Eigenfrequency analysis of cable structures with inclined cables

The approximate eigenfrequencies for the in-plane vibrations of a cable struc- ture consisting of inclined cables,together with point masses at various points were com- puted.It was discovered that the classical transfer matrix method was inadequate for this task,and hence the larger exterior matrices were used to determine the eigenfrequency equation.Then predictions of the dynamics of the general cable structure based on the asymptotic estimates of the exterior matrices were made.     

Efficient Evaluation of the Elastic Forces and the Jacobian in the Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation

This paper develops a new procedure for evaluating the elastic forces, the elastic energy and the jacobian of the elastic forces in the absolute nodal coordinate formulation. For this procedure, it is fundamental to use some invariant sparse matrices that are integrated in advance and have the property of transforming the evaluation of the elastic forces in a matrix multiplication process. The use of the invariant matrices avoids the integration over the volume of the element for every evaluation of the elastic forces. Great advantages can be achieved from these invariant matrices when evaluating the elastic energy and calculating the jacobian of the elastic forces as well. The exact expression of the jacobian of the differential system of equations of motion is obtained, and some advantages of using the absolute nodal coordinate formulation are pointed out. Numerical results show that there is important time saving as a result of the use of the invariant matrices.     

A Directed Percolation Model for Clogging in a Porous Medium with Small Inhomogeneities

We propose a microscopic model based on directed percolation for the process of mechanical clogging of a porous medium by particles suspended in a fluid flow. Under appropriate conditions the deposited particles may form fractal clusters. A criterion for the occurrence of fractal clogging is presented. It links together the particle size and the pore size distribution. The effect of microscopic inhomogeneities is studied inside and outside the critical region using Monte Carlo calculations in two dimensions. The critical exponents remain unchanged because the perturbation induced by these inhomogeneities is irrelevant. The percolation threshold is found to shift to higher values almost linearly with increasing size of obstacles. For size distributed obstacles the arithmetic mean of the distribution is the only significant parameter which determines the shift. Type and broadness of the distribution have no influence. Also the percolation probability depends only on the mean even outside the critical region for all values of the occupation probability. Occupying the same fraction of the porous matrix, large obstacles cause more particles to deposit than small ones.     

Free vibration of axially loaded,rotating Timoshenko shaft systems by the wave-train closure principle

A systematic approach for the free vibration analysis of a rotating Timoshenko shaft system subjected to axial forces is presented in this paper. The system has multiple point discontinuities such as elastic supports, rotor masses, and cross-sectional changes. Wave reflection and transmission matrices are employed to characterize the wave motions between the sub-spans of the shaft system. These matrices are combined with the field transfer matrices expressed in wave forms to obtain the characteristic equation in a straightforward manner. The solutions are exact since effects of attenuating wave components are included in the formulation. The wave propagation-based matrix algebra leads to recursive algorithms which are suitable for computer coding. Three examples are presented to illustrate the numerical procedure.     

APPLICATIONS OF STAIR MATRICES AND THEIR GENERALIZATIONS TO ITERATIVE METHODS

Stair matrices and their generalizations are introduced. The definitions and some properties of the matrices were first given by Lu Hao. This class of matrices provide bases of matrix splittings for iterative methods. The remarkable feature of iterative methods based on the new class of matrices is that the methods are easily implemented for parallel computation. In particular, a generalization of the accelerated overrelaxation method (GAOR) is introduced. Some theories of the AOR method are extended to the generalized method to include a wide class of matrices. The convergence of the new method is derived for Hermitian positive definite matrices. Finally, some examples are given in order to show the superiority of the new method.     

