New discrete element models for elastoplastic problems

The discrete element method （DEM） has attractive features for problems with severe damages, but lack of theoretical basis for continua behavior especially for nonlinear behavior has seriously restricted its application. The present study proposes a new approach to developing the DEM as a general and robust technique for modeling the elastoplastic behavior of solid materials. New types of connective links between elements are proposed, the interelement parameters are theoretically determined based on the principle of energy equivalence and a yield criterion and a flow rule for DEM are given for describing nonlinear behavior of materials. Moreover, a numerical scheme, which can be applied to modeling the behavior of a continuum as well as the transformation from a continuum to a discontinuum, is obtained by introducing a fracture criterion and a contact model into the DEM. The elastoplastic stress wave propagations and the tensile failure process of a steel plate are simulated, and the numerical results agree well with those obtained from the finite element method （FEM） and corresponding experiment, and thus the accuracy and efficiency of the DEM scheme are demonstrated.     

Finite Bending of a Rectangular Block of an Elastic Hencky Material

Hencky's elasticity model is an isotropic, finite hyperelastic equation obtained by simply replacing the Cauchy stress tensor and the infinitesimal strain tensor in the classical Hooke's law for isotropic infinitesimal elasticity with the Kirchhoff stress tensor and Hencky's logarithmic strain tensor. A study by Anand in 1979 and 1986 indicates that it is a realistic finite elasticity model that is in good accord with experimental data for a variety of engineering materials for moderate deformations. Most recently, by virtue of well-founded physical grounds and rigorous mathematical procedures it has been demonstrated by these authors that this model may be essential to achieving self-consistent Eulerian rate type theories of finite inelasticity, e.g., the J ₂-flow theory for metal plasticity, etc. Its predictions have been studied for some typical deformation modes, including extension, simple shear and torsion, etc. Here we are concerned with finite bending of a rectangular block. We show that a closed-form solution may be obtained. We present explicit expressions for the bending angle and the bending moment in terms of the maximum or minimum circumferential stretch in a general case of compressible deformations for any assigned stretch normal to the bending plane. In particular, simplified results are derived for the plane strain case and for the case of incompressibility. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Static bending of granular beam: exact discrete and nonlocal solutions

Meccanica - This study is an attempt towards a better understanding of the length scale effects on the bending response of the granular beams. To this aim, a unidimensional discrete granular chain...     

Application of nonlocal beam models for carbon nanotubes

Investigations of wave and vibration properties of single- or multi-walled carbon nanotubes based on nonlocal beam models have been reported recently. However, there are numerous inconsistencies in the handling of the governing equations, applied forces, and boundary conditions based on some of the reported nonlocal beam models. In this paper, the consistent equations of motion for the nonlocal Euler and Timoshenko beam models are provided, and some issues on the nonlocal beam theories are discussed. The models are then applied to the studies of wave properties of single- and double-walled nanotubes. The wave and vibration properties of the nanotubes based on the presented nonlocal beam equations are studied, and scale effects are discussed.     

Bending of an elastoplastic strip with isotropic and kinematic hardening

Summary  We propose an exact analysis for finite bending of a compressible elastoplastic strip with combined hardening at a given stretch normal to the bending plane. We apply the self-consistent eulerian rate-type elastoplastic model based on the logarithmic rate, in conjunction with a Tresca-type loading function. Utilizing the maximum circumferential stretch at the outer surface as an independent parameter, we derive exact analytic expressions for the bending angle, the bending moment, the outer and inner radii, the radii of the two elastic-plastic interfaces and the circumferential stretches at these two interfaces, as well as the stress distributions in every current cross section. In particular, we establish an explicit relation between the two circumferential stretches at the two elastic-plastic interfaces, and we show that this relation is universal for all cases of hardening. We show also that the maximum and minimum circumferential stretches at the outer and inner surfaces obey a reciprocal relation in the course of both elastic and elastic-plastic deformations. Received 4 June 2002; accepted for publication 14 November 2002 This research was carried out under financial support from the German Science Foundation (DFG) (Contract No.: Br. 580/26-2) and from Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to these Foundations.     

Reliable solutions to the problem of periodic oscillations of an elastoplastic beam

We consider time-periodic oscillations of a beam with a spatially inhomogeneous Prandtl–Ishlinskii constitutive law describing the elastoplastic hysteresis. The data (mass density, Prandtl–Ishlinskii distribution, external load) are assumed to be uncertain. It is shown that a unique solution exists and is stable with respect to the data variation. Considering the total dissipated energy as a measure for the accumulated material fatigue, we identify and estimate from above the ‘worst scenario’ case, where the dissipation over one period is maximal within an admissible set of data obtained from inaccurate measurements.     

Deformation of a three-layer elastoplastic beam on an elastic foundation

We study the thermal force bending of an elastoplastic three-layer beam with a rigid filler; the beam is connected with an elastic foundation. The broken normal hypothesis is adopted to describe the kinematics of a packet nonsymmetric with respect to the thickness. The foundation reaction is described by Winkler’s model. The system of equilibrium equations and its exact solution in displacements are obtained and numerical results for a three-layer metal-polymeric beam are presented.     

A geometrical model of the defect structure of an elastoplastic continuous medium

We consider a new class of elastoplastic models which are based on the assumption that internal interaction between the continuum particles has affine-metric geometrical structure. From the physical viewpoint, the affine-metric objects are intrinsic thermodynamic variables which describe the evolution of various defect structures in a deformable material and also interaction between themselves and with the field of reversible strains. The analysis performed allows one to establish a relation between the classical mechanical characteristics of elastoplastic materials and the field of dislocation density and other types of defects. Institute of Automatics and Control Processes, Far-Eastern Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041. Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 163–173, March–April, 1999.