Mechanical properties of nanostructure of biological materials

Natural biological materials such as bone, teeth and nacre are nanocomposites of protein and mineral with superior strength. It is quite a marvel that nature produces hard and tough materials out of protein as soft as human skin and mineral as brittle as classroom chalk. What are the secrets of nature? Can we learn from this to produce bio-inspired materials in the laboratory? These questions have motivated us to investigate the mechanics of protein-mineral nanocomposite structure. Large aspect ratios and a staggered alignment of mineral platelets are found to be the key factors contributing to the large stiffness of biomaterials. A tension-shear chain (TSC) model of biological nanostructure reveals that the strength of biomaterials hinges upon optimizing the tensile strength of the mineral crystals. As the size of the mineral crystals is reduced to nanoscale, they become insensitive to flaws with strength approaching the theoretical strength of atomic bonds. The optimized tensile strength of mineral crystals thus allows a large amount of fracture energy to be dissipated in protein via shear deformation and consequently enhances the fracture toughness of biocomposites. We derive viscoelastic properties of the protein-mineral nanostructure and show that the toughness of biocomposite can be further enhanced by the viscoelastic properties of protein.     

撑杆式预应力钢压杆屈曲形态函数研究

基于撑杆式预应力钢压杆正对称和反对称两个基本屈曲模态, 给出了相应的 屈曲形态函数, 通过3个典型算例并变化关键参数着重研究了模拟曲线项数, 同时 给出了不对称屈曲的形态函数. 研究表明, 取形态函 数模拟项数为预应力钢压杆节间数, 可以很好满足工程精度.     

Axisymmetric compressive buckling of multi-walled carbon nanotubes under different boundary conditions

The paper studies the axisymmetric compressive buckling behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) under different boundary conditions based on continuum mechanics model. A buckling condition is derived for determining the critical buckling load and associated buckling mode of MWNTs, and numerical results are worked out for MWNTs with different aspect ratios under fixed and simply supported boundary conditions. It is shown that the critical buckling load of MWNTs is insensitive to boundary conditions, except for nanotubes with smaller radii and very small aspect ratio. The associated buckling modes for different layers of MWNTs are in-phase, and the buckling displacement ratios for different layers are independent of the boundary conditions and the length of MWNTs. Moreover, for simply supported boundary conditions, the critical buckling load is compared with the corresponding one for axial compressive buckling, which indicates that the critical buckling load for axial compressive buckling can be well approximated by the corresponding one for axisymmetric compressive buckling. In particular, for axial compressive buckling of double-walled carbon nanotubes, an analytical expression is given for approximating the critical buckling load. The present investigation may be of some help in further understanding the mechanical properties of MWNTs.     

Effect of Material Nonlinearity on Spatial Buckling of Nanorods and Nanotubes

We show the importance of incorporating material nonlinearity for accurate determination of spatial buckling of nanorods and nanotubes. Both the nanorods and nanotubes are modeled as a special Cosserat rod whose nonlinear material laws are obtained using the recently proposed helical Cauchy-Born rule. We first present Euler buckling of solid diamond nanorods whose normalized buckling load, obtained from fully atomistic calculations, exhibits an interesting trend. The buckling load starts from unity at large aspect ratio of the nanorod, then as the aspect ratio is decreased, the buckling load increases slowly and finally decreases rapidly. We attribute this trend to material nonlinearity of the nanorod’s core at large compressive strain. We also discuss how surface stress affects buckling in nanorods. We then present the effect of compression and twist on buckling of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Interestingly, for highly twisted nanotubes, fully atomistic calculations show the first buckled mode to be different from a typical Euler buckling mode. Both the observations about nanorods and nanotubes are accurately replicated in the finite element special Cosserat rod simulation when the material nonlinearity is also incorporated. However, the simulation results exhibit completely different trend when only linear material laws are incorporated.     

