (EPS) concrete. The latter can be seen as an idealized porous material since it is made of a bulk cement matrix, with Poisson's ratio 0.2, containing spherical mono dispersed EPS beads. The Differential method predictions are found to give a very good agreement with experimental results. Thus, we conclude that when vm=0.2, the normalized effective bulk, shear and Young's modulus of isotropic porous materials can be well predicted by the simple form (1 − p)² for a large range of porosity p ranging between 0 and 0.56.     

Exact deflection solutions of beams with shear piezoelectric actuators

Exact deflection models of beams with n actuators of shear piezoelectric are developed analytically. To formulate the models, the first-order and higher-order beam theories are used. The exact solutions are obtained with the aid of the state-space approach and Jordan canonical form. A case study is presented to evaluate the performance of the authors’ previously reported models. Through a demonstrative example, a comparative study of the first-order and higher-order beams with two shear piezoelectric actuators is attained. It is shown that the first-order beam cannot predict the beam behavior when compared with the results of the higher-order beam. Further applications of the solutions are presented by investigating the effects of actuators lengths and locations on the deflected shapes of beams with two piezoelectric actuators. Some interesting deflection curves are presented. For example, the deflection curve of a H–H beam resembles saw teeth that rotate clockwise about the central location with the increase of actuators lengths. The presented exact solutions can be used in the design process to obtain detailed deformation information of beams with various boundary conditions. Moreover, the presented analysis can be readily used to perform precise shape control of beams with n actuators of shear piezoelectric.     

The constitutive equation of a dilute suspension of spherical microcapsules

This paper studies the rheological behavior of a dilute suspension of spherical microcapsules, i.e. spherical thin elastic membranes filled with an incompressible liquid. Previous results obtained for the motion of such capsules freely suspended in a simple shear flow are first extended to general linear shear flows. Then the stresslet term in the external flow is computed to order ?², where ?, assumed to be small with respect to unity, is the ratio of viscous to elastic forces acting on the particle. The resulting constitutive equation is of the viscoelastic type and is similar to the one obtained for liquid droplets. It predicts that the microcapsule suspension exhibits a shear dependent viscosity and normal stress effects. The exact dependency of these phenomena on the microscopic parameters of the suspension is explicitly provided by the model.     

The interlayer shear effect on graphene multilayer resonators

Graphene nanostrips with single or few layers can be used as bending resonators with extremely high sensitivity to environmental changes. In this paper we report molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results on the fundamental and secondary resonant frequencies f of cantilever graphene nanostrips with different layer number n and different nanostrip length L. The results deviate significantly from the prediction of not only the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory (f∝nL⁻²), but also the Timoshenko's model. Since graphene nanostrips have extremely high intralayer Young's modulus and ultralow interlayer shear modulus, we propose a multibeam shear model (MBSM) that neglects the intralayer stretch but accounts for the interlayer shear. The MBSM prediction of the fundamental and secondary resonant frequencies f can be well expressed in the form f−f_mono∝[(n-1)/n]^bL^−2(1−b), where f_mono denotes the corresponding resonant frequency as the layer number is 1, with b=0.61 and 0.77 for the fundamental and secondary resonant modes. Without any additional parameters fitting, the prediction from MBSM agrees excellently with the MD simulation results. The model is thus of importance for designing multilayer graphene nanostrips based applications, such as resonators, sensors and actuators, where interlayer shear has apparent impacts on the mechanical deformation, vibration and energy dissipation processes therein.     

Mechanism of flow instability and transition to turbulence

In this paper, a new mechanism of flow instability and turbulence transition is proposed for wall bounded shear flows. It is stated that the total energy gradient in the transverse direction and that in the streamwise direction of the main flow dominate the disturbance amplification or decay. Thus, they determine the critical condition of instability initiation and flow transition under given initial disturbance. A new dimensionless parameter K for characterizing flow instability is proposed which is expressed as the ratio of the energy gradients in the two directions for the flow without energy input or output. It is suggested that flow instability should first occur at the position of K_max which may be the most dangerous position. This speculation is confirmed by Nishioka et al.'s experimental data. Comparison with experimental data for plane Poiseuille flow and pipe Poiseuille flow indicates that the proposed idea is really valid. It is found that the turbulence transition takes place at a critical value of K_max of about 385 for both plane Poiseuille flow and pipe Poiseuille flow, below which no turbulence will occur regardless the disturbance. More studies show that the theory is also valid for plane Couette flows which holds a critical value of K_max of about 370.     

Strength reliability of statically indeterminate heterogeneous beams

The strength reliability of linearly elastic (up to failure) beams, made from random heterogeneous microstructures is studied, based on the weakest link approach. Heterogeneity is confined to the longitudinal direction. The problem is statically indeterminate, and the local stress at each point in any cross section is a function of the stiffness morphology of the whole beam. External loading is not random, but reaction forces are, due to their statistical correlation with the beam morphology. The case of one degree of indeterminacy is studied here, for simplicity. The strength and reliability of the beam, being a stochastic function of local stresses, is therefore morphology dependent, in addition to (coupled with) the classical inherent probabilistic nature, associated with surface defects and irregularities. This dependence is found analytically as a function of external loading shape. A simple design formula for the bound of these effects on the beam strength has been found, covering any possible external loading. For example, for a beam of 10 grains (compliance correlation length of 0.1L) and a 10% compliance variance, the bound of the heterogeneity effect on strength is about 8%.