Stiffness threshold of randomly distributed carbon nanotube networks

For carbon nanotube (CNT) networks, with increasing network density, there may be sudden changes in the properties, such as the sudden change in electrical conductivity at the electrical percolation threshold. In this paper, the change in stiffness of the CNT networks is studied and especially the existence of stiffness threshold is revealed. Two critical network densities are found to divide the stiffness behavior into three stages: zero stiffness, bending dominated and stretching dominated stages. The first critical network density is a criterion to judge whether or not the network is capable of carrying load, defined as the stiffness threshold. The second critical network density is a criterion to measure whether or not most of the CNTs in network are utilized effectively to carry load, defined as bending–stretching transitional threshold. Based on the geometric probability analysis, a theoretical methodology is set up to predict the two thresholds and explain their underlying mechanisms. The stiffness threshold is revealed to be determined by the statical determinacy of CNTs in the network, and can be estimated quantitatively by the stabilization fraction of network, a newly proposed parameter in this paper. The other threshold, bending–stretching transitional threshold, which signs the conversion of dominant deformation mode, is verified to be well evaluated by the proposed defect fraction of network. According to the theoretical analysis as well as the numerical simulation, the average intersection number on each CNT is revealed as the only dominant factor for the electrical percolation and the stiffness thresholds, it is approximately 3.7 for electrical percolation threshold, and 5.2 for the stiffness threshold of 2D networks. For 3D networks, they are 1.4 and 4.4. And it also affects the bending–stretching transitional threshold, together with the CNT aspect ratio. The average intersection number divided by the fourth root of CNT aspect ratio is found to be an invariant at the bending–stretching transitional threshold, which is 6.7 and 6.3 for 2D and 3D networks, respectively. Based on this study, a simple piecewise expression is summarized to describe the relative stiffness of CNT networks, in which the relative stiffness of networks depends on the relative network density as well as the CNT aspect ratio. This formula provides a solid theoretical foundation for the design optimization and property prediction of CNT networks.     

Using quaternion matrices to describe the kinematics and nonlinear dynamics of an asymmetric rigid body

A set of four quaternion matrices is used to represent the equations of finite rotation theory and to describe the kinematics and nonlinear dynamics of an asymmetric rigid body in space. The results obtained are tested in setting up direction-cosine matrices, calculating three-index symbols, establishing the relationship between the components of angular velocity in body-fixed and space-fixed frames of reference, and using a set of three independent rotations. Euler–Lagrange equations and a set of four quaternion matrices are used to construct a block-matrix model describing the nonlinear dynamics of a free asymmetric rigid body in three-dimensional space. The model gives the matrix Euler’s equations of motion and other special cases. Algorithms adapted to use in a numerical experiment are developed Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 133–143, February 2009.     

Hyperbolicity of Velocity-Stress Equations for Waves in Anisotropic Elastic Solids

This paper reports mathematical properties of the three-dimensional, first-order, velocity-stress equations for propagating waves in anisotropic, linear elastic solids. The velocity-stress equations are useful for numerical solution. The original equations include the equation of motion and the elasticity relation differentiated by time. The result is a set of nine, first-order partial differential equations (PDEs) of which the velocity and stress components are the unknowns. Cast into a vector-matrix form, the equations can be characterized by three Jacobian matrices. Hyperbolicity of the equations is formally proved by analyzing (i) the spectrum of a linear combination of the three Jacobian matrices, and (ii) the eigenvector matrix for diagonalizing the linearly combined Jacobian matrices. In the three-dimensional space, linearly combined Jacobian matrices are shown to be connected to the classic Christoffel matrix, leading to a simpler derivation for the eigenvalues and eigenvectors. The results in the present paper provide critical information for applying modern numerical methods, originally developed for solving conservation laws, to elastodynamics.     

油气井密封结构的变形与失效行为研究进展

在今后相当长一个时期,石油和天然气依然是人类的主要能源.油气井密封是油气开采中最重要的作业之一,在水平钻井、水力压裂等最新的油气开采技术中发挥着重要的作用,促进了页岩气等非常规油气开采的发展.密封质量会直接影响油气井的安全和生产效率,密封元件的失效可造成严重的环境污染和生命财产损失.因此,深入理解密封元件的失效行为,对于油气井安全评估具有重要意义.水泥和可溶胀高弹体密封是两种最主要的密封方式.水泥密封已有百余年历史,溶胀式高弹体密封则是一种相对较新的密封技术.本文介绍这两种油气井密封结构变形与失效行为的国内外最新研究进展.首先,介绍固井水泥环固化过程中的应力演化、生产作业导致的应力、水泥环的失效模式和失效判据方面的研究进展;然后,介绍溶胀式高弹体封隔器的基本原理、力学理论、测试方法、失效模式及失稳等方面的研究进展.      

