Optimal Orthotropy for Minimum Elastic Energy by the Polar Method

The polar method is a minimal invariant representation in plane elasticity. A plane orthotropic elastic behaviour is expressed by five polar invariants related to the elastic symmetries. In this paper, considering the orthotropy orientation and the polar invariants as optimisation parameters, we discuss the problem of minimising the elastic energy for a given state of stress. The minimisation with respect to the orientation is solved in order to find the associated optimal elastic energy for given polar invariants. Then, this quantity is minimised with respect to the polar invariants which characterise the magnitude of the anisotropic components of the elastic stiffness tensor. Optimal uncoupled composite laminates corresponding to this optimum are presented for membrane and bending loadings.     

Corner Singularities and Regularity Results for the Reissner/Mindlin Plate Model

The theory for elliptic boundary value problems for general elliptic systems is used in order to investigate systematically corner singularities and regularity for weak solutions to a broad class of boundary value problems for the Reissner/Mindlin plate model in polygonal domains. The regularity results for the deflection of the midplane and for the rotation of fibers normal to the midplane are formulated in Sobolev spaces H ^s , where s>1 is a real number. The number s depends on the geometry, the material parameters and the boundary conditions in general and is related to a decomposition of the fields in a singular and a regular part. The leading singular terms are calculated for a wide class of boundary conditions (36 combinations). The results are critically compared with those known from a stress potential approach.     

Bifurcation and route-to-chaos analyses for Mathieu–Duffing oscillator by the incremental harmonic balance method

Bifurcations and route to chaos of the Mathieu–Duffing oscillator are investigated by the incremental harmonic balance (IHB) procedure. A new scheme for selecting the initial value conditions is presented for predicting the higher order periodic solutions. A series of period-doubling bifurcation points and the threshold value of the control parameter at the onset of chaos can be calculated by the present procedure. A sequence of period-doubling bifurcation points of the oscillator are identified and found to obey the universal scale law approximately. The bifurcation diagram and phase portraits obtained by the IHB method are presented to confirm the period-doubling route-to-chaos qualitatively. It can also be noted that the phase portraits and bifurcation points agree well with those obtained by numerical time-integration.     

A New Solution Method for Some Boundary Value Problems of Elastic Beams and Plates∗

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper presents a new solution method for several types of buckling and bending problems of beams and plates. The method is based on the use of a non-orthogonal series expansion, consisting of some specially chosen trigonometric functions for the elastic curve y of a beam or the deflection surface w of a plate. The calculations are performed using the Euler and Bernoulli polynomials, under realistic approximations of limiting values of the boundary conditions. In this method, it is not necessary to use the solution of the differential equation of the problem, Results obtained using the method are shown to be consistent with known solutions.     

Boundary Regularity for Solutions to the Linearized Monge–Ampère Equations

We obtain boundary Hölder gradient estimates and regularity for solutions to the linearized Monge–Ampère equations under natural assumptions on the domain, Monge–Ampère measures and boundary data. Our results are affine invariant analogues of the boundary Hölder gradient estimates of Krylov.     

A Method for Determining Model‐Structure Errors and for Locating Damage in Vibrating Systems

A method is proposed for the determination of natural frequencies and mode shapes of a system which is constrained so that unknown stiffnesses are replaced by rigid connections. The constraint is not imposed physically but only in mathematics so that the behaviour of the constrained system is inferred from the unconstrained measurements. Since stiffnesses which are made rigid cannot experience any elastic strain they can have no effect on the inferred measurements. A procedure for comparing the inferred measurements with similarly constrained finite element predictions can be used to determine modelstructure errors. Damage, such as a crack in a beam, can be located by comparing the inferred measurements from the structure in its undamaged and current states. It is demonstrated how unmeasured rotations may be constrained by using rigidbody modes and a reduction/expansion transformation from a finite element model.Sommario. Viene proposto un metodo per la determinazione delle frequenze proprie e dei modi di vibrazione di un sistema vincolato in modo tale che alcuni elementi elastici siano sostituiti da collegamenti rigidi. Il vincolo non viene imposto fisicamente, ma solo matematicamente, e pertanto il comportamento del sistema vincolato viene dedotto dalle misure sul sistema non vincolato. Poiché gli elementi che sono resi rigidi non possono subire alcuna deformazione elastica, essi non hanno certamente alcun effetto sulle misure dedotte per il sistema vincolato. Una procedura che mette a confronto le misure dedotte per il sistema vincolato con le previsioni fornite da un modello ad elementi finiti con analoghi vincoli, può essere utilizzata per determinare errori nella struttura del modello. Danni del tipo di una cricca su una trave possono essere localizzati confrontando le misure dedotte – per sistemi analogamente vincolati – da quelle effettuate sulla struttura non danneggiata e sulla struttura danneggiata. Si dimostra come si possono imporre vincoli sulle rotazioni (non misurate) utilizzando i modi di corpo rigido dell'elemento e una tecnica di riduzione/espansione dei gradi di libertà di un modello ad elementi finiti.     

