Some guidelines for an easier application of Popov's stability test

This paper compares the graphical and root-locus versions of Popov's stability test. The main purpose of the paper is to make possible the application of Popov's Method for a variety of non-linear elements.The various sectors of confinement are analyzed in detail for different non-linearities, and results are summarized in a table. The paper represents by itself a guide, permitting easier practical application of Popov's criterion, under different conditions.     

Handedness-dependent hyperelasticity of biological soft fibers with multilayered helical structures

Collagen fibrils with multilayered helical structures widely exist in biological soft tissues, e.g., blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments. Understanding the mechanical properties of this kind of chiral materials is not only essential for evaluating the mechanical behaviors of the host tissues but also of significance for medical engineering, clinical diagnosis, and surgical operation. In this paper, a theoretical model is presented to investigate the hyperelasticity of biological soft fibers with multilayered helical structures. The effects of the initial helical angle, number and handedness of the fibers in each ply on the mechanical response of the material are examined. Our analysis reveals a switch of contact modes between two neighboring layers, which may greatly alter the overall non-linear response of the material. The Poisson׳s ratio of such a multilayered string can be greater than 0.5. The obtained results agree with relevant experiments of soft tissues. This work sheds light on the non-linear mechanics of chiral materials and may also guide the design of biomimetic materials.     

Shear banding in reaction-diffusion models

Shear banding occurs in the flow of complex fluids: various types of shear thinning and shear thickening micelle solutions and liquid crystals. In order to cope with the strongly inhomogeneous interface between the bands, constitutive models used in standard rheology must be supplemented by non-local terms. This leads rather generally to non-linear partial differential equations of the reaction-diffusion type. We use this formalism in order to explain some observed experimental features and as a guide for future research in this field. Received: 17 May 1999/Accepted: 3 August 1999     

A General Algebraic Formulation for Multi-parameter Dynamic Subgrid-scale Modeling

This paper proposes a general algebraic formulation able lo unify all the previous developments in (he frame of subgrid-scale modeling using dynamic mixed models. This formulation can serve as a guide for the design of new multi-parameter SGS models. All usual cases of coupling between momentum and energy (or transport) equation are treated formally, and properties of the associated linear or non-linear system are discussed. It is shown thai all the existing models found in the literature can be grouped into a seven-parameter dynamic model, referred to as the Maximal Complexity Dynamic Model (MCDM) A priori lests on this MCDM are carried out for the subsonic plane channel flow problem, which aim at selecting the most important contributions in multi-parameter dynamic models.     

Usefulness of passive non-linear energy sinks in controlling galloping vibrations

The suppression of vibration amplitudes of an elastically-mounted square prism subjected to galloping oscillations by using a non-linear energy sink is investigated. The non-linear energy sink consists of a secondary system with linear damping and non-linear stiffness. A representative model that couples the transverse displacement of the square prism and the non-linear energy sink is constructed. A linear analysis is performed to determine the impacts of the non-linear energy sink parameters (mass, damping, and stiffness) on the coupled frequency and onset speed of galloping. It is demonstrated that increasing the damping of the non-linear energy sink can result in a significant increase in the onset speed of galloping. Then, the normal form of the Hopf bifurcation is derived to identify the type of instability and to determine the effects of the non-linear energy sink stiffness on the performance of the aeroelastic system near the bifurcation. The results show that the non-linear energy sink can be efficiently implemented to significantly reduce the galloping amplitude of the square prism. It is also shown that the multiple stable responses of the coupled aeroelastic system are obtained as well as the periodic responses, which are dependent on the considered non-linear energy sink parameters.     

A new method for the non-linear deflection analysis of an infinite beam resting on a non-linear elastic foundation

The aim of this paper is to develop a new method of analyzing the non-linear deflection behavior of an infinite beam on a non-linear elastic foundation. Non-linear beam problems have traditionally been dealt with by semi-analytical approaches that involve small perturbations or by numerical methods, such as the non-linear finite element method. In this paper, in contrast, a transformed non-linear integral equation that governs non-linear beam deflection behavior is formulated to develop a new method for non-linear solutions. The proposed method requires an iteration to solve non-linear problems, but is fairly simple and straightforward to apply. It also converges quickly, whereas traditional non-linear solution procedures are generally quite complex in application. Mathematical analysis of the proposed method is performed. In addition, illustrative examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the method developed in the present study.     