Moving Boundary Problem for Diffusion Release of Drug from a Cylinder Polymeric Matrix

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Non-linear bifurcation analysis of non-gradient systems

The post-divergence behaviour of non-gradient systems is studied through a perturbation approach, attention being restricted to equilibrium paths in the neighbourhood of a critical point. Simple and coincident critical points are treated separately. Various characteristic phenomena are explored in general terms by identifying certain distinct properties of the Jacobian matrix in a state-space formulation. It is demonstrated that the well-known asymmetric and symmetric points of bifurcation can also arise in non-gradient systems and the conditions giving rise to each of these phenomena are discussed. An illustrative example is presented.     

Conjugate gradient methods and ILU preconditioning of non-symmetric matrix systems with arbitrary sparsity patterns

Preconditioning techniques based on incomplete Gaussian elimination for large, sparse, non-symmetric matrix systems are described. A certain level of fill-in may be specified in the incomplete factorizations. All methods considered may be applied to matrices with arbitrary sparsity patterns, for instance those associated with the general preprocessor algorithms or adaptive mesh techniques. The preconditioners have been combined with five conjugate gradient-like methods and tested on finite element discretized scalar convection-diffusion equations in 2D and 3D. It is found from numerical experiments that an amount of fill-in corresponding to about 50% of the number of original non-zero matrix entries is the optimal choice for this class of preconditioners. The preconditioners show almost no sensitivity to grid distortion. In problems with significantly variable coefficients or anisotropy the preconditioners stabilize the basic iterative schemes in addition to reducing the computational work substantially, mostly by more than 90%. The modified preconditioning technique, where fill-in is added on the main diagonal, performs in general better than the standard incomplete LU factorization, but is inferior to the latter in 3D problems and for matrix systems with complicated sparsity patterns.     

哈密顿系统正则变换在时变最优控制中的应用

利用哈密顿系统正则变换和生成函数理论求解线性时变最优控制问题,构造了新的最优控制律形式并提出了控制增益计算的保结构算法. 利用生成函数求解最优控制导出的哈密顿系统两端边值问题,并构造线性时变系统的最优控制律,由第2类生成函数所构造的最优控制律避免了末端时刻出现无穷大反馈增益. 控制系统设计中需求解生成函数满足的时变矩阵微分方程组. 根据生成函数与哈密顿系统状态转移矩阵之间的关系,从正则变换的辛矩阵描述出发,导出了求解这组微分方程组的保结构递推算法.为了保持递推计算中的辛矩阵结构,哈密顿系统状态转移矩阵的计算中利用了Magnus级数.      

Soliton-Stripe Patterns of a Functional with an Attractive–Repulsive–Attractive Interaction

We study critical points of a Ginzburg–Landau type functional with an attractive–repulsive–attractive nonlocal interaction. Using an appropriate scaling and -convergence method we reduce the problem to a finite dimensional one. In contrast to a similar problem with just an attractive–repulsive interaction, we obtain a richer set of solutions. The soliton-stripe patterns appear as skewed local minimizers of the free energy, and disappear or become symmetric as the number of interfaces reaches a certain threshold. We also show how other critical points can be constructed using results of the diblock copolymer problem.     

A new integral equation formulation of two-dimensional inclusion–crack problems

A new integral equation formulation of two-dimensional infinite isotropic medium (matrix) with various inclusions and cracks is presented in this paper. The proposed integral formulation only contains the unknown displacements on the inclusion–matrix interfaces and the discontinuous displacements over the cracks. In order to solve the inclusion–crack problems, the displacement integral equation is used when the source points are acting on the inclusion–matrix interfaces, whilst the stress integral equation is adopted when the source points are being on the crack surfaces. Thus, the resulting system of equations can be formulated so that the displacements on the inclusion–matrix interfaces and the discontinuous displacements over the cracks can be obtained. Based on one point formulation, the stress intensity factors at the crack tips can be achieved. Numerical results from the present method are in excellent agreement with those from the conventional boundary element method.     

Vibration analysis of a planar multilink manipulator using a reduced-order matrix formulation

The main scope of this paper is both to provide an efficient formulation for deriving natural frequencies and mode shapes of a multilink flexible manipulator in an arbitrary posture and discuss the importance of introducing axial deformations along with transversal ones in the same postures. The free vibration problem is solved through a global transfer matrix formulation, which is obtained by opportunely assembling the transfer matrices of links and joints associated with the desired configuration of the robot. The formulation has been chosen in order to keep the same matrix order of the problem, regardless of the number of links of the manipulator. Manipulator links are treated as Timoshenko beams by accounting for both axial loading capability and mass/inertial effects due to the joint actuators. Numerical comparisons between the solutions derived herein and those obtained through existing formulations highlight the importance of the proposed model within the frame of multilink flexible manipulators. A forced vibration analysis is finally presented for a two-link manipulator.     