准脆性材料抗压强度能量平衡尺寸效应模型

针对现有尺寸效应模型难以体现准脆性材料完整的抗压强度尺寸效应变化规律及其内在机理, 本文通过分析准脆性材料单轴压缩破坏过程中能量输入、储存、整体和局部能量耗散, 建立体现整体和局部损伤的力学模型及描述上述能量演化过程的双线性名义和真实应力应变曲线, 在此基础上确定了名义应力最大时输入能量、储存弹性能、整体和局部能量耗散的表达式, 最后基于能量平衡原理建立抗压强度尺寸效应模型. 抗压强度能量平衡尺寸效应模型能完整体现名义抗压强度尺寸效应, 即随试样尺寸增大, 名义抗压强度在试样尺寸小于等于局部损伤区尺寸时为真实强度, 然后逐渐减小, 最终当试样尺寸趋于无穷大时趋于弹性极限强度; 抗压强度能量平衡尺寸效应模型也能同时体现高径比和试样直径对名义强度的影响, 其包含的参数具有明确的物理意义, 可以反映真实强度、弹性极限强度、名义损伤模量非线性、局部损伤区大小和方向对准脆性材料名义抗压强度尺寸效应的影响; 通过把抗压强度能量平衡尺寸效应模型和现有尺寸效应模型应用于预测各种材料尺寸效应试验和数值模拟数据, 结果表明: 抗压强度能量平衡尺寸效应模型能很好描述试验和数值模拟尺寸效应的非线性变化规律及内在机理, 和现有尺寸效应模型相比, 其总体平均误差最小, 且小于5%.      

Magnetoelastic buckling of a rectangular block in plane strain

Of interest here is the stability of a rectangular block subjected to a uniform magnetic field perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. The two ends of the block are frictionless and kept parallel to each other. This boundary value problem is motivated by the classical problem of magnetoelastic buckling in which a cantilever beam subjected to a transverse magnetic field buckles when the applied field reaches a critical value.This work presents a finite strain continuum mechanics formulation of the stability problem of a homogeneous, compressible, magnetoelastic rectangular block in plane strain subjected to a uniform transverse magnetic field. The applied variational approach employs an unconstrained energy minimization recently proposed by the authors.The analytical solution for the critical buckling fields for both the antisymmetric and symmetric modes are obtained for three different constitutive laws. The corresponding result for thin beams is extracted asymptotically for a special material and the solution is compared to previously published results. The critical magnetic field is shown to increase monotonically with the block's aspect ratio for each material and mode type. Antisymmetric modes are always the critical buckling modes for stress saturated and neo-Hookean materials, except for a narrow range of moderate aspect ratios (about 0.25) where symmetric modes become critical. For strain-saturated solids no buckling is possible above a maximum aspect ratio.     

Mechanical properties of unidirectional nanocomposites with non-uniformly or randomly staggered platelet distribution

Unidirectional nanocomposite structures with parallel staggered platelet reinforcements are widely observed in natural biological materials. The present paper is aimed at an investigation of the stiffness, strength, failure strain and energy storage capacity of a unidirectional nanocomposite with non-uniformly or randomly staggered platelet distribution. Our study indicates that, besides the volume fraction, shape, and orientation of the platelets, their distribution also plays a significant role in the mechanical properties of a unidirectional nanocomposite, which can be quantitatively characterized in terms of four dimensionless parameters associated with platelet distribution. It is found that, compared with other distributions, stairwise and regular staggering of platelets produce overall the most balanced mechanical properties, which might be a key reason why these structures are most widely observed in nature.     

Interactive buckling in long thin-walled rectangular hollow section struts

An analytical model describing the nonlinear interaction between global and local buckling modes in long thin-walled rectangular hollow section struts under pure compression founded on variational principles is presented. A system of nonlinear differential and integral equations subject to boundary conditions is formulated and solved using numerical continuation techniques. For the first time, the equilibrium behaviour of such struts with different cross-section joint rigidities is highlighted with characteristically unstable interactive buckling paths and a progressive change in the local buckling wavelength. With increasing joint rigidity within the cross-section, the severity of the unstable post-buckling behaviour is shown to be mollified. The results from the analytical model are validated using a nonlinear finite element model developed within the commercial package Abaqus and show excellent comparisons. A simplified method to calculate the local buckling load of the more compressed web undergoing global buckling and the corresponding global mode amplitude at the secondary bifurcation is also developed. Parametric studies on the effect of varying the length and cross-section aspect ratio are also presented that demonstrate the effectiveness of the currently developed models.     

