Hybrid modeling approach for vehicle frame coupled with nonlinear dampers

The vehicle frame system comprises frame structure and nonlinear dampers. In order to investigate the effects of frame flexibility and nonlinear hysteresis, a hybrid modeling approach for vehicle frame coupled with nonlinear dampers will be proposed. Before that, a complex model for nonlinear damper is developed consisting of knowledge-based model and support vector machine (SVM) model. The frame structure is modeled by FEM where the SVM complex model of damper is embedded in. Thus a hybrid model for vehicle frame system is established and successfully validated via a dummy vehicle riding in different conditions. The results show that the hybrid model can capture the nonlinear dynamic characteristics accurately. The hybrid model can also provide a basis for structural design with the existing of FEM model.     

A generalized probabilistic edge-based smoothed finite element method for elastostatic analysis of Reissner–Mindlin plates

Probabilistic analysis is becoming more important in mechanical science and real-world engineering applications. In this work, a novel generalized stochastic edge-based smoothed finite element method is proposed for Reissner–Mindlin plate problems. The edge-based smoothing technique is applied in the standard FEM to soften the over-stiff behavior of Reissner–Mindlin plate system, aiming to improve the accuracy of predictions for deterministic response. Then, the generalized nth order stochastic perturbation technique is incorporated with the edge-based S-FEM to formulate a generalized probabilistic ES-FEM framework (GP_ES-FEM). Based upon a general order Taylor expansion with random variables of input, it is able to determine higher order probabilistic moments and characteristics of the response of Reissner–Mindlin plates. The significant feature of the proposed approach is that it not only improves the numerical accuracy of deterministic output quantities with respect to a given random variable, but also overcomes the inherent drawbacks of conventional second-order perturbation approach, which is satisfactory only for small coefficients of variation of the stochastic input field. Two numerical examples for static analysis of Reissner–Mindlin plates are presented and verified by Monte Carlo simulations to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present method.     

An adaptive NS/ES-FEM approach for 2D contact problems using triangular elements

An adaptive contact analysis approach is presented for 2D solid mechanics problems using only triangular elements and the subdomain parametric variational principle (SPVP). The present approach is implemented for the node-based smoothed FEM (or NS-FEM), the edge-based smoothed FEM (ES-FEM) and the standard FEM models with automatically adaptive refinement scheme. A modified Coulomb frictional contact model and its corresponding discrete equations are introduced. The global discretized system equations are then formulated in an incremental form with the aid of the basic boundary value equations for friction contact and the subdomain parametric variational principle. A simple adaptive refining scheme is presented, and the Voronoi vertices are taken as candidate points to become new nodes because of duality property between the Voronoi diagrams and Delaunay triangulation. The present adaptive approach can properly simulate variable behaviors of a contact interface such as bonding/debonding, contacting/departing, and sticking/slipping. Several examples are presented to numerically validate the proposed approach via the comparison with reference solutions obtained by ABAQUS^®, and to investigate the effects of the various parameters used in the computations on the response of the contact system. The numerical results have demonstrated that the present adaptive contact analysis approach using the ES-FEM has higher accuracy and convergence rate in the strain energy than that using FEM and NS-FEM. However, the latter two methods can provide the lower and upper bound solution for the system strain energy, respectively.     

A symplectic analytical wave propagation model for damping and steady state forced vibration of orthotropic composite plate structure

An analytical wave propagation model is proposed in this paper for damping and steady state forced vibration of orthotropic composite plate structure by using the symplectic method. By solving an eigen-problem derived in the symplectic dual system of free bending vibration of orthotropic rectangular thin plates, the wave shape of plate is obtained in symplectic analytical form for any combination of simple boundary conditions along the plate edges. And then the specific damping capacity of wave mode is obtained symplectic analytically by using the strain energy theory. The steady state forced vibration of built-up plates structure is calculated by combining the wave propagation model and the finite element method. The vibration of the uniform plate domain of the built-up plates structure is described using symplectic analytical waves and the connector with discontinuous geometry or material is modeled using finite elements. In the numerical examples, the specific damping capacity of orthotropic rectangular thin plate with three different combinations of boundary condition is first calculated and analyzed. Comparisons of the present method results with respect to the results from the finite element method and from the Rayleigh–Ritz method validate the effectiveness of the present method. The relationship between the specific damping capacity of wave mode and that of modal mode is expounded. At last, the damped steady state forced vibration of a two plates system with a connector is calculated using the hybrid solution technique. The availability of the symplectic analytical wave propagation model is further validated by comparing the forced response from the present method with the results obtained using the finite element method.     