Calculation of Layered Shells by the Pseudogeometrical–Nonlinearity Method

The problem of determining the stress—strain state of a multilayered shell is solved. It is assumed that the layer material is nonlinearly elastic and the strain—displacement relations are nonlinear. The displacements are expanded in terms of the functions of transverse coordinate that contain unknown parameters. The governing equations are derived with the use of the Lagrange variational principle. A technique for minimizing the energy functional is proposed. An example of a three–layered beam is considered, calculation results are compared with the exact solution, and the specific features of the approach proposed are analyzed.     

On the Existence and Uniqueness of a Solution to the Interior Transmission Problem for Piecewise-Homogeneous Solids

The interior transmission problem (ITP), which plays a fundamental role in inverse scattering theories involving penetrable defects, is investigated within the framework of mechanical waves scattered by piecewise-homogeneous, elastic or viscoelastic obstacles in a likewise heterogeneous background solid. For generality, the obstacle is allowed to be multiply connected, having both penetrable components (inclusions) and impenetrable parts (cavities). A variational formulation is employed to establish sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of a solution to the ITP, provided that the excitation frequency does not belong to (at most) countable spectrum of transmission eigenvalues. The featured sufficient conditions, expressed in terms of the mass density and elasticity parameters of the problem, represent an advancement over earlier works on the subject in that (i) they pose a precise, previously unavailable provision for the well-posedness of the ITP in situations when both the obstacle and the background solid are heterogeneous, and (ii) they are dimensionally consistent, i.e., invariant under the choice of physical units. For the case of a viscoelastic scatterer in an elastic solid it is further shown, consistent with earlier studies in acoustics, electromagnetism, and elasticity that the uniqueness of a solution to the ITP is maintained irrespective of the vibration frequency. When applied to the situation where both the scatterer and the background medium are viscoelastic, i.e., dissipative, on the other hand, the same type of analysis shows that the analogous claim of uniqueness does not hold. Physically, such anomalous behavior of the “viscoelastic-viscoelastic” case (that has eluded previous studies) has its origins in a lesser known fact that the homogeneous ITP is not mechanically insulated from its surroundings—a feature that is particularly cloaked in situations when either the background medium or the scatterer are dissipative. A set of numerical results, computed for ITP configurations that meet the sufficient conditions for the existence of a solution, is included to illustrate the problem. Consistent with the preceding analysis, the results indicate that the set of transmission values is indeed empty in the “elastic-viscoelastic” case, and countable for “elastic-elastic” and “viscoelastic-viscoelastic” configurations.     

Justification of the Asymptotic Expansion Method for Homogeneous Isotropic Beams by Comparison with De Saint-Venant’s Solutions

The formal asymptotic expansion method is an attractive mean to derive simplified models for problems exhibiting a small parameter, such as the elastic analysis of beam-like structures. Usually this method is rigorously justified using convergence theorems Yu and Hodges, 2004. In this paper it is illustrated how the Saint-Venant’s solution naturally arises from the lowest order terms of an asymptotic expansion of the elastic state for the case of homogeneous isotropic beams. It is also highlighted that the Saint-Venant solutions corresponding to pure traction, bending and torsion involve the solution of the first-order microscopic problems, while for the simple bending problem, the solution of the second-order microscopic problems is needed. The second-order problems provide therefore a way to characterize the transverse shear behavior and the cross-sectional warping of the beam.     

An Exact Derivation from Three-Dimensions of the Linear Equations for the Bending of an Elastically Monoclinic Plate and Associated Three-Dimensional Solutions

The exact linear three-dimensional equations for a elastically monoclinic (13 constant) plate of constant thickness are reduced without approximation to a single 4th order differential equation for a thickness-weighted normal displacement plus two auxiliary equations for weighted thickness integrals of a stress function and the normal strain. The 4th order equation is of the same form as in classical (Kirchhoff) theory except the unknown is not the midsurface normal displacement. Assuming a solution of these plate equations, we construct so-called modified Saint-Venant solutions—“modified” because they involve non-zero body and surface loads. That is, solutions of the exact three-dimensional elasticity equations that exhibit no boundary layers and that are subject to a special set of body and surface loads that leave the analogous plate loads arbitrary.     

The Solution for Axisymmetrical Shells with Abrupt Curvature Change(Corrugated Shells)by the Finite Element Method

It has been noted in the present paper that the finite element method using linear elements for solving axisymmetrical shells cannot be applied to the analysis of axisymmetrical shells with abrupt curvature change,owing to the fact that the influence of the curvature upon the angular displace-ments has been neglected.The present paper provides a finite element method using linear elements in which the influence of curvature is considered and the angular displacements are treated as continuous parameters.This method has been applied to the calculation of corrugated shells of the type C,and compared with the experimental results obtained by Turner-Ford as well as with the analytical solution given by Prof.Chien Wei-zang.The compari-sons have been proved that this theory is correct.     