Non-linear output frequency response functions of MDOF systems with multiple non-linear components

In engineering practice, most mechanical and structural systems are modelled as multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems such as, e.g., the periodic structures. When some components within the systems have non-linear characteristics, the whole system will behave non-linearly. The concept of non-linear output frequency response functions (NOFRFs) was proposed by the authors recently and provides a simple way to investigate non-linear systems in the frequency domain. The present study is concerned with investigating the inherent relationships between the NOFRFs for any two masses of non-linear MDOF systems with multiple non-linear components. The results reveal very important properties of the non-linear systems. These properties clearly indicate how the system linear characteristic parameters govern the propagation of the non-linear effect induced by non-linear components in the system. One potential application of the results is to detect and locate faults in engineering structures which make the structures behave non-linearly.     

Postbuckling analysis of imperfect non-linear viscoelastic cylindrical panels

The postbuckling behavior of imperfect cylindrical panels made of a non-linear viscoelastic material is investigated. The material is modeled according to the Schapery representation of non-linear viscoelasticity. Solutions are developed to calculate the growth of the initial imperfection in time by using the Donnell equilibrium equations for geometrically non-linear cylindrical panels. The equations are derived symbolically using Mathematica in the form of a system of first-order non-linear differential equations. A numerical example is presented and discussed.     

Non-linear dynamics of asymmetric structures under 2:2:1 resonance

The non-linear dynamic behavior of a novel model of a single-story asymmetric structure under earthquake and harmonic excitations and near two-to-one internal resonance is investigated. The non-linearities of the proposed model, ignored in conventional linear models, are caused by non-linear inertial coupling between translational and torsional degrees of freedom defined in the directions of a non-inertial rotational system of reference, attached to the center of mass of the floor. The multiple scales method is used to achieve approximately linear solutions for the originally non-linear equations near a two-to-one ratio of external and internal resonant conditions. The suitability of the proposed model is justified by the similarity between the simulated response of the non-linear model and the experimental results. The numerical results of time history and frequency domain analyses illustrate the difference between the non-linear and linear models. Energy transfer from a lower natural frequency excited mode to a higher one due to non-linear interaction in the novel model is shown. The effects of amplitude, frequency detuning parameters, uncoupled lateral and torsional frequencies, and damping ratio on the responses are inspected and some non-linear phenomena such as hysteresis, jumping, hardening, and softening are observed.     

Stochastic non-linear response of a flexible rotor with local non-linearities

The effects of uncertainties on the non-linear dynamics response remain misunderstood and most of the classical stochastic methods used in the linear case fail to deal with a non-linear problem. So we propose to take into account of uncertainties into non-linear models, by coupling the Harmonic Balance Method (HBM) and the Polynomial Chaos Expansion (PCE). The proposed method called the Stochastic Harmonic Balance Method (Stochastic-HBM) is based on a new formulation of the non-linear dynamic problem in which not only the approximated non-linear responses but also the non-linear forces and the excitation pulsation are considered as stochastic parameters. Expansions on the PCE basis are performed by passing via an Alternate Frequency Time method with Probabilistic Collocation (AFTPC) for estimating the stochastic non-linear forces in the stochastic domain and the frequency domain. In the present paper, the Stochastic Harmonic Balance Method (Stochastic-HBM) that is applied to a flexible non-linear rotor system, with random parameters modeled as random fields, is presented. The Stochastic-HBM combined with an Alternate Frequency-Time method with Probabilistic Collocation (AFTPC) allows us to solve dynamical problems with non-regular non-linearities in presence of uncertainties. In this study, the procedure is developed for the estimation of stochastic non-linear responses of the rotor system with different regular and non-regular non-linearities. The finite element rotor system is composed of a shaft with two disks and two flexible bearing supports where the non-linearities are due to a radial clearance or a cubic stiffness. A numerical analysis is performed to analyze the effect of uncertainties on the non-linear behavior of this rotor system by using the Stochastic-HBM. Furthermore, the results are compared with those obtained by applying a classical Monte-Carlo simulation to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed methodology.     