Transfer matrix method for the free and forced vibration analyses of multi-step Timoshenko beams coupled with rigid bodies on springs

Multi-step Timoshenko beams coupled with rigid bodies on springs can be regarded as a generalized model to investigate the dynamic characteristics of many structures and mechanical systems in engineering. This paper presents a novel transfer matrix method for the free and forced vibration analyses of the hybrid system. It is modeled as a chain system, where each beam and each rigid body with its supporting spring are dealt with one element, respectively. The transfer equation of each element is deduced based on separation of variables method. The system overall transfer equation is obtained by substituting an element transfer equation into another. Then, the free vibration characteristics are acquired by solving exact homogeneous linear equations. To compute the forced vibration response with modal superposition method, the body dynamic equations and augmented eigenvectors are established, and the orthogonality of augmented eigenvectors is mathematically proved. Without high-order global dynamic equation or approximate spatial discretization, the free and forced vibration analyses of the hybrid system are achieved efficiently and accurately in this study. As an analytical approach, the present method is easy, highly stylized, robust, powerful and general for the complex hybrid systems containing any number of Timoshenko beams and rigid bodies. Four numerical examples are implemented, and the results show that this method is computationally efficient with high precision.     

Free vibration of embedded double-walled carbon nanotubes considering nonlinear interlayer van der Waals forces

In this article, nonlinear free vibration of embedded double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) duo to the nonlinear interlayer van der Waals (vdW) force is studied based on the nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The interlayer vdW force is modeled as a nonlinear function of inner and outer tubes deflections considering the variation of the interlayer distance along the circumference of DWCNTs. The harmonic balance method is applied to analyze the relationship between the deflection amplitudes and the frequencies of in-phase and out-of-phase free vibrations for DWCNTs. Finally, the influences of the nonlocal parameter, surrounding elastic medium, nanotube length, end condition and vibrational mode on the nonlinear free vibration properties of DWCNTs are discussed in detail.     

Finite volume analysis of adaptive beams with piezoelectric sensors and actuators

This paper presents a finite volume (FV) formulation for the free vibration analysis and active vibration control of the smart beams with piezoelectric sensors and actuators. The governing equations based on Timoshenko beam theory are discretized using the finite volume method. For the purpose of forced vibration control of beam structures, the negative velocity feedback controller is designed for the single-input, single-output system. To achieve the best effect, the piezoelectric sensors and actuators are coupled with the host structure in different positions and then the performance of the designed control system is evaluated for each position. In the test examples, first the shear locking free feature of the present formulation is demonstrated. This has been performed by doing static and natural frequency analysis of some reference models. Then, the capability of the proposed method for the prediction of uncontrolled forced vibration response and active vibration control of a beam structure is studied.     

Active vibration suppression of smart beams

In this paper an active vibration control technique for a smart beam is presented. The structure is made of two layers of piezoelectric material (PZT8) embedded on the surface of an aluminium beam. The active control is inserted into the finite element model by using programming tools of the general purpose code used here. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Identification of crack in a rotor system based on wavelet finite element method

The dynamics and diagnosis of cracked rotor have been gaining importance in recent years. In the present study a model-based crack identification method is proposed for estimating crack location and size in shafts. The rotor system has been modeled using finite element method of B-spline wavelet on the interval (FEM BSWI), while the crack is considered through local stiffness change. Based on Rayleigh beam theory, the influences of rotatory inertia on the flexural vibrations of the rotor system are examined to construct BSWI Rayleigh beam element. The slender shaft and stiffness disc are modeled by BSWI Rayleigh–Euler beam element and BSWI Rayleigh–Timoshenko beam element, respectively. Then the crack identification forward and inverse problems are solved by using surface-fitting technique and contour-plotting method. The experimental examples are given to verify the validity of the BSWI beam element for crack identification in a rotor system. From experimental results, the new method can be applied to prognosis and quantitative diagnosis of crack in a rotor system.     