对桁架结构稳定分析经典理论的讨论

通过算例讨论了桁架结构稳定分析的经典理论,指出用该理论算出的临界荷载远远大于屈曲临界荷载,而且压杆的应力远远超过压缩强度极限。文中分析了问题的来源,提出了桁架结构临界荷载的屈曲理论计算方法,通过比较说明了屈曲理论的正确性。     

First applications of a novel unified model for global and local buckling of sandwich columns

Due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of sandwich structures, phenomena at various scales can co-exist in these layered-like assembly of thick-soft and thin-stiff materials. Especially under in-plane compression loadings, geometrical instabilities can occur at both global (structure) and local (skins) scales. Therefore, the in-plane compressive response of sandwich structures is of major concern in designing structural applications. In the present paper, the first applications of a novel unified model for sandwiches are presented, with closed-form solutions for both global and local buckling. For the perfect structure, analytical critical loads are extracted for a simply supported beam, through the calculation of two eigenvalues leading to three buckling modes: it appears that the eigenvalue associated with the antisymmetrical mode can correspond to the occurrence of either global or local (wrinkling) buckling. These global and local loads from the present unified model are shown to compare very well with the predictions given by the most complete specific models from the literature. Moreover, it is shown that conversely to the classical models, our approach yields critical loads that depend only on rigorous well-founded mechanical hypotheses. The simple but general analytical expressions from the unified model permit to select quickly configurations against local and global buckling. In this simplified framework, conclusions can be drawn from this unified model capable of properly predicting the phenomena at both scales. This simplified study is essential in getting an insight in the role played by each geometrical and material parameter, the combination of which is of importance for subsequent non-linear interactive post-buckling analyses (Léotoing et al., 2001).     

In-plane stability of arches

Classical buckling theory is mostly used to investigate the in-plane stability of arches, which assumes that the pre-buckling behaviour is linear and that the effects of pre-buckling deformations on buckling can be ignored. However, the behaviour of shallow arches becomes non-linear and the deformations are substantial prior to buckling, so that their effects on the buckling of shallow arches need to be considered. Classical buckling theory which does not consider these effects cannot correctly predict the in-plane buckling load of shallow arches. This paper investigates the in-plane buckling of circular arches with an arbitrary cross-section and subjected to a radial load uniformly distributed around the arch axis. An energy method is used to establish both non-linear equilibrium equations and buckling equilibrium equations for shallow arches. Analytical solutions for the in-plane buckling loads of shallow arches subjected to this loading regime are obtained. Approximations to the symmetric buckling of shallow arches and formulae for the in-plane anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling load of non-shallow arches are proposed, and criteria that define shallow and non-shallow arches are also stated. Comparisons with finite element results demonstrate that the solutions and indeed approximations are accurate, and that classical buckling theory can correctly predict the in-plane anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling load of non-shallow arches, but overestimates the in-plane anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling load of shallow arches significantly.     

Stability of plane poiseuille and couette flow of a Maxwell fluid

The classical Orr-Sommerfeld analysis is extended to a Maxwell fluid in fully developed Poiseuille flow between two flat plates and Couette flow between two flat plates. For the Poiseuille flow problem eigenmodes that are anti-symmetric in position are considered to augment the literature results for the symmetric eigenmodes. A shooting method with a stiff integrator, orthonormalization, and Newton-Raphson iterations on the eigenvalue are used to find the eigenvalues. The most dangerous mode is the anti-symmetric one, and both symmetric and anti-symmetric modes are more dangerous when the wave number and the Weissenberg number are large. No unstable eigenvalues are found.     

