Analysis of the localization of deformation and the complete stress–strain relation for mesoscopic heterogeneous brittle rock under dynamic uniaxial tensile loading

Stress redistribution induced by excavation results in the tensile zone in parts of the surrounding rock mass. It is significant to analyze the localization of deformation and damage, and to study the complete stress–strain relation for mesoscopic heterogeneous rock under dynamic uniaxial tensile loading. On the basis of micromechanics, the complete stress–strain relation including linear elasticity, nonlinear hardening, rapid stress drop and strain softening is obtained. The behaviors of rapid stress drop and strain softening are due to localization of deformation and damage. The constitutive model, which analyze localization of deformation and damage, is distinct from the conventional model. Theoretical predictions have shown to consistent with the experimental results.     

Stress–strain relations for hydrogels under multiaxial deformation

Constitutive equations are derived for the elastic response of swollen elastomers and hydrogels under an arbitrary deformation with finite strains. An expression is developed for the free energy density of a polymer network based on the Flory concept of flexible chains with constrained junctions and solvent-dependent reference configuration. The importance of introduction of a reference configuration evolving under swelling is confirmed by the analysis of experimental data on nanocomposite hydrogels subjected to swelling and drying. Adjustable parameters in the stress–strain relations are found by fitting observations on swollen elastomers, chemical gels (linked by covalent bonds and sliding cross-links), and physical gels under uniaxial stretching, equi-biaxial tension, and pure shear. Good agreement is demonstrated between the observations and results of numerical simulation. A pronounced difference is revealed between the effect of solvent content on elastic moduli of chemical and physical gels.     

Viscoelastic melt rheology and time–temperature superposition of polycarbonate–multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites

This work investigates the linear and non-linear viscoelastic melt rheology of four grades of polycarbonate melt compounded with 3 wt% Nanocyl NC7000 multi-walled carbon nanotubes and of the matching matrix polymers. Amplitude sweeps reveal an earlier onset of non-linearity and a strain overshoot in the nanocomposites. Mastercurves are constructed from isothermal frequency sweeps using vertical and horizontal shifting. Although all nanocomposites exhibit a second plateau at ～10⁵ Pa, the relaxation times estimated from the peak in loss tangent are not statistically different from those of pure melts estimated from cross-over frequencies: all relaxation timescales scale with molar mass in the same way, evidence that the relaxation of the polymer network is the dominant mechanism in both filled and unfilled materials. Non-linear rheology is also measured in large amplitude oscillatory shear. A comparison of the responses from frequency and amplitude sweep experiments reveals the importance of strain and temperature history on the response of such nanocomposites.     

A thermodynamically consistent large deformation elastic–viscoplastic model with directional tensile failure

The main objective of this paper is to develop a continuum model for directional tensile failure that can simulate weakening and void formation due to tensile failure. Directionality in the model allows simulation of weakening to tension applied in one direction, without weakening to subsequent tension applied in perpendicular directions. The model is developed within the context of a properly invariant non-linear thermomechanical theory. Specifically, it is shown how the model can be combined with general constitutive equations for porous compaction and dilation, as well as viscoplasticity. The thermoelastic response is hyperelastic, with the stress being determined by derivatives of the Helmholtz free energy, and the material is considered to be elastically isotropic. In particular, it is assumed that the rate of inelasticity due to tensile failure is coaxial with the tensor measure of elastic deformation (and hence stress). This causes the rate of dissipation to take a particularly simple form which can be shown to satisfy the second law of thermodynamics. A numerical procedure for integrating these evolution equations is proposed and a number of examples are considered to explore the response of the model to different loading histories.     

Stochastic P-bifurcation in a nonlinear impact oscillator with soft barrier under Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process

Nonlinear Dynamics - This study investigates the effect of randomness in the forcing on a harmonically excited bilinear impact oscillator with a soft barrier. The system parameter range considered...     

Determining material true stress–strain curve from tensile specimens with rectangular cross-section

The uniaxial true stress logarithmic strain curve for a thick section can be determined from the load–diameter reduction record of a round tensile specimen. The correction of the true stress for necking can be performed by using the well-known Bridgman equation. For thin sections, it is more practical to use specimens with rectangular cross-section. However, there is no established method to determine the complete true stress–logarithmic strain relation from a rectangular specimen. In this paper, an extensive three-dimensional numerical study has been carried out on the diffuse necking behaviour of tensile specimens made of isotropic materials with rectangular cross-section, and an approximate relation is established between the area reduction of the minimum cross-section and the measured thickness reduction. It is found that the area reduction can be normalized by the uniaxial strain at maximum load which represents the material hardening and also the section aspect ratio. Furthermore, for the same material, specimens with different aspect ratio give exactly the same true average stress–logarithmic strain curve. This finding implies that Bridgmans correction can still be used for necking correction of the true average stress obtained from rectangular specimens. Based on this finding, a method for determining the true stress–logarithmic strain relation from the load–thickness reduction curve of specimens with rectangular cross-section is proposed.     