Study on vibration and stability of an axially translating viscoelastic Timoshenko beam: Non-transforming spectral element analysis

Engineering systems, such as rolled steel beams, chain and belt drives and high-speed paper, can be modeled as axially translating beams. This article scrutinizes vibration and stability of an axially translating viscoelastic Timoshenko beam constrained by simple supports and subjected to axial pretension. The viscoelastic form of general rheological model is adopted to constitute the material of the beam. The partial differential equations governing transverse motion of the beam are derived from the extended form of Hamilton's principle. The non-transforming spectral element method (NTSEM) is applied to transform the governing equations into a set of ordinary differential equations. The formulation is similar to conventional FFT-based spectral element model except that Daubechies wavelet basis functions are used for temporal discretization. Influences of translating velocities, axial tensile force, viscoelastic parameter, shear deformation, beam model and boundary condition types are investigated on the underlying dynamic response and stability via the NTSEM and demonstrated via numerical simulations.     

Magnetostrictive actuation of a smart beam with hysteretic material behaviour

Magnetostrictive materials can be used as actuators in smart structures technology. The relation between induced strain and the applied magnetic field is nonlinear and shows hysteretic behaviour. Thus the magnetomechanical coupling coefficient is not constant and should be defined as a function of strain or magnetic field in computations. In this study the hysteresis of a mechanically unconstrained actuator is determined using the Michelson interferometry. The hysteretic behaviour is modelled phenomenologically by a Preisach model. Using these experimental data for the modelling of an active structure with embedded magnetostrictive actuators, the actual coupling coefficient can be determined utilising the Preisach model. With this procedure the actuation strain of an embedded actuator, including the physical nonlinearities, can be calculated using the material characteristics obtained with an unconstrained actuator. For the determination of the actual coupling coefficient a strain- and field-dependent approach is used. For an experimental validation of the method outlined above, a magnetostrictive actuator is characterised experimentally and then applied to a cantilever aluminium beam. Then, the tip displacement of the actuated beam is measured with a laser triangulation sensor and compared with the numerical results. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A beam segment element for dynamic analysis of large aqueducts

Large aqueduct structure is a complex structure that is commonly used in hydraulic engineering, especially in large-scale water conveying projects. The analysis of dynamic response for an aqueduct structure is necessary if the aqueduct is built in an earthquake area. Traditional 3D finite element analysis is time consuming and the existing simplified response method cannot take into account all the effects, such as the bending-torsion coupling effect and the constrained torsion, of the deformations of the thin wall structure of the aqueduct body. For this special structure, a simple and yet accurate model for dynamic analysis is needed. In this paper, a beam segment element is developed and used for the calculation of dynamic response for aqueduct structures. With the frame of the aqueduct being modeled using beam element, the proposed model can calculate the dynamic response of the whole aqueduct structures. Results are compared with that of a general purpose finite element analysis software using 3D finite element model. Good agreement is achieved between the two models. However, the proposed model needs less elements and much less computing time.     

气动、结构、载荷相协调的大型风电叶片自主研发进展

从叶片设计的3个关键环节（气动设计、结构设计和载荷评估）出发,对叶片自主研发进展进行了总结分析．在气动设计方面,概述了计算流体动力学（computational fluid dynamics, CFD）方法、涡方法和叶素动量（blade element momentum, BEM）方法,并依据工程中广泛应用的BEM方法,指出了低风速区风电叶片的解决思路;在结构设计方面,简要概述了基于梁模型的传统设计分析方法,分析了其在大型复合材料叶片薄壳结构上的不足,并对有限元方法（finite element method, FEM）在叶片结构分析中的应用进展进行了介绍;在载荷评估方面,介绍了其对叶片和整机其它部件的影响,阐述了载荷预估方面的工作进展．然后,通过分析3个关键环节之间的相互关系,得到如下结论:建立气动、结构和载荷相协调的叶片优化设计体系,才能真正满足高效低成本的需要．最后,指明了需要进一步研究的主要方向,即高效低载翼型研究,结构非线性有限元分析,气动-结构耦合研究,设计标准制定．最终目标是建立适合中国风资源特点的叶片研发体系,推动我国风电产业发展.     

Euler-Bernoulli Beam with Boundary Control: Stability and FEM

We consider a model for the time evolution of a piezoelectric cantilever with tip mass. With appropriately shaped actuator and sensor electrodes, boundary control is applied and a passivity based feedback controller is designed to include damping into the system. Assuming that the cantilever can be modeled by the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation, we obtain a coupled PDE-ODE system. First we discuss its dissipativity, and its asymptotic but non-exponential stability. Next we derive a FEM using piecewise cubic Hermitian shape functions that is still dissipative. This is illustrated on a numerical simulation. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

平带驱动系统耦合振动的模态分析

使用模态分析的方法研究平带驱动系统的耦合振动．平带驱动系统是由连续的可模型化为弦线的平带,离散的滑轮和一个张紧臂组成的混合系统．从控制方程推导得到了系统的特征方程．通过数值计算,研究了轴向运动速度和初始张力对系统频率的影响．     

