A micro-mechanical model of knitted fabric and its application to the analysis of buckling under tension in wale direction： buckling analysis

With the aid of the micro-mechanical model of knitted fabric proposed in Part 1 we analyze the buckling of a knitted fabric sheet when it is subjected to a tension along the wale direction. The large deformation of the fabric sheet in the critical configuration is considered and, to avoid possible deviation due to the approximation of the theory of thin plate, the three-dimensional theory of instability is used. The fabric sheet is considered as a three-dimensional body and all boundary conditions are satisfied. It is shown that the buckling of the fabric sheet is possible, two buckling modes and the corresponding buckling conditions are obtained, but only the flexural mode is physically possible as observed in experiments.The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10272079)     

Application of Moiré Interferometry to the Characterization of Orthotropic Materials in the Antisymmetric Configuration using the Virtual Fields Method

Moiré interferometry is an effective full-field deformation measurement technique and has been utilized for mechanical behavior analysis of materials and structures. For isotropic materials, Moiré patterns can be obtained by performing standard tests, such as, tensile and bending tests, to calculate the displacement and strain. Then, the mechanical properties can be characterized. However, standard tests are not sufficient to characterize the mechanical parameters of anisotropic materials due to the complexity of their material properties. Thus, in this work, Moiré interferometry was combined with the Virtual Fields Method to obtain the four in-plane elastic constants (Q₁₁, Q₂₂, Q₁₂, and Q₆₆) of orthotropic materials in the form of a diametrically compressed disk. Firstly, according to finite element method simulation results, optimized parameters can be achieved when the principal direction of the material does not coincide with the loading direction, making the loading configuration antisymmetric. Therefore, Moiré interferometry experiment was simulated to demonstrate the feasibility of measurement in the antisymmetric configuration. Finally, the Q₁₁, Q₂₂, Q₁₂ and Q₆₆ values of a unidirectional carbon fiber composite were measured in a real Moiré interferometry experiment using the proposed method, yielding results that agreed closely with those obtained using the strain gauges.     

A new analytical model for the elastic–plastic behaviour of spot welded joints subjected to orthogonal load

An analytical procedure for the evaluation of the elastic–plastic stiffness behaviour of spot welded joints is presented. The procedure is based on a new model of spot weld region: a circular plate having variable thickness with a central rigid nugget, which is resolved using an original analytical method.The closed-form solution allows to describe the displacement of a rigid nugget when an axial orthogonal load is applied on the plate while plasticity and large deflections are present. The goal is to reach a reliable spot weld region model which can be used as the basis to develop a spot weld element in FE analysis even when plasticity and large deflections are in effect.The procedure is as completely original as no other can be found in the technical literature, and it has been applied to some examples of plates usually employed for spot weld analysis. The analytical results obtained by using the new general relations precisely match those obtained modelling spot weld area by FEA.     

A new analytical solution to axisymmetric Biot＇s consolidation of a finite soil layer

A new analytical method is presented to study the axisymmetric Biot＇s consolidation of a finite soil layer. Starting from the governing equations of axisymmetric Blot＇s consolidation, and based on the property of Laplace transform, the relation of basic variables for a point of a finite soil layer is established between the ground surface （z= 0） and the depth z in the Laplace and Hankel transform domains. Combined with the boundary conditions of the finite soil layer, the analytical solution of any point in the transform domain can be obtained. The actual solution in the physical domain can be obtained by inverse Laplace and Hankel transforms. A numerical analysis for the axisymmetric consolidation of a finite soil layer is carried out.     

Accuracy of the Sampling Moiré Method and its Application to Deflection Measurements of Large-Scale Structures

Measuring accurate displacement distributions for large-scale structures is an important issue and a very challenging task. Recently, a simple and accurate phase measurement technique called sampling moiré method [Exp Mech 50–4:501–508, (2010)] has been developed for small-displacement distribution measurements. In this method, the phase distribution of moiré fringes can be analyzed from a single grating image by simultaneously performing down-sampling image processing and intensity-interpolation to generate multiple phase-shifted moiré fringe images. In addition, the phase of the original grating can also be obtained from the phase of the moiré fringe by adding the phase of the sampling grating. In this study, the measurement accuracy of the sampling moiré method was analyzed through computer simulations and a displacement measurement experiment. Four factors of the sampling moiré method were investigated, including the sampling pitch, the order of the intensity-interpolation, random noise, and the form of grating. The results show that determining the optimal sampling pitch is an important factor for obtaining better results but it is not critical. In addition, a practical application of the sampling moiré method is presented that involves a deflection measurement on a 10-meter-long crane. The experimental results demonstrate that submillimeter deflections of the crane can be successfully detected.     

