A multi-length scale sensitivity analysis for the control of texture-dependent properties in deformation processing

Material property evolution during processing is governed by the evolution of the underlying microstructure. We present an efficient technique for tailoring texture development and thus, optimizing properties in forming processes involving polycrystalline materials. The deformation process simulator allows simulation of texture formation using a continuum representation of the orientation distribution function. An efficient multi-scale sensitivity analysis technique is then introduced that allows computation of the sensitivity of microstructure field variables such as slip resistances and texture with respect to perturbations in macro-scale forming parameters such as forging rates, die shapes and preform shapes. These sensitivities are used within a gradient-based optimization framework for computational design of material property distribution during metal forming processes. Effectiveness of the developed computational scheme is demonstrated through computationally intensive examples that address control of properties such as Young’s modulus, strength and magnetic hysteresis loss in finished products.     

Pullback Attracting Inertial Manifolds for Nonautonomous Dynamical Systems

In this paper we present an abstract approach to inertial manifolds for nonautonomous dynamical systems. Our result on the existence of inertial manifolds requires only two geometrical assumptions, called cone invariance and squeezing property, and two additional technical assumptions, called boundedness and coercivity property. Moreover we give conditions which ensure that the global pullback attractor is contained in the inertial manifold. In the second part of the paper we consider special nonautonomous dynamical systems, namely processes (or two-parameter semi-flows). As a first application of our abstract approach and for reason of comparison with known results we verify the assumptions for semilinear nonautonomous evolution equations whose linear part satisfies an exponential dichotomy condition and whose nonlinear part is globally bounded and globally Lipschitz.     

移动简谐荷载作用下桥梁响应的高效计算

在计算移动荷载过桥问题中广泛使用的Newmark方法必须在每一时间步内限制荷载的大小和作用位置都不能改变。精细积分法虽然允许荷载的大小在每一时间步长内发生变化,但是仍假定其作用位置是不变的,未能采取措施以描述荷载沿着桥面的连续移动性。本文提出三种精细积分格式,在每一时间步内不但允许移动荷载的大小按简谐规律连续变化,而且模拟了简谐荷载在空间域的连续移动。通过与Newmark方法和简单问题的解析解进行数值比较,表明用本文提出的方法可以用较粗的结构单元和较大的时间步长而获得很高的计算精度。在精度相同的前提下,计算效率比Newmark方法可提高1~2个数量级。     

功能梯度矩形板的近似理论与解析解

提出了压电功能梯度矩形板在竖向载荷作用下的近似理论与解析解. 引入了板理论的Kirchhoff假设、Reissner-Mindlin假设和提出的补充假设, 并假设材料常数在板厚方向按指数规律变化. 推导了板在周边简支同时又接地情况下中性层法线转角的解和用Fourier级数表示的电势解. 该解在形式上比精确解简单得多, 进行数值计算时也相当方便与快捷. 计算结果与ANSYS软件用三维实体单元的有限元计算结果进行了比较, 证实了该方法即使在厚板情况下仍然具有很高的精度.      

An experimental study of nonlinear dynamic system identification

A technique for robust identification of nonlinear dynamic systems is developed and illustrated using both digital simulations and analog experiments. The technique is based on the Minimum Model Error optimal estimation approach. A detailed literature review is included in which fundamental differences between the current approach and previous work is described. The most significant feature of the current work is the ability to identify nonlinear dynamic systems without prior assumptions regarding the form of the nonlinearities, in contrast to existing nonlinear identification approaches which usually require detailed assumptions of the nonlinearities. The example illustrations indicate that the method is robust with respect to prior ignorance of the model, and with respect to measurement noise, measurement frequency, and measurement record length.     

Modeling and analysis of the coupled dynamics of machine degradation and repair processes using piecewise affine stochastic differential equations

This paper introduces an approach to model the coupled dynamics of recurring degradation and restoration processes that take place in real-world systems, such as manufacturing machines, in the form of non-linear (piecewise affine) differential equations. Unlike previous methods, interactions between degradation and repair dynamics that influence downtime distributions in such manufacturing systems can be explicitly considered and dependencies beyond correlations between the time between failures (TBF) and the time to repair (TTR) can be captured. The periodic solutions of the model capture the progressive evolution of long time-scale failure and repair patterns. The distribution of short time-scale failure–repair cycles can be captured by providing a class of random perturbations to certain model parameters. We provide sufficient conditions for the existence and stability of the resulting non-linear stochastic differential equation (n-SDE) model solutions that mimic the breakdown and repair patterns observed in many real-world manufacturing systems, namely, fairly regular (periodic) large breakdown and repair cycles, interspersed with highly right skewed distributions of short cycles. We also define the basin of attraction for the periodic orbit. The n-SDE model was parametrized using real-world data sets acquired from an automotive manufacturing assembly line segment, and the model solutions were compared with actual observations of TBF and TTR patterns, as well as the performance of the process. Our approach reduces the computation time by about 25% when compared to a discrete-event simulation model, which uses conventional TBF and TTR distributions, implemented on a commercial platform. Experimental investigations also suggest that the model can capture the correlations and non-linear coupled dynamics that exist in real-world operations among TBF and TTR, which are typically ignored in traditional approaches.     

