Four-point combined DE/FE algorithm for brittle fracture analysis of laminated glass

A four-point combined DE/FE algorithm is proposed to constrain the rotation of a discrete element about its linked point and analyze the cracks propagation of laminated glass. In this approach, four linked points on a discrete element are combined with four nodes of the corresponding surface of a finite element. The penalty method is implemented to calculate the interface force between the two subdomains, the finite element (FE) and the discrete element (DE) subdomains. The sequential procedure of brittle fracture is described by an extrinsic cohesive fracture model only in the DE subdomain. An averaged stress tensor for granular media, which is automatically symmetrical and invariant by translations, is used to an accurate calculation of the averaged stress of the DE. Two simple cases in the elastic range are given to certify the effectiveness of the combined algorithm and the averaged stress tensor by comparing with the finite element method and the mesh-size dependency of the combined algorithm and the cohesive model is also investigated. Finally, the impact fracture behavior of a laminated glass beam is simulated, and the cracks propagation is compared with experimental results showing that the theory in this work can be used to predict some fracture characteristics of laminated glass.     

Dynamic response of tubular dielectric elastomer transducers

In this paper, a numerical model for the dynamic response of tubular dielectric elastomer transducers is presented and validated with experimental results for the first time. Dielectric elastomers (DE) are soft polymer based smart materials that can be potentially employed in applications such as actuation, sensing and energy harvesting (Kornbluh, 2004, Carpi et al., 2005, Waki et al., 2008). In our previous work, the quasi-static response of tubular DE transducers was studied (Goulbourne et al., 2007, Son and Goulbourne, 2009). Here, a numerical model is developed to predict the dynamic response of tubular DE transducers. Inertia effects are included in our previous static model which yields a system of partial differential equations. The results of the dynamic response of the tubular DE transducers are obtained by numerically solving the simplified partial different equations using a finite difference scheme. The capacitance change induced by the dynamic deformation of the tubular DE is also calculated by a simple electrostatic model, illustrating dynamic passive sensing.Several tubular DE transducer samples (VHB 4905 and silicone) were fabricated and an experimental setup was developed to investigate the dynamic response by measuring capacitance and radial deformation. In the sensing experiments, a sweep of dynamic pressure profiles (0–5 Hz) are applied. It is observed that silicone transducers have a larger dynamic sensing range. In the actuation experiments, the deformation of the silicone actuator is monitored while a voltage signal (4.5 kV) is applied from 0 to 30 Hz. The silicone actuator shows a good actuation response. The comparison between numerical and experimental results for the DE transducers shows an overall error of 3%.     

Numerical evaluation of the equivalent properties of Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) transducers using periodic homogenization

This paper focuses on the evaluation of the homogeneous properties of the active layer in Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) transducers using finite element periodic homogenization. The proposed method is applied to both d₃₁ and d₃₃-MFCs and the results are compared to previously published analytical mixing rules, showing a good agreement. The main advantages of the finite element homogenization is the possibility to take into account local details in the representative volume element such as complicated electrode patterns or local variations of the poling direction due to curved electric field lines. Although these influences have been found to be rather small in the present study, the method presented is useful for a better understanding of the behavior of piezocomposite transducers.     

Snap-through path in a bistable dielectric elastomer actuator

The dielectric elastomer (DE) has attracted significant attention due to its desired features, including large deformation, fast response, and high energy density. However, for a DE actuator (DEA) utilizing a snap-through deformation mode, most existing theoretical models fail to predict its deformation path. This paper develops a new finite element method (FEM) based on the three-parameter Gent-Gent model suitable for capturing strain-stiffening behaviors. The simulation results are verified by experiments, indicating that the FEM can accurately characterize the snap-through path of a DE. The method proposed in this paper provides theoretical guidance and inspiration for designing and applying DEs and bistable electroactive actuators.     