Water Transport in Bio-based Porous Materials: A Model of Local Kinetics of Sorption—Application to Three Hemp Concretes

Transport in Porous Media - The classic models describing the hygric mass transfers inside porous materials seem unsuitable in the case of bio-based materials. They are based on the assumption of...     

A new method to approximate the field of movements of 1-DOF linkages with lower-pairs

This paper presents a new method to obtain an approximation of the field of movements of 1-DOF linkages with lower pairs. The method is based on a linkage representation by natural coordinates and the storage of the constraint equations by means of a sparse cubic matrix. To obtain a discrete approximation of the field of movements, a three-stage process is used. In the first stage, a special Evolution Strategy is applied to make the population converges towards the zones where the constraints’ error is minimal, obtaining, at the same time, a good distribution of individuals. In the second stage, the final individuals of the ES are used as initial points for an optimization algorithm to obtain a greater accuracy. Later, the third stage is a filtering process to eliminate individuals that represent non-desired solutions. This method has been tested on some linkages with well-known fields of movements, generating comprehensive outcomes that justify the validity of the method.     

On the Rate of Decay of the Oseen Semigroup in Exterior Domains and its Application to Navier–Stokes Equation

We prove L_p-L_q estimates of the Oseen semigroup in n-dimensional exterior domains which refine and improve those obtained by Kobayashi and Shibata [15]. As an application, we give a globally in time stability theory for the stationary Navier–Stokes flow whose velocity at infinity is a non-zero constant vector. We thus extend the result of Shibata [21]. In particular, we find an optimal rate of convergence of solutions of the non-stationary problem to those of the corresponding stationary problem.     

The Variational Approach to Fracture Mechanics. A Practical Application to the French Panthéon in Paris

Recently, Francfort and Marigo (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 46, 1319–1342, 1998) have proposed a novel approach to fracture mechanics based upon the global minimization of a Griffith-like functional, composed of a bulk and a surface energy term. Later on the same authors, together with Bourdin, introduced (in J. Mech. Phys. Solids 48, 797–826, 2000) a variational approximation (in the sense of Γ-convergence) of such functional, essentially for computational purposes. Here, we utilize this new variational approach to show how it might be altered to incorporate the idea of less brittle, “deviatoric-type fracture” and apply to materials such as confined stone. To do so, we modify the original formulation of Francfort and Marigo, in particular its approximation of Bourdin, Francfort and Marigo, to only allow for discontinuities in the deviatoric part of the strain. We apply such modified model to gain insight on the deterioration and cracking in the ashlar masonry work of the French Panthéon, which are so repetitious and particular to be a distinguishable symptom of ongoing damage. Numerical experiments are performed and the results compared to those obtained using the original Francfort-Marigo model and to actual crack patterns from the Panthéon. The modified formulation allows one to reproduce fracture paths surprisingly similar to that observed in situ, to sort out the possible causes of damage, and to confirm, with a quantitative analysis, the main structural deficiencies in the French monument. This practical example enhances the importance of this promising new theory based in the mathematical sciences.     

A new finding of the existence of Feigenbaum’s constants in the fractional-order Chen–Lee system

This paper examines the universal quantitative properties of the fractional- and integer-order Chen?CLee systems. A?series of bifurcation diagrams of the system were generated in order to measure Feigenbaum??s constants. It was found that the measured values of the integer-order system were accurately approaching their universal constants, while the errors between measured values of the fractional-order system and the universal constants were not very large. The results showed that both the fractional- and integer-order Chen?CLee systems belonged to a quadratic map. To the authors?? knowledge, this is the first paper to measure Feigenbaum??s constants in fractional-order systems.     

Development of High Temperature Nanoindentation Methodology and its Application in the Nanoindentation of Polycrystalline Tungsten in Vacuum to 950 °C

The capability for high temperature nanoindentation measurements to 950 °C in high vacuum has been demonstrated on polycrystalline tungsten, a material of great importance for nuclear fusion and spallation applications and as a potential high temperature nanomechanics reference sample. It was possible to produce measurements with minimal thermal drift (typically ~0.05 nm/s at 750–950 °C) and no visible oxidative damage. The temperature dependence of the hardness, elastic modulus, plasticity index, creep, creep strain, and creep recovery were investigated over the temperature range, testing at 25, 750, 800, 850, 900 and 950 °C. The nanoindentation hardness measurements were found to be consistent with previous determinations by hot microhardness. Above 800 °C the hardness changes relatively little but more pronounced time-dependent deformation and plasticity were observed from 850 °C. Plasticity index, indentation creep and creep recovery all increase with temperature. The importance of increased time-dependent deformation and pile-up on the accuracy of the elastic modulus measurements are discussed. Elastic modulus measurements determined from elastic analysis of the unloading curves at 750–800 °C are close to literature bulk values (to within ~11 %). The high temperature modulus measurements deviate more from bulk values determined taking account of the high temperature properties of the indenter material at the point (850 °C) at which more significant time-dependent deformation is observed. This is thought to be due to the dual influence of increased time-dependency and pile-up that are not being accounted for in the elastic unloading analysis. Accounting for this time-dependency by applying a viscoelastic compliance correction developed by G. Feng and A.H.W. Ngan (J. Mater. Res. (2002) 17:660–668) greatly reduces the values of the elastic modulus, so they are agree to within 6 % of literature values at 950 °C.     

