Theoretical study of some features of the dynamic behavior of skeletal muscle as a unidimensional viscoelastic medium

The results of a theoretical (model) study of the behavior of a muscle treated as a unidimensional viscoelastic bundle of fibers of finite length are presented. Solution of a second-order differential equation which takes account of the wave processes in the medium under consideration provides an explanation for several of the dynamic effects which are observed in experimental investigations into muscle mechanics (the jumps in the stresses during the linear extension of a muscle, the rapid weakening during its contraction, and so on). The analysis shows that the empirical equation for a muscle due to Hill may be considered as a relationship which is a consequence of its viscoelastic properties and wave phenomena.     

Effect of small additives of oligomer on the viscoelastic properties of carbon fiber plastics

The viscoelastic properties of carbon fiber composites whose phenol-formaldehyde matrix is modified by thermodynamically incompatible isocyanate derivatives have been investigated. Data are given on fiber wetting (Table 11), internal stress (Table 2), viscoelastic properties (Fig. 1), and tensile strength (Fig. 2). The modified composites are strengthened by the addition of 0.5–4% oligomer additive. This process involves the formation of a two-phase structure, in which the additive phase microparticles act as a polymer filler. Due to selective interactions, the intermediate layer formed at the fiber-binder interface leads to changes in the viscoelastic properties and tensile strength of the matrix and improved maintenance characteristics for the material as a whole.Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 440–445, July–August, 1993.     

Regulation of the mechanical properties of thermoplastic carbon fiber-reinforced plastics by changing their production conditions and surface treatment of the fibers

The effect of technological parameters of processing and surface treatment of carbon fibers on the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) was investigated. The copolymer of 1,3,5-trioxane with 1,3-dioxolane was used as the polymer matrix, and medium-modulus hydrated cellulose Ural LO-24 carbon fibers served as the reinforcing filler. The polymer matrix was mixed with the carbon fibers by the method of combined extrusion. The dependence of the mechanical properties of CFRPs on the technological parameters of screw-disk extrusion was studied. It was found that the properties of the composites were greatly affected by the size of the working disk gap, the disk rotation rate, and the temperature in the zone of normal stresses. The surface of the carbon fibers was activated with atmospheric oxygen in the temperature range of 450–600°C, with mass loss of the fibers no greater than 3–4%. A 30–40% increase in the mechanical properties of the CFRPs was achieved. A decrease in the melt index of the 1,3,5-trioxane copolymer with 1,3-dioxolane reinforced with oxidized carbon fibers was observed, which should be taken into account in processing the composites into products. Introduction of carbon fibers in the 1,3,5-trioxane copolymer with 1,3-dioxolane allows us to increase the wear resistance and decrease the friction coefficient, which makes it possibile to use these materials in the friction units of machines and mechanisms, such as plain bearings, gears, and flange packings.Presented at the 10th International Conference on the Mechanics of Composite Materials (Riga, April 20–23, 1998).Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 673–682, September–October, 1998.     

Deformation and failure of angle-plied organic fiber-reinforced plastics in the 3D stress state

Tubular specimens of organic fiber-reinforced plastic (OFRP) are tested in tension under a high hydrostatic pressure of up to 300 MPa. The specimens are made by winding at an angle of ±60° to the generatrix. The experimental equipment and technique are described. The tests show the insignificant effect of hydrostatic pressure on the elastic properties and the failure mode of the OFRP. The hydrostatic pressure considerably affects the strength properties of the OFRP. The material strength increases almost twofold under a pressure of 300 MPa. The failure strains of the material increase significantly as well.N. E. Bauman Moscow Higher Technical School, Moscow, Russia. Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 33, No. 5, pp. 592–602, September–October, 1997.     

An asymptotic calculation of the vibrations of a viscoelastic cylinder with a slowly varying internal boundary

The vibrational problem is considered for a long hollow viscoelastic cylinder with a variable internal boundary, this being enclosed in an elastic shell. An asymptotic method based on averaging is used to find the resonant vibrations in response to a small uniformly distributed internal pressure that varies periodically with time. The calculation is carried through to quadrature working formulas.Moscow Institute of Electric Machine Construction. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 5, pp. 935–939, September–October, 1973.     

Constitutive model of ferroelectric composites with a viscoelastic and dielectric relaxation matrix I

Based on micromechanics and Laplace transformation, a constitutive model of ferroelectric composites with a linear elastic and linear dielectric matrix is developed and extended to the ferroelectric composites with a viscoelastic and dielectric relaxation matrix. Thus, a constitutive model for ferroelectric composites with a viscoelastic and dielectric relaxation matrix has been set up Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 19891180).     

On the asymptotic behavior of a linear viscoelastic fluid

We study the asymptotic behavior of an incompressible viscoelastic fluid and prove that the temporal decay of the energy is similar to one of the memory kernel. The innovative aspect of this research lies in considering the evolutive problem with non‐zero external sources and/or initial histories. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the calculation of neutral subspaces of a matrix

A technique for constructing solutions to the quadratic matrix equation X ^T DX +AX + X ^T B + C = 0 is outlined. It is similar to the well-known Schur approach for solving algebraic Riccati equations.     

Constitutive models of ferroelectric composites with a viscoelastic and dielectric relaxation matrix (II)

Experimental analysis of ferroelectric composites with a viscoelastic and dielectric relaxation matrix is carried out, and the electromechanical coupling behavior of the ferroelectric composites is calculated by means of the constitutive model proposed in this paper. Comparisons between the experimental results and the calculations show that the constitutive model can reflect the electromechanical coupling behavior of the ferroelectric composites. The analysis indicates that the effect of viscoelasticity and dielectric relaxation of the matrix on the electromechanical coupling behavior of ferroelectric composites cannot be neglected.     

Computer modeling of dynamics of damage cumulation in the ductile matrix of a fiber-reinforced composite

Conclusions On the basis of the present results together with other previously obtained data [12, 14, 15, 18, 19] it can be assumed that the problem of deformation and failure [20, 21], which is often reduced to explaining the problem of whether failure is the result of deformation or its cause, has resulted from attempts to transfer the macroconsiderations of continuum to the atomic discrete level where the strain (shear accumulation) and failure (cumulation of ruptures) are interrelated to such an extent that their contraposition is of artificial nature. For example, the fluctuation rupture of the bond on the free boundary of the crystal causes formation of a dislocation and shearing [15], and shearing in the form of twinning leads to rupture of bonds and formation of a crack nucleus (see Fig. 1c). For analysis of failure, it is at present insufficient to use only dislocation [22] or only kinetic [21] considerations. As mentioned in [20], in the physics of failure it is necessary to examine all the objects examined in the physics of plasticity and, in addition to this, even more complicated objects. Attempts to simplify the problem proved to be unsuccessful and, consequently, the correct method of solving the problems of the physics of strength should be based on developing the methods of physics of strength up to analysis of atomic mechanisms of damage cumulation [20]. Molecular dynamics represents such a method of examining failure which makes it possible to change to the atomic level [10].Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, No. 6, pp. 973–976, November–December, 1987.     

Interaction of a polymer matrix and short reinforcing fibers

A model of a glass-reinforced plastic with short unidirectional fibers is proposed. The distribution of tensile stresses in the polymer matrix and the fibers and the shear stress distribution at the interface in uniaxial tension are investigated in the elastic formulation.Riga Polytechnic Institute. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 6, pp. 1030–1035, November–December, 1971.