Nonlinear vibration of symmetrically laminated composite skew plates by finite element method

Here, the large amplitude free flexural vibration behavior of symmetrically laminated composite skew plates is investigated using the finite element method. The formulation includes the effects of shear deformation, in-plane and rotary inertia. The geometric non-linearity based on von Kármán's assumptions is introduced. The nonlinear matrix amplitude equation obtained by employing Galerkin's method is solved by direct iteration technique. Time history for the nonlinear free vibration of composite skew plate is also obtained using Newmark's time integration technique to examine the accuracy of matrix amplitude equation. The variation of nonlinear frequency ratios with amplitudes is brought out considering different parameters such as skew angle, fiber orientation and boundary condition.     

Damage smoothing effects in a delocalized rate sensitivity model for metals

It has been long time established that application of damage delocalization method to softening constitutive models yields numerical results that are independent of the size of the finite element. However, the prediction of real-world large and small scale problems using the delocalization method remains in its infancy. One of the drawbacks encountered is that the predicted load versus displacement curve suddenly drops, as a result of excessive smoothing of the damage. The present paper studies this unwanted effect for a delocalized plasticity/damage model for metallic materials. We use some theoretical arguments to explain the failure of the delocalized model considered, following which a simple remedy is proposed to deal with it. Future works involve the numerical implementation of the new version of the delocalized model in order to assess its ability to reproduce real-world problems.     

Theoretical and Numerical Investigation of Gas Lubrication Processes on the Basis of Aerodynamic Equations

The dimensionless parameters of the complete system of Navier-Stokes equations of a compressible gas are estimated with reference to a typical gas bearing. It is found that the three-dimensional compressible boundary layer equations should be used as the determining equations for describing gas lubrication processes. After introducing certain assumptions with respect to the dimensionless parameters in the determining equations, an equation for the pressure, the generalized Reynolds equation, is obtained.Use of the spectral method of analysis makes it possible to transform the generalized Reynolds equation into a system of ordinary differential equations. An analytic solution of the entire boundary value problem is obtained for a journal bearing with fairly small eccentricity. By comparing the numerical results obtained using both the solution of the generalized Reynolds equation and the traditional theory it is possible to estimate the effect of the inertia forces, dissipation processes, and heat transfer.     

Hierarchical micro-adaptation of biological structures by mechanical stimuli

The objective of this work is to develop a remodeling model for biological matter coupling two different processes in a 3D framework: reorientation of the preferential direction of a given fibered structure and reorientation of the fibrils or filaments that make up such a structure. This work uses the microsphere-based approach to take into account the micro mechanics involved in biological fibered structures regarding both their passive behavior and the reorientation of their micro constituents. Moreover, the macro behavior of the material as a whole is obtained by means of homogenizing the underlying micro response. We associate the orientation space of the integration directions to the physical space of micro-fibrils. To approximate the directional distribution of the fibrils within each fiber bundle, a Bingham probability orientation density function is introduced into the Helmholtz energy function. With all these assumptions, the problem is studied from an energetic point of view, describing the dissipation inherent to remodeling processes, and the evolution equations for both reorientations (change in preferential direction of the network and change in shape of the fibril distribution) re obtained. The model is included in a finite element code which allows computing different geometries and boundary value problems. This results in a complete methodology for characterizing the reorientation evolution of different fibered biological structures, such as cells. Our results show remodeling of fibered structures in two different scales, presenting a qualitatively good agreement with experimental findings in cell mechanics. Hierarchical structures align in the direction of the maximum principal direction of the considered stimulus and narrow in the perpendicular direction. The dissipation rates follows predictable trends although there are no experimental findings to date for comparison. The incorporation of metabolic processes and an insight into cell-oriented mechano-sensing processes can help to overcome the limitations involved.     

Effects of void band orientation and crystallographic anisotropy on void growth and coalescence

The effects of void band orientation and crystallographic anisotropy on void growth and linkage have been investigated