Toughness amplification in natural composites

Natural structural materials such as bone and seashells are made of relatively weak building blocks, yet they exhibit remarkable combinations of stiffness, strength and toughness. This performance can be largely explained by their “staggered microstructure”: stiff inclusions of high aspect ratio are laid parallel to each other with some overlap, and bonded by a softer matrix. While stiffness and strength are now well understood for staggered composites, the mechanisms involved in fracture are still largely unknown. This is a significant lack since the amplification of toughness with respect to their components is by far the most impressive feature in natural staggered composites such as nacre or bone. Here a model capturing the salient mechanisms involved in the cracking of a staggered structure is presented. We show that the pullout of inclusions and large process zones lead to tremendous toughness by far exceeding that of individual components. The model also suggests that a material like nacre cannot reach steady state cracking, with the implication that the toughness increases indefinitely with crack advance. These findings agree well with existing fracture data, and for the first time relate microstructural parameters with overall toughness. These insights will prove useful in the design of biomimetic materials, and provide clues on how bone fractures at the nano and microscales.     

Anti-symmetric waves in pre-stressed imperfectly bonded incompressible elastic layered composites

The effect of an imperfect interface on the dispersive behavior of in-plane time-harmonic symmetric waves in a pre-stressed incompressible symmetric layered composite, was analyzed recently by Leungvichcharoen and Wijeyewickrema (2003). In the present paper the corresponding case for time harmonic anti-symmetric waves is considered. The bi-material composite consists of incompressible isotropic elastic materials. The imperfect interface is simulated by a shear-spring type resistance model, which can also accommodate the extreme cases of perfectly bonded and fully slipping interfaces. The dispersion relation is obtained by formulating the incremental boundary-value problem and using the propagator matrix technique. The dispersion relations for anti-symmetric and symmetric waves differ from each other only through the elements of the propagator matrix associated with the inner layer. The behavior of the dispersion curves for anti-symmetric waves is for the most part similar to that of symmetric waves at the low and high wavenumber limits. At the low wavenumber limit, depending on the pre-stress for perfectly bonded and imperfect interface cases, a finite phase speed may exist only for the fundamental mode while other higher modes have an infinite phase speed. However, for a fully slipping interface in the low wavenumber region it may be possible for both the fundamental mode and the next lowest mode to have finite phase speeds. For the higher modes which have infinite phase speeds in the low wavenumber region an expression to determine the cut-off frequencies is obtained. At the high wavenumber limit, the phase speeds of the fundamental mode and the higher modes tend to the phase speeds of the surface wave or the interfacial wave or the limiting phase speed of the composite. The bifurcation equation obtained from the dispersion relation yields neutral curves that separate the stable and unstable regions associated with the fundamental mode or the next lowest mode. Numerical examples of dispersion curves are presented, where when the material has to be prescribed either Mooney–Rivlin material or Varga material is assumed. The effect of imperfect interfaces on anti-symmetric waves is clearly evident in the numerical results.     

Unilateral contact buckling of lightly profiled skin sheets under compressive or shearing loads

Thin, profiled steel sheets forming the skin of concrete-filled composite wall panels and similar members benefit from the unilateral (tensionless) restraint provided by fill of sufficient elastic modulus. This paper investigates the buckling of such skin sheets in panels subjected to compressive or shearing loads. The profiled skins are modelled as infinite, thin orthotropic plates resting on tensionless rigid foundations, allowing the local buckling response to be simulated by the single-wave buckling mode of an unrestrained plate section of appropriate aspect ratio. Solution of the governing differential equations leads to the determination of the plate buckling coefficients. Simplified formulas for the buckling coefficients in terms of the parameters describing the skin sheets are developed and shown to agree well with published results and finite element analyses for particular limiting cases.     