On some regularities in dynamic response of cyclic periodic structures

The paper deals with cyclic periodic structures modelling bladed disk assemblies of blades with friction elements for vibration damping. These elements placed between adjacent blades reduce the vibration amplitudes by means of dry friction resulting from centrifugal forces acting on the elements and relative displacements of the blades. However, the application of these friction elements results in an additional dynamical coupling which together with mistuning of some system parameters (e.g., blade eigenfrequency or contact parameters) may cause localization of vibration. In the present paper a linear approximation of such a system is investigated. The structure composed of cyclic periodic cells modelled each as a clamped-free beam interacting with each other by means of viscoelastic elements of complex stiffness is applied for dynamic system analysis. In case of free vibrations as well as in case of steady-state dynamic response to a harmonic pressure field, a perfect periodic structure and the structures with periodically mistuned parameters (blade eigenfrequencies and contact parameters) are studied. Some regularities in the dynamic response of the systems with mistuning have been noticed. Despite the fact that only a linear approximation has been used, the results and conclusions can be applied for models which describe the blade interaction in a nonlinear way.     

Modelling the bending behaviour of a new hybrid glulam beam reinforced with FRP and ultra-high-performance concrete

The main objective of this research project to develop a new type of hybrid glulam beam that will increase the performance of a timber structural element by combining it with ultra-high-performance concrete with short fibre reinforcement (UHPC-SFR). The hybrid beam is obtained is a layered structures obtained by combining a glued-laminated (glulam) wood beam with UHPC-SFR lamellae that is bonded to its top and bottom faces. The obtained hybrid beam possesses a lower bending stiffness than a glulam beam of similar overall dimensions but has a higher ultimate load capacity. Two models that were developed to validate this concept are presented in this paper. The first is an analytical model based on hypotheses related to the usual strength of materials, and the second is a finite element model. The load–displacement and moment–curvature relationships from both models are compared to the experimental results obtained from the large-scale specimens. The results show good correlation between the analytical modelling and experimental results and illustrate the potential applications of such composite beam configurations for civil engineering structures.     

A Coupled FE-BE Analysis of Smart Lightweight Structures for Active Noise and Vibration Control

Over the past years much research and development has been done in the area of active control in order to improve the acoustical and vibrational properties of thin–walled lightweight structures. An efficient technique for actively reducing the structural vibration and sound radiation is the application of smart structures. In smart structures piezoelectric materials are often used as actuators and sensors. The design of smart structures requires fast and reliable simulation tools. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present a coupled finite element–boundary element formulation, which enables the modeling of piezoelectric smart lightweight structures. The paper describes the theoretical background of the coupled approach in which the finite element method (FEM) is applied for the modeling of the passive vibrating shell structure as well as the surface attached piezoelectric actuators and sensors. The boundary element method (BEM) is used to characterize the corresponding sound field. In order to derive a coupled FE–BE formulation additional coupling conditions are introduced at the fluid–structure interface. Since the resulting overall model contains a large number of degrees of freedom, the mode superposition method is employed to reduce the size of the FE submodel. To validate the accuracy of the proposed approach, numerical simulations are carried out in the frequency domain and the results are compared with analytical reference solutions. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nonlinear vibration of hybrid laminated plates resting on elastic foundations in thermal environments

This paper deals with large amplitude vibration of hybrid laminated plates containing piezoelectric layers resting on an elastic foundation in thermal environments. The motion equation of the plate that includes plate-foundation interaction is based on a higher order shear deformation plate theory and solved by a two-step perturbation technique. The thermo-piezoelectric effects are also included and the material properties of both orthotropic layers and piezoelectric layers are assumed to be temperature-dependent. The numerical illustrations concern nonlinear vibration characteristics of unsymmetric cross-ply and antisymmetric angle-ply laminated plates with fully covered or embedded piezoelectric actuators under different sets of thermal and electrical loading conditions. The results show that the foundation stiffness and stacking sequence have a significant effect on the nonlinear vibration characteristics of the hybrid laminated plate. The results also reveal that the temperature rise reduces the natural frequency, but it only has a small effect on the nonlinear to linear frequency ratios of the hybrid laminated plate. The results confirm that the effect of the applied voltage on the natural frequency and the nonlinear to linear frequency ratios of the hybrid laminated plate is marginal except the plate is sufficiently thin.