Generation of a magnetic field in the shear deformation region of a conducting material upon high–velocity penetration

It is shown that when a high–velocity impactor penetrates into a conducting target with a transverse magnetic field, conditions for considerable field amplification are produced in the shear deformation region on the lateral surface of the impactor. Field generation in a conducting medium deformed in shear is considered within the framework of a plane one–dimensional problem of magnetohydrodynamics. The results obtained indicate that along the boundary of the cavity produced by the impactor in the target with a magnetic field, a thin layer with a very high field intensity (about 100 T) is formed. The possibility of explosion of this layer due to the magnetic pressure acting in it is analyzed.     

Isothermal viscoelastic properties of PMMA and LDPE over 11 decades of frequency and time: a test of time–temperature superposition

Many instruments used to measure viscoelastic properties are only capable of subjecting a sample to a limited range of loading frequencies. For thermorheologically simple materials, it is assumed that a change in temperature is equivalent to a shift of the viscoelastic behavior on the log frequency or time axis. For many materials, time–temperature superposition appears to work well for modulus or compliance curves over three decades of time or frequency, but some deviations are known if the window is expanded to five or six decades. To apply a more stringent test of the validity of time–temperature superposition, broadband viscoelastic spectroscopy is used to isothermally study polymethylmethacrylate and low-density polyethylene at several temperatures in the glassy region. Shear modulus and damping (tan δ) are measured isothermally over a wide range (up to 11 decades) of time and frequency. Results indicate that, while modulus curves can be approximately superimposed, the damping (tan δ) curves change in height and shape with temperature.     

Study on the subgrade deformation under high-speed train loading and water–soil interaction

It is important to study the subgrade characteristics of high-speed railways in consideration of the water–soil coupling dynamic problem,especially when high-speed trains operate in rainy regions.This study develops a nonlinear water–soil interaction dynamic model of slab track coupling with subgrade under high-speed train loading based on vehicle–track coupling dynamics.By using this model,the basic dynamic characteristics,including water–soil interaction and without water induced by the high-speed train loading,are studied.The main factors-the permeability coefficien and the porosity-influencin the subgrade deformation are investigated.The developed model can characterize the soil dynamic behaviour more realistically,especially when considering the influenc of water-rich soil.     

Further dynamical analysis of modified Fitzhugh–Nagumo model under the electric field

Nonlinear Dynamics - Models of neurons play an essential role in computational neuroscience. They provide a virtual laboratory to analyze the different regimes in the electrical activities of a...     

On the stress–strain states of cellular materials under high loading rates

A virtual Taylor impact of cellular materials is analyzed with a wave propagation technique, i.e. the Lagrangian analysis method, of which the main advantage is that no pre-assumed constitutive relationship is required. Time histories of particle velocity, local strain, and stress profiles are calculated to present the local stress–strain history curves, from which the dynamic stress–strain states are obtained.The present results reveal that the dynamic-rigid-plastic hardening(D-R-PH) material model introduced in a previous study of our group is in good agreement with the dynamic stress–strain states under high loading rates obtained by the Lagrangian analysis method. It directly reflects the effectiveness and feasibility of the D-R-PH material model for the cellular materials under high loading rates.     

Two-fold enhancement in tensile strength of carbon nanotube–carbon fiber hybrid epoxy composites through combination of electrophoretic deposition and alternating electric field

A new carbon nanotube (CNT)–hybridized carbon fiber (CF) was introduced in an attempt to improve interfacial strength between CF and polymeric matrix. Amine-functionalized CNTs was radially deposited on the CF surface through a combination of alternating electric field with electrophoretic deposition process. Radial deposition of CNTs on CF formed a unique porous structure around CF that could significantly increase the interfacial adhesion through interlocking of polymeric matrix. Tensile properties and fatigue life of the reinforced composites were investigated in order to study the effect of interfacial adhesion on mechanical properties of reinforced composites. Results indicate that the radial deposition of CNT on CF can remarkably enhance the compatibility of polymeric matrix with CF. This improvement in compatibility of polymeric matrix with CNT–hybridized CF resulted in considerable enhancement in mechanical properties of composites. The interfacial reinforcing mechanism was explored through fractography of reinforced composites and possible failure modes have been precisely discussed.     