Development of the Spectral Sturm–Liouville Method for the Solution of a Boundary-Value Problem for the Biharmonic Equation

We generalize the spectral Sturm–Liouville method for the solution of the biharmonic equation. The characteristic equation for the determination of eigenvalues is investigated and eigenfunctions are constructed. We determine the stress-strain state for a rectangular plate loaded by arbitrary forces on its sides. For an arbitrary external load, we obtain a relation for the stress-strain state in the form of a series in eigenfunctions. A method of integral moments for the determination of the coefficients of the series is proposed. The Saint-Venant principle is verified.     

The minimum plane path for movable end-points and the nonsimultaneous variations

The paper deals with the problem of existence of the minimum path for movable end-points in the one-of-degree-of-freedom mechanical system. The criteria for obtaining of extremum path for movable end-points is extended with new criteria for minimum. The nonsimultaneous variational calculus is applied. It is assumed that the actual path belongs to sub-set C ² of admissible curves. The series expansion up to the second order small values is applied and the first and the second variation of functional are calculated. It is proved that the necessary and sufficient conditions for the minimum path are that the first order variation is zero and the second order variation is positive. The second conditions are based on the arbitrary solution of Riccati’s differential equation and also the known Legender’s and Jacobi criteria for minimum for the case of fixed end-points. Two examples are solved: the problem of the minimal length of a curve joining two fixed boundary curves and problem of motion of a particle between variable boundaries for which the Hamilton action integral is minimal.     

A symbolic algorithm for the automatic computation of multitone-input harmonic balance equations for nonlinear systems

A symbolic algorithm is developed for the automatic generation of harmonic balance equations for multitone input for a class of nonlinear differential systems with polynomial nonlinearities. Generalized expressions are derived for the construction of balance equations for a defined multitone signal form. Procedures are described for determining combinations for a given output frequency from the desired set obtained from box truncated spectra and their permutations to automate symbolic algorithm. An application of method is demonstrated using the well-known Duffing–Van der Pol equation. Then the obtained analytical results are compared with numerical simulations to show the accuracy of the approach. The computation times for both the numerical solutions of equations versus the number of frequency components and the symbolic generation of the equations versus the power of nonlinearity are also investigated.     

A Regularity Criterion for the Weak Solutions to the Navier–Stokes–Fourier System

We show that any weak solution to the full Navier–Stokes–Fourier system emanating from the data belonging to the Sobolev space W ^3,2 remains regular as long as the velocity gradient is bounded. The proof is based on the weak-strong uniqueness property and parabolic a priori estimates for the local strong solutions.     

Accuracy Analysis of the Semi-Analytical Method for Shape Sensitivity Calculation∗

ABSTRACT

The semi-analytical method of design sensitivity analysis that is widely used for calculating derivatives of static response with respect to design variables for structures modeled by finite elements is studied in this paper. It is shown that the method can have serious accuracy problems for shape design variables in structures modeled by beam, plate, truss, frame, and solid elements. Errors are shown to be associated with an incompatibility of the sensitivity field with the structure. An error index is developed to test the accuracy of the semi-analytical method. It characterizes the difference in errors between a general finite difference method and the semi-analytical method. A method for improving the accuracy of the semi-analytical method (when possible) is provided. Examples are presented to demonstrate the use of the error index.     

Exact Solution of the Wave‐Resistance Problem for a Submerged Cylinder. I. Linearized Theory

. We consider the problem of finding a holomorphic function in a strip with a cut ${\cal A}= \{(x,y) : \, x\in\RE,\,\,0 satisfying some prescribed linear conditions on the boundary. The problem has a one‐parameter family of solutions in the class of sectionally holomorphic functions in ?, vanishing for $|x|\to\infty. We consider the problem of finding a holomorphic function in a strip with a cut satisfying some prescribed linear conditions on the boundary. The problem has a one‐parameter family of solutions in the class of sectionally holomorphic functions in ?, vanishing for . A special solution can be selected by fixing the value of the circulation around the cut. The problem is obtained by linearization of the equations of the wave‐resistance problem for a “slender” cylinder submerged in a heavy fluid and moving at uniform speed in the direction orthogonal to its generators. The results obtained, besides their own interest, are a crucial step for the resolution of the non‐linear problem. (Accepted October 14, 1998)     

The codimension-two bifurcation for the recent proposed SD oscillator

In this paper, the complicated nonlinear dynamics at the equilibria of SD oscillator, which exhibits both smooth and discontinuous dynamics depending on the value of a parameter α, are investigated. It is found that SD oscillator admits codimension-two bifurcation at the trivial equilibrium when α=1. The universal unfolding for the codimension-two bifurcation is also found to be equivalent to the damped SD oscillator with nonlinear viscous damping. Based on this equivalence between the universal unfolding and the damped system, the bifurcation diagram and the corresponding codimension-two bifurcation structures near the trivial equilibrium are obtained and presented for the damped SD oscillator as the perturbation parameters vary.