Application of PFG–NMR to Study the Impact of Colloidal Deposition on Hydrodynamic Dispersion in a Porous Medium

Colloidal particulate deposition affects the performance of industrial equipment, reverse osmosis membranes and sub-surface contaminant transport. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, i.e. diffusion, diffraction and velocity imaging, are used to study the effect deposited colloidal particulate have on the fluid dynamics of water inside a model porous medium. Specially prepared oil-filled hard-sphere particles allow monitoring of particulate accumulation via NMR spectroscopy. Evidence of preferential spatial deposition is observed after the initial colloidal particulate deposition. Loss of spatial homogeneity is observed through NMR diffraction, while observations of the probability distributions of displacement (propagators) indicate the formation of back-bone type flow. This paper presents unique dynamic NMR data for the non-invasive non-destructive investigation of fluid transport in opaque porous media experiencing colloidal deposition.     

A two scale model of porous rocks with Drucker–Prager matrix: Application to a sandstone

The present paper is devoted to a micromechanical model of porous rocks and its application to a sandstone. This original model takes advantage of a recent homogenization-based macroscopic yield function which couples Drucker–Prager type plasticity of the solid matrix and evolving porosity. Its formulation and implementation are described. Application to a Vosges sandstone shows that, except for very low confining pressures for which the mechanical behavior is quasi-brittle, the model predicts well the ductile behavior at moderate or high confining pressures (for which the pore collapse mechanism is expected to play a dominant role).     

Application of the PIV technique to measurements around and inside a forming drop in a liquid–liquid system

A particle image velocimetry (PIV) method has been developed to measure the velocity field inside and around a forming drop with a final diameter of 1 mm. The system, including a microscope, was used to image silicon oil drops forming in a continuous phase of water and glycerol. Fluorescent particles with a diameter of 1 μm were used as seeding particles. The oil was forced through a 200 μm diameter glass capillary into a laminar cross-flow in a rectangular channel. The velocity field was computed with a double-frame cross-correlation function down to a spatial resolution of 21 × 21 μm. The method can be used to calculate the shear stress induced at the interface by the cross-flow of the continuous phase and the main forces involved in the drop formation process.     

Coupled thermoviscoelasticity: A way to the stress-strain analysis of polymeric industrial components?

Summary The general relations between stress-strain fields and temperature change field are reported for elastic and viscoelastic bodies, and the energy equation is derived for the Zener's solid. Simple experimental thermographie analyses allow the coupled thermoviscoelasticity theory to be evaluated when applied to the structural analysis of machine components made of dissipative materials.

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Sommario Si presentano le relazioni generali tra i campi tensionali e deformabili ed il campo di variazione della temperatura nel caso di corpi elastici e viscoelastici, ricavando l'equazione dell'energia nel caso del Solido di Zenner. Semplici prove termografiche permettono di valutare l'applicabilità della teoria della termoviscoelasitcità accoppiata all'analisi strutturale di componenti di macchine realizzati con materiali dissipativi.

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In conclusions, the author thinks that the introduced thermomechanical approach could be used satisfactorily in the structural analysis of viscoelastic units, on explicit condition that critical parameters could be controlled. In particular, an attempt to limit the environment influences and to improve the optical resolution of infrared systems (by means of a thermostatic chamber and of a microscope) is being planned. The aim is to start studying the temperature change field at the tip of a crack in a stressed continuum.     

A generalization of the Coulomb’s friction law: from graphene to macroscale

At the nanoscale, differently to what happens at the macroscale, friction even without an applied normal pressure and spontaneous adhesion take place. In particular, the nanotribology between two layers of graphene, or other two-dimensional nanomaterials (even curved, such as nanotube walls), remains controversial. It is sufficient to say that friction between two graphene layers or nanotube walls is described in the current literature giving as “material property” a constant friction force or a constant friction shear strength, even if such views are obviously mutually exclusive. Is friction dominated by a strength, by a force or by an energy? Coupling elasticity and energy balance we solve this paradox deriving a generalization of the celebrated Coulomb’s friction law, reconciling the two current views. Molecular dynamics simulations on graphene are conducted to verify its validity at the nanoscale whereas statistical simulations confirm its validity even at the macroscale.