Advanced response surface method for mechanical reliability analysis

Based on the classical response surface method (RSM), a novel RSM using improved experimental points (EPs) is presented for reliability analysis. Two novel points are included in the presented method. One is the use of linear interpolation, from which the total EPs for determining the RS are selected to be closer to the actual failure surface; the other is the application of sequential linear interpolation to control the distance between the surrounding EPs and the center EP, by which the presented method can ensure that the RS fits the actual failure surface in the region of maximum likelihood as the center EPs converge to the actual most probable point (MPP). Since the fitting precision of the RS to the actual failure surface in the vicinity of the MPP, which has significant contribution to the probability of the failure surface being exceeded, is increased by the presented method, the precision of the failure probability calculated by RS is increased as well. Numerical examples illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the presented method.     

The quantification of crack closure based on a contact stress intensity factor

This paper presents a summary of the experimental measurements of crack closure on 2024-T3 and 6061-T6 Aluminium based on the contact stress intensity factor approach. Correlations between experimentally measured values of K_c, the mean stress level and a range of load interaction effects will be presented.     

Hyperbolicity and one-dimensional waves in compressible two-phase flow models

Hyperbolic models for compressible two-phase flows including a conservative symmetric hyperbolic model are reviewed. The basis for a theory of shock waves is developed within the framework of the latter. The analysis of small amplitude discontinuities allows us to conclude that in general there are two types of shocks corresponding to two sound waves. The problem of transition between a pure phase and a mixture (the phase vacuum problem) is analysed. It is proved that for some models the smooth centred wave solution can not provide such a transition. Within the framework of our conservative model there is the possibility of constructing discontinuous solutions which can resolve the phase vacuum problem.PACS: 47.55Kf, 47.40.-xE. Romenski: On leave from Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia     

Recoverable deformation and morphology after uniaxial elongation of a polystyrene/linear low density polyethylene blend

The transient recoverable deformation ratio after melt elongation at various elongational rates and maximum elongations was investigated for pure polystyrene and for a 85 wt.% polystyrene/15 wt.% linear low density polyethylene (PS/LLDPE 85:15) blend at a temperature of 170 ^oC. The ratio p of the zero shear rate viscosity of LLDPE to that of PS is p = 0.059 ≈ 1:17. Retraction of the elongated LLDPE droplets back to spheres and end-pinching is observed during recovery. A simple additive rule is applied in order to extract the contribution of the recovery of the elongated droplets from the total recovery of the blend. In that way, the recoverable portion of the PS/LLDPE blend induced by the interfacial tension is determined and compared with the results of a theory based on an effective medium approximation. The effective medium approximation reproduces well the time scale of the experimental data. In addition, the trends that the recoverable deformation increases with elongational rate and maximum elongation are captured by the theoretical approach.     

A numerical bifurcation study of friction effects in a slip-controlled torque converter clutch

Friction plays a key role in the efficiency and stability of the slip-controlled torque converter clutches. The effects of friction on the dynamics and stability of a slip-controlled torque converter clutch system using a bifurcation-analysis-based approach is presented in this paper. A three degree-of-freedom nonlinear driveline model with integral feedback action to control the clutch slip speed has been utilized for this study. The clutch interface friction is dependent on the slip speed and is a function of the static friction constant, μ ₀, the low velocity friction constant μ ₁, and the low velocity exponential rate, γ. Using one-parameter numerical continuation, local Hopf bifurcations of the subcritical type are observed as the friction parameters μ ₁ and γ were varied at low slip speeds. The continuation results are verified using simulations of the full nonlinear model. Stick-slip and undesirable oscillations of the model inertia elements are observed for certain parameter values. As the slip speed is increased, the bifurcation instability occurs at an increasingly higher value of μ ₁ signifying an improved tolerance of negative friction gradient at higher slip speeds. Smaller exponential rates γ are tolerated at higher slip speeds before the bifurcation instability occurs. For the range of parameter values considered, no bifurcations occur for a slip speeds higher than 3.4 and 4.5 rad/s with μ ₁ and γ as the continuation parameters, respectively. These values of slip speeds are much lower than the system’s first mode of torsional vibration of 16 Hz (≈100 rad/s).     

On the pressure dependence of the viscosity of aqueous sugar solutions

New experimental data for the pressure dependence of the viscosity of aqueous solutions of different sugars are presented. Measurements were carried out with a gravity driven high pressure viscometer with a maximum pressure of 700 MPa. The influence of both concentration and temperature on the pressure dependence of the viscosity is considered. Next to the data, a viscosity model based on a suspension model is introduced and it is shown that it is able to predict the viscosity for sugar solutions in a broad parameter range, including pressure. It is demonstrated that the relative viscosity for varying sugar mass fraction at constant pressure coincides with the pressure-dependent relative viscosity for a fixed sugar mass fraction, suggesting that there are no structural changes occurring under pressure. A brief interpretation of the viscosity model is given.     

Experiments on crack identification in cantilever beams

In this paper we present an experimental investigation of the identification of crack location and size. By providing the first three natural frequencies through vibration measurements, curves of crack equivalent stiffness versus crack location are plotted, and the intersection of the three curves predicts the crack location and size. In the experiments, the cracked specimens were made using a wire-cut electrical discharge machine, and the cantilever beams were excited next to the free end by means of an impulse force hammer. In order to obtain the accurate natural frequencies from the transient signal measured, the method of zoom fast Fourier transform is adopted to improve frequency resolution. From experimental results, it is observed that the identification errors of crack location and size are less than 2% and 4%, respectively. The effectiveness of crack identification through vibration measurements is verified.