临界空穴扩张比准则的适用性

用新研制成的DE36平台钢制的轴对称和平面应变试样,进一步考察了临界空穴扩张比V_(Gi)准则[1]、[2]、[3]的适用性。实验和大应变有限元理论计算结果表明,V_(Gi)准则适用于所研究材料。文中指出,按V_(Gi)准则可根据试样或构件材料中V_G的发展变化来预起裂位置。     

Incremental harmonic balance method for periodic forced oscillation of a dielectric elastomer balloon

Dielectric elastomer(DE) is suitable in soft transducers for broad applications,among which many are subjected to dynamic loadings, either mechanical or electrical or both. The tuning behaviors of these DE devices call for an efficient and reliable method to analyze the dynamic response of DE. This remains to be a challenge since the resultant vibration equation of DE, for example, the vibration of a DE balloon considered here is highly nonlinear with higher-order power terms and time-dependent coefficients. Previous efforts toward this goal use largely the numerical integration method with the simple harmonic balance method as a supplement. The numerical integration and the simple harmonic balance method are inefficient for large parametric analysis or with difficulty in improving the solution accuracy. To overcome the weakness of these two methods,we describe formulations of the incremental harmonic balance(IHB) method for periodic forced solutions of such a unique system. Combined with an arc-length continuation technique, the proposed strategy can capture the whole solution branches, both stable and unstable, automatically with any desired accuracy.     

Ultrasonic field modeling in plates immersed in fluid

Distributed Point Source Method (DPSM) is a semi-analytical technique that can be used to calculate the ultrasonic field (pressure, velocity and displacement fields in a fluid, or stress and displacement fields in a solid) generated by ultrasonic transducers. So far the technique has been used to model ultrasonic fields in homogeneous and multilayered fluid structures, and near a fluid–solid interface when a solid half-space is immersed in a fluid. In this paper, the method is extended to model the ultrasonic field generated in a homogeneous isotropic solid plate immersed in a fluid. The objective of this study is to model the generation of guided waves in a solid plate when ultrasonic beams from transducers of finite dimension strike the plate at different critical angles. DPSM results for a solid half-space problem are compared with the finite element predictions to show the superiority of the DPSM technique. The predicted results are also compared with the experimental visualization of the mode patterns of Lamb waves propagating in a glass plate obtained from stroboscopic photoelastic method. Experimental and theoretical results show good qualitative agreement. The DPSM technique is then applied to study the mode patterns in aluminum plates immersed in water.     

RATE DEPENDENT STRESS-STRETCH RELATION OF DIELECTRIC ELASTOMERS SUBJECTED TO PURE SHEAR LIKE LOADING AND ELECTRIC FIELD

The performance of dielectric elastomer(DE) transducers is significantly affected by viscoelastic relaxation-induced electromechanical dissipations.This paper presents an experimental study to obtain the rate dependent stress-stretch relation of DE membranes(VHB TM 9473) subjected to pure shear like loading and electric loading simultaneously.Stretching rate dependent behavior is observed.The results also show that the tensile force decreases as the voltage increases.The observations are compared with predictions by a viscoelastic model of DE.This experiment may be used for further studies of dynamic electromechanical coupling properties of DEs.     

DETERMINATION OF QUADRICEPS FORCES IN SQUAT AND ITS APPLICATION IN CONTACT PRESSURE ANALYSIS OF KNEE JOINT

While the quadriceps muscles of human body are quite important to the daily activities of knee joints,the determination of quadriceps forces poses significant challenges since it cannot be measured in ...     

THEORY OF DIELECTRIC ELASTOMERS

In response to a stimulus, a soft material deforms, and the deformation provides a function. We call such a material a soft active material （SAM）. This review focuses on one class of soft active materials： dielectric elastomers. When a membrane of a dielectric elastomer is subject to a voltage through its thickness, the membrane reduces thickness and expands area, possibly straining over 100%. The dielectric elastomers are being developed as transducers for broad applications, including soft robots, adaptive optics, Braille displays, and electric generators. This paper reviews the theory of dielectric elastomers, developed within continuum mechanics and thermodynamics, and motivated by molecular pictures and empirical observations. The theory couples large deformation and electric potential, and describes nonlinear and nonequilibrium behavior, such as electromechanical instability and viscoelasticity. The theory enables the finite element method to simulate transducers of realistic configurations, predicts the efficiency of electromechanical energy conversion, and suggests alternative routes to achieve giant voltage-induced deformation. It is hoped that the theory will aid in the creation of materials and devices.     