Influence of the cavitation on the stress–strain fields of compressible Blatz–Ko materials at finite deformation

The aim of this article is the analysis of fracture growth in media characterized by random distribution of micro-failure mechanisms per unit volume. The deformation behavior of the material was investigated in terms of a spherical unit cell model, containing an initially spherical cell of porous. The effective elastic bulk modulus as a function of micro-failures concentration was computed and using the Griffith critirium and certain boundary conditions the rate at which the void area varies was determined too. Along the analysis a special form of the strain energy function for compressible Blatz–Ko material was used. The applied traction on the unit cell of the material was determined as a function of the porosity of the material, as well as the strain field within the solid. At low values of the porosity, as the applied external traction was increased instabilities were observed in the void growth.     

Softening in stress–strain curve for Drucker–Prager non-associated plasticity

This paper is devoted to proving some features of the non associated flow rule such as a softening phenomenon in the stress–strain curve and the decrease of limit load. Based on the non-associated Drucker–Prager model, the analysis is investigated by means of a soil specimen subjected to traction and compression actions on its edges. To obtain the stress–strain curve, a semi-analytical approach provides an incremental relation between stresses and strains. The plastic limit load is calculated analytically by direct static and kinematic methods. The kinematic one is determined on the basis of the bipotential concept.     

Influence of conicity on the stress–strain state of a flexible orthotropic conical shell in a nonstationary magnetic field

A problem of magnetoelasticity for a flexible conical shell in a nonstationary magnetic field is solved. The effect of conicity on the stress–strain state of the shell is analyzed     

Effects of polydispersity on the micro–macro behavior of granular assemblies under different deformation paths

The micromechanical and macromechanical behavior of idealized granular assemblies, made by linearly elastic, frictionless, polydisperse spheres, are studied in a periodic, triaxial box geometry, using the discrete element method. Emphasis is put on the effect of polydispersity under purely isotropic loading and unloading, deviatoric(volume conserving), and uniaxial compression paths.We show that scaled pressure, coordination number and fraction of rattlers behave in a very similar fashion as functions of volume fraction, irrespective of the deformation path applied. Interestingly, they show a systematic dependence on the deformation mode and polydispersity via the respective jamming volume fraction. This confirms that the concept of a single jamming point has to be rephrased to a range of variable jamming points, dependent on microstructure and history of the sample, making the jamming volume fraction a state-variable.This behavior is confirmed when a simplified constitutive model involving structural anisotropy is calibrated using the purely isotropic and deviatoric simulations. The basic model parameters are found to depend on the polydispersity of the sample through the different jamming volume fractions. The predictive power of the calibrated model is checked by comparison with an independent test, namely uniaxial compression. The important features of the uniaxial experiment are captured and a qualitative prediction for the evolution of stress and fabric is shown involving a "softening" regime in both stress and fabric – stronger for the latter – that was not prescribed into the model a priori.     

Fourier series based FE analysis of a disc under prescribed displacements–elastic stress study

This paper examines the numerical displacements and stresses developed around a disc under horizontal prescribed displacements and at the interface separating it from the surrounding elastic soil. Since the geometry of the problem exhibits axial symmetry and the loading is non-axisymmetric, the semi-analytical FE approach is used as it proves to be efficient and economical. First, both analytical and numerical expressions for soil reaction are established and compared. Results of comparison show a very good agreement. Then, for different values of the soil Poisson’s ratio, normal radial stresses, orthoradial stresses and shear stresses distributions along radial distance reaching 20r _d (r _d is the disc radius) are presented for a disc that has either perfectly smooth or perfectly rough interfaces with the elastic medium. The paper finishes by showing the effect of the soil Poisson’s ratio as well as the relative soil/interface stiffness on the stresses developed at the interface locations.     

Gravity-elastic deformation and stability of fluid–fluid interface in porous media

A new generalized model is proposed to describe deformations of the mobile interface separating two immiscible weakly compressible fluids in a weakly deformable porous medium. It describes gravity non-equilibrium processes, including evolution of the gravitational instability, and represents a system of parabolic or anti-parabolic equations.