FAST ALGORITHMS FOR DETERMINING POSITIVE DEFINITENESS OF LARGE SCALE MATRICES IN SOLID STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

对于结构稳定性分析中超大规模矩阵正定性判定,必须采用并行计算方法,传统方法如计算特征值、主子式行列式及LDLT等直接方法难以实现.本文提出了一些可适用于并行的迭代判定算法.借鉴力学系统中能量下降的思想,发展了一种判定矩阵正定性的新思路,即将矩阵的正定性判定问题转化为一个优化问题,并基于优化算法来判定矩阵的正定性.提出了基于最速下降法和共轭梯度法来进行矩阵正定性判定的算法.然后考虑到力学系统刚度矩阵的稀疏性和结构刚失稳状态的弱非正定性,提出可以先截超平面后解方程求驻值点的方法来判定弱非正定矩阵的正定性.为了保证对强非正定矩阵判定的准确性,本文提出可以高效混杂使用截平面法和共轭梯度法.数值实验结果表明,本文提出的算法具有准确性和高效性.对于强非正定矩阵而言,共轭梯度算法更加高效;而对于弱非正定矩阵,则是截平面法和混杂算法更加高效.这些算法都容易在机群上实现并行计算,能够快速判定大规模矩阵的正定性.     

Archie’s Law in Microsystems

Since 1942 Archie??s law is used every day to estimate, from electrical measurements, the quantity of oil present in oil fields. In this article, we perform the first experimental analysis of electric conductivity in well controlled models of porous media. We used microfluidic networks (called micromodels in the oil industry jargon), incorporating thousands of pores, with controlled wettability. Different electrode and pore geometries are considered. In all cases the evolution of the conductivity with the conductive fluid fraction (??saturation??) clearly reveals the presence of percolation thresholds, signaling that as the fraction of the conductive fluid decreases below some critical value, there are no more pathways involving only channels entirely filled with the conductive fluid that connect the electrodes. This behavior is observed in all cases, for all the network/electrode geometries and wetting properties we investigated, and is consequently likely to reflect a genuine behavior for microfluidic ??2D?? networks. The existing models??based on percolation theory or on mean field approach??reproduce correctly the structure of this behavior, but generally at a semi-quantitative level. The most successful case is obtained with the effective medium theory (EMT) model, with drainage and perpendicular electrodes. This outcome suggests that, despite the complexity of these systems, very simple models can describe correctly the physics of the system. Nonetheless, more precise modeling requires case-by-case studies. Our results are consistent with the current body of knowledge accumulated for decades on three-dimensional samples. The key point is that in 3D systems, owing to topological reasons, the threshold is extremely low in terms of water saturations. Archie??s law completely neglects the threshold effect. Nonetheless the percolation threshold should not be overlooked, and modeling should take this aspect systematically into account, as it is already done by several investigators.     

On the distributed Lagrange multiplier/fictitious domain method for rigid‐particle‐laden flows: a proposition for an alternative formulation of the Lagrange multipliers

The distributed Lagrange multiplier/fictitious domain method proposed for the direct numerical simulation of particle‐laden flows is considered in this work. First, it is demonstrated that improved accuracy is obtained with a coupled numerical scheme, whereby the pressure and the Lagrange multiplier fields enforcing incompressibility and rigid body motion, respectively, are calculated and applied together. However, the convergence characteristics of the iterative solution of the coupled scheme are poor because symmetric but indefinite and poorly conditioned matrices are produced. An analysis is then presented, which suggests that the cause for the matrix pathologies lies in the interaction of the respective matrix operators enforcing incompressibility and rigid body motion. On the basis of this analysis, an alternative formulation is developed for the Lagrange multipliers, being now composed of a set of forces distributed only on the particle boundary together with a set of couples distributed within the particle core. The new formulation is tested with several types of flows with stationary or moving particles under creeping or finite Reynolds number conditions and it is demonstrated that it produces correct results and better conditioned matrices, thus enabling faster and more reliable convergence of the conjugate gradient method. The analysis and tests, therefore, support the expectation that the proposed formulation is promising and worthy of further study and improvement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.