A new method for detecting non-linear damping and restoring forces in non-linear oscillation systems from transient data

The purpose of this study is to recover the functional form of both non-linear damping and non-linear restoring forces in the non-linear oscillatory motions of an autonomous system. Using two sets of measured motion response data of the system, an inverse problem is formulated for recovering (or identification): the differential equation of motion is transformed into an equivalent integral equation of motion. The identification, which is non-linear, is shown to be one-to-one. However, the inverse problem formulated herein is concerned with the Volterra-type of non-linear integral equation of the first kind. This leads to numerical instability: solutions of the inverse problem lack stability properties. In order to overcome the difficulty, a regularization method is applied to the identification process. In addition, an L-curve criterion, combined with regularization, is introduced to find an optimal choice for the regularization parameter (i.e., the number of iterations), in the presence of noisy data. The workability of the identification is investigated for simultaneously recovering the functional form of the non-linear damping and the non-linear restoring forces through a numerical experiment.     

Dynamics of a linear oscillator connected to a small strongly non-linear hysteretic absorber

The present investigation deals with the dynamics of a two-degrees-of-freedom system which consists of a main linear oscillator and a strongly non-linear absorber with small mass. The non-linear oscillator has a softening hysteretic characteristic represented by a Bouc-Wen model. The periodic solutions of this system are studied and their calculation is performed through an averaging procedure. The study of non-linear modes and their stability shows, under specific conditions, the existence of localization which is responsible for a passive irreversible energy transfer from the linear oscillator to the non-linear one. The dissipative effect of the non-linearity appears to play an important role in the energy transfer phenomenon and some design criteria can be drawn regarding this parameter among others to optimize this energy transfer. The free transient response is investigated and it is shown that the energy transfer appears when the energy input is sufficient in accordance with the predictions from the non-linear modes. Finally, the steady-state forced response of the system is investigated. When the input of energy is sufficient, the resonant response (close to non-linear modes) experiences localization of the vibrations in the non-linear absorber and jump phenomena.     

非线性有限元分析的非协调模式及存在的问题

利用非协调模式提高非线性有限元分析广泛采用的低阶单元的精度和性能,是国际计算力学界研究的热点和难点.阐述了国际上在非线性有限元分析中已广泛采用的增广假设应变法方法(the enhanced assumed strain, EAS)的基本原理,详细讨论了非协调模式用于非线性有限元分析保证收敛、稳定的条件及增广假设应变场插值函数的构造方法.介绍了国内学者关于几何非线性非协调模式的研究方法和研究成果: (1)从Hellinger-Reissner广义变分原理出发,提出了几何非线性非协调模式的收敛条件,并采用非线性计算的若干简化措施建立几何非线性非协调元的简化模型;(2)一类放松单元间协调要求的非线性广义变分原理,对几何非线性问题可以选择事先无协调约束的非协调函数建立非协调元,收敛性可以保证,并根据此非线性广义变分原理可建立C$^1$或C$^0$类几何非线性广义杂交元,C$^1$或C$^0$类精化杂交元和精化直接刚度法.指出了EAS方法用于非线性有限元分析存在的问题,即本构关系和求解方法的限制,并对非协调元应用于非线性有限元分析提出了展望.      

Non-linear closed-form computational model of cable trusses

In this paper the non-linear closed-form static computational model of the pre-stressed suspended biconvex and biconcave cable trusses with unmovable, movable, or elastic yielding supports subjected to vertical distributed load applied over the entire span and over a part (over the half) of the span is presented. The paper is an extension of the previously published work of authors [S. Kmet, Z. Kokorudova, Non-linear analytical solution for cable trusses, Journal of Engineering Mechanics ASCE 132 (1) (2006) 119-123]. Irvine's linearized forms of the deflection and the cable equations are modified because the effects of the non-linear truss behaviour needed to be incorporated in them. The concrete forms of the system of two non-linear cubic cable equations due to the load type are derived and presented. From a solution of a non-linear vertical equilibrium equation for a loaded cable truss, the additional vertical deflection is determined. The computational analytical model serves to determine the response, i.e. horizontal components of cable forces and deflection of the geometrically non-linear biconvex or biconcave cable truss to the applied loading, considering effects of elastic deformations, temperature changes and elastic supports. The application of the derived non-linear analytical model is illustrated by numerical examples. Resulting responses of the symmetric and asymmetric cable trusses with various geometries (shallow and deep profiles) obtained by the present non-linear closed-form solution are compared with those obtained by Irvine's linear solution and those by the non-linear finite element method. The conditions for the use of the linear and non-linear approach are briefly specified.     