Supercritical and subcritical buckling bifurcations for a compressible hyperelastic slab subjected to compression

We study the buckling bifurcation of a compressible hyperelastic slab under compression with sliding–sliding end conditions. The combined series-asymptotic expansions method is used to derive the simplified model equations. Linear bifurcation analysis yields the critical stress value of buckling, which gives a non-linear correction to the classical Euler buckling formula. The correction is due to the geometrical non-linearities coupled with the material non-linearities. Then through non-linear bifurcation analysis, the approximate analytical solutions for the post-buckling deformations are obtained. The amplitude of buckling is expressed explicitly in terms of the aspect ratio, the incremental dimensionless engineering stress, the mode of buckling and the material constants. Most importantly, we find that both supercritical and subcritical buckling could occur for compressible materials. The bifurcation type depends on the material constants, the geometry of the slab and the mode numbers.     

类岩石材料力学特性的试验及数值模拟研究

在进行多组不同配比类岩石材料单轴压缩试验和巴西试验的基础上,详细分析了石膏水泥比和石英砂含量对类岩石材料的单轴抗压强度、抗拉强度及弹性模量等力学参数的影响规律,力图找到适合模拟现场砂质泥岩的类岩石材料及配合比。利用颗粒流程序(PFC)模拟,进一步研究了高径比和围压对类岩石材料力学特性的影响。结果表明:随着石膏水泥比的增大,抗压强度和弹性模量均逐渐减小,而抗拉强度逐渐增大;随着石英粉含量的增大,抗压强度和弹性模量均先增大后减小,而抗拉强度则为先减小后增大。结合单轴压缩过程的声发射特征,揭示了裂纹扩展与声发射有密切的关系。PFC2D模拟获得的力学参数与室内试验相近,破裂模式也与实际情况相似。通过尺寸效应的研究可知试样的高径比在2.0~2.5较合理。随着围压的增大,试样的峰值强度、残余强度、峰值应变及弹性模量等力学参数均增大,且围压会改变试样的破裂模式。     

An asymmetric theory of nonlocal elasticity—Part 1. Quasicontinuum theory

In this article, an asymmetric theory of nonlocal elasticity is developed on the basis of three dimensional atomic lattice model, the Galileo invariance for constitutive equations and by use of Fourier transformation of generalized function and energy method. It is shown that nonlocal characteristic functions (or constitutive parameters of internal elastic energy) can be explicitly expressed in terms of interacting forces connecting atoms, and the general model of nonlocal theory with rotation effects is asymmetric. Both symmetric stress and anti-symmetric stress is a nonlocal function of strain and local rotation for anisotropic materials. For isotropic materials, symmetric stress is only a nonlocal function of strain, while antisymmetric stress is only a nonlocal function of local rotation.     

Dense packing properties of mineral admixtures in cementitious material

The effect of ultra-fine fly ash （UFFA）, steel slag （SS） and silica fume （SF） on packing density of binary, ternary and quaternary cementitious materials was studied in this paper in terms of minimum water requirement of cement. The influence of mineral admixtures on the relative density of pastes with low water/hinder ratios was analyzed and the relationship between paste density and compressive strength of the corresponding hardened mortars was discussed. The results indicate that the incorporation of mineral admixtures can effectively improve the packing density ofcementitious materials; the increase in packing density of a composite with incorporation of two or three kinds of mineral admixtures is even more obvious than that with only one mineral admixture. Moreover, an optimal amount of mineral admixture imparts to the mixture maximum packing density. The dense packing effect of a mineral admixture can increase the packing density of the resulting cementitious material and also the density of paste with low water/binder ratio, which evidently enhances the compressive strength of the hardened mortar.     

Bending and local buckling of a nanocomposite beam reinforced by a single-walled carbon nanotube

This paper studies the pure bending and bending-induced local buckling of a nanocomposite beam reinforced by a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT). The Airy stress-function method was employed to analyse the deformation of the matrix, and the cross-sectional change of the SWNT in bending was taken into account. A particular consideration was given to the effect of the SWNT’s radial flexibility on the strain/stress states and buckling. It was found that in thicker matrix layers the SWNT buckles locally at smaller bending angles and greater flattening ratios. This causes higher strains/stresses in the surrounding matrix and in turn degrades the strength of the nanocomposite structure.