功能梯度材料板件三维分析的半解析梯度有限元法

将半解析有限元与梯度有限元相结合,形成一种半解析梯度有限元来求解功能梯度材料板件问题。该方法兼有有限元法的适应性强、程序统一,半解析有限元法的节省单元与计算工作量,梯度有限元法的适应构件内部材料性能任意梯度分布等特点,并实现用一维数值计算给出构件三维分析结果。算例分析表明了方法的精度、功能与上述特点,充分揭示了功能梯度材料板件力学响应的三维形态。半解析梯度有限元法可推广应用到其他功能梯度材料面结构的各类分析中。     

Application of Kalman Filter Finite Element Method and AIC

This paper presents a numerical simulation for application of the Kalman filter finite element method. The Kalman filter is employed frequently for the solution of time series analysis including observation and system noises. Applying the Kalman filter to the finite element method, the present method is capable of the estimation in time and space directions. In this method, the matrix generated by the finite element method is applied to the state transition matrix. Using the Kalman filter finite element method, the characteristics of both the Kalman filter and the finite element method can be strengthened. In this paper, the state transition matrix is based on the shallow water equations which are approximated by the finite element method. This method can estimate the tidal current not only in time but also in space directions.     

节点梯度光滑有限元配点法

配点法构造简单、计算高效, 但需要用到数值离散形函数的高阶梯度,而传统有限元形函数的梯度在单元边界处通常仅具有C$^{0}$连续性,因此无法直接用于配点法分析. 本文通过引入有限元形函数的光滑梯度,提出了节点梯度光滑有限元配点法. 首先基于广义梯度光滑方法,定义了有限元形函数在节点处的一阶光滑梯度值,然后以有限元形函数为核函数构造了有限元形函数的一阶光滑梯度,进而对一阶光滑梯度直接求导并用一阶光滑梯度替换有限元形函数的标准梯度,即完成了有限元形函数二阶光滑梯度的构造.文中以线性有限元形函数为基础的理论分析表明,其光滑梯度不仅满足传统线性有限元形函数梯度对应的一阶一致性条件,而且在均布网格假定下满足更高一阶的二阶一致性条件.因此与传统线性有限元法相比,基于线性形函数的节点梯度光滑有限元法的$L_{2}$和$H_{1}$误差均具有二次精度,即其$H_{1}$误差收敛阶次比传统有限元法高一阶, 呈现超收敛特性.文中通过典型算例验证了节点梯度光滑有限元配点法的精度和收敛性,特别是其$H_{1}$或能量误差的精度和收敛率都明显高于传统有限元法.      

THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION ON THE DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE OF CMUT FOR DESIGN OPTIMIZATION

Although many modeling approaches exist for analyzing the behavior of capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducers(CMUTs),the relation equation between the design parameters with input and output is still lacking.What there is can only be used to analyze the dynamic performance of CMUT indirectly and qualitatively,such as stiffness and sound pressure.A lumped-parameter theoretical model based on the dynamic theory is proposed in this paper.The relation equations between the design parameters with inputs and outputs are given.The results obtained by the proposed model agree well with those by finite element method(FEM)simulation.The dynamic and static behavior of CMUT can be clearly depicted,which is helpful for design and optimization iterations.This shows that the proposed model makes it easier to optimize the parameters of a CMUT with respect to output and bandwidth directly and to better understand the influence of each parameter.     

RTM充模过程数值模拟的隐式有限元算法

建立了基于欧拉方法描述树脂传递模塑(RTM)工艺充模过程的基本数学方程,并采用有限元隐式时间积分方法对基本方程进行了数值求解．编制了基于隐式有限元算法及传统有限元控制体算法的程序,通过具体算例比较了这两种算法的优缺点．与传统的有限元控制体法相比,该文提出的隐式有限元算法能节省计算时间,特别适合于单元、节点数目多的情况．隐式有限元算法是一种纯有限元方法,不需要使用控制体积技术,采用该算法计算出的流动前沿与时间步长无关。     

Modeling and simulation of the coupled mechanical-electrical response of soft solids

Dielectric elastomer (DE) is one type of electro-active polymers (EAP) that responds to electrical stimulation with a significant shape and size change. As EAPs, dielectric elastomers are lightweight, inexpensive, pliable and can be fabricated into various shapes, all of which are attractive properties to justify the intense research in the field. This paper presents a nonlinear, electrical and mechanical coupled, large deformation finite element formulation for DEAs. Maxwell’s equations for the electroquasistatic fields were solved simultaneously with equation of linear momentum. The hyperelastic Ogden model and total Maxwell stress method were combined to describe the material. The formulation was based on the weak forms of Maxwell’s equation and linear momentum expressed in the reference configuration. The closed form consistent tangent moduli for dielectric elastomers were derived. The results of the simulation compared with the experiments have demonstrated the validity of the method from the computational aspect.     