Averaging method for the solution of non-linear differential equations with periodic non-harmonic solutions

While Krylov and Bogolyubov used harmonic functions in their averaging method for the approximate solution of weakly non-linear differential equations with oscillatory solution, we apply a similar averaging technique using Jacobi elliptic functions. These functions are also periodic and are exact solutions of strongly non-linear differential equations. The method is used to solve non-linear differential equations with linear and non-linear small dissipative terms and/or with time dependent parameters. It is also shown that quite general dissipative terms can be transformed into time-dependent parameters. As a special example, the Langevin (collisional) equation of motion of electrons in a neutralizing ion background under the influence of a time and space-dependent electric field is presented. The method may also be used for non-linear control theory, dynamic and parametric stabilization of non-linear oscillations in plasma physics, etc.     

Large free vibrations of a beam carrying a moving mass

The focus of this work is to develop a technique to obtain numerical solution over a long range of time for non-linear multi-body dynamic systems undergoing large amplitude motion. The system considered is an idealization of an important class of problems characterized by non-linear interaction between continuously distributed mass and stiffness and lumped mass and stiffness. This characteristic results in some distinctive features in the system response and also poses significant challenges in obtaining a solution.

In this paper, equations of motion are developed for large amplitude motion of a beam carrying a moving spring–mass. The equations of motion are solved using a new approach that uses average acceleration method to reduce non-linear ordinary differential equations to non-linear algebraic equations. The resulting non-linear algebraic equations are solved using an iterative method developed in this paper. Dynamics of the system is investigated using a time-frequency analysis technique.     

Prestretch effect on snap-through instability of short-length tubular elastomeric balloons under inflation

The inflated elastomeric balloon structures are widely used in engineering fields such as elastomeric actuators and artificial muscles. This study, involving both experiment and modeling, is focused on the prestretch effect on non-linear behavior of inflated short-length tubular elastomeric balloons. In the experiment, the prestretched tubular elastomeric balloon is subjected to air pressure while the two ends are fixed with rigid tubes. The shape evolutions of the tubular elastomeric balloons are illustrated. The non-axisymmetric bulging is observed in the inflated tubular balloon with small prestretch. An analytical model based on continuum mechanics is developed to investigate the inflation behavior of the tubular balloons, and the analytical results agree well with the experimental observation. Analysis shows that snap-through instabilities may happen during the inflation of the tubular balloon. Prestretch along the axis of the tubular balloon can suppress instability during inflation and regulate the reaction force along the axial direction. This work can guide the future application of tubular balloons in elastomeric actuators and artificial muscles.     

Detecting the position of non-linear component in periodic structures from the system responses to dual sinusoidal excitations

Based on the non-linear output frequency response functions (NOFRFs), a novel method is developed to detect the position of non-linear components in periodic structures. The detection procedure requires exciting the non-linear systems twice using two sinusoidal inputs separately. The frequencies of the two inputs are different; one frequency is twice as high as the other one. The validity of this method is demonstrated by numerical studies. Since the position of a non-linear component often corresponds to the location of defect in periodic structures, this new method is of great practical significance in fault diagnosis for mechanical and structural systems.     

Unsteady non-linear convection in a second-order fluid

Linear and weakly non-linear analyses of convection in a second-order fluid is investigated. The Rivlin-Ericksen constitutive equation is considered to give viscoelastic correction to the momentum equation. The linear and non-linear analyses are, respectively, based on the normal mode technique and truncated representation of Fourier series. The linear theory reveals that the critical eigenvalue is independent of viscoelastic effects and the principle of exchange of stabilities holds. An autonomous system of differential equations representing cellular convection arising in the non-linear study is solved numerically. The non-linear analysis reveals that finite amplitudes have random behaviour. The effect of viscoelasticity on the non-linear solutions is analysed by considering different projections in the phase-space. Also, the transient behaviour concerning the variations of the Nusselt number with time has been investigated. The onset of chaotic motion is also discussed in this paper.