一种基于Neumann级数的区间有限元方法

实际工程问题中通常存在大量的不确定参数, 区间有限元方法是一种结合有限元数值计算工具对结构进行不确定性分析的区间方法. 区间有限元的目的是获得在含有区间不确定性参数条件下的结构响应上下边界, 其关键问题在于区间平衡方程组的求解, 而这属于一类往往很难求解的NP-hard问题. 本文归纳了一类工程实际中常见的结构不确定性问题, 即可线性分解式区间有限元问题, 并针对此提出一种基于Neumann级数的区间有限元方法. 在区间有限元分析中, 当区间不确定参数表示为一组独立区间变量线性叠加时, 若结构的刚度矩阵也可表示为这些独立区间变量的线性叠加形式, 则称此类区间有限元问题为可线性分解式区间有限元问题. 对于此类问题, 采用Neumann级数对其刚度矩阵的逆矩阵进行表示, 可获得结构响应关于区间变量的显式表达式, 从而可高效求解结构响应的上下边界. 最后通过两个算例验证了本文所提方法的有效性.      

Comparison of methods for vibration analysis of electrostatic precipitators

The paper presents two methods for the formulation of free vibration analysis of collecting electrodes of precipitators.The first,called the hybrid finite element method, combines the finit element method used for calculations of spring deformations with the rigid finite element method used to reflect mass and geometrical features,which is called the hybrid finite element method.As a result,a model with a diagonal mass matrix is obtained.Due to a specific geometry of the electrodes,which are long plates of complicated shapes,the second method proposed is the strip method which is a semi-analytical method.The strip method allows us to formulate the equations of motion with a considerably smaller number of generalized coordinates.Results of numerical calculations obtained by both methods are compared with those obtained using commercial software like ANSYS and ABAQUS.Good compatibility of results is achieved.     

AN INTERVAL FINITE ELEMENT METHOD BASED ON THE NEUMANN SERIES EXPANSION 1)

实际工程问题中通常存在大量的不确定参数, 区间有限元方法是一种结合有限元数值计算工具对结构进行不确定性分析的区间方法. 区间有限元的目的是获得在含有区间不确定性参数条件下的结构响应上下边界, 其关键问题在于区间平衡方程组的求解, 而这属于一类往往很难求解的NP-hard问题. 本文归纳了一类工程实际中常见的结构不确定性问题, 即可线性分解式区间有限元问题, 并针对此提出一种基于Neumann级数的区间有限元方法. 在区间有限元分析中, 当区间不确定参数表示为一组独立区间变量线性叠加时, 若结构的刚度矩阵也可表示为这些独立区间变量的线性叠加形式, 则称此类区间有限元问题为可线性分解式区间有限元问题. 对于此类问题, 采用Neumann级数对其刚度矩阵的逆矩阵进行表示, 可获得结构响应关于区间变量的显式表达式, 从而可高效求解结构响应的上下边界. 最后通过两个算例验证了本文所提方法的有效性.     

基于互补理论和扩展有限元法的摩擦接触裂纹应力强度因子计算

从虚功方程出发，结合扩展有限元离散技术与接触条件的非线性互补表述，建立了摩擦接触裂纹问题的扩展有限元非线性互补模型，将不等式接触条件转化为非线性互补类的非光滑方程组，并采用基于广义导数的非光滑阻尼牛顿法求解方程组，无需引入任何额外人工变量以及迭代求解。以含中心倾斜裂纹平板和边裂纹平板为例，运用相互作用积分法计算摩擦接触裂纹的应力强度因子，将其结果与理论解进行对比分析，该方法都能给出精确的计算结果；基于扩展有限元方法对单轴压缩作用下倾斜裂纹扩展过程进行了数值模拟，计算结果表明，受压裂纹数值结果与实验结果比较吻合，从而验证了本文方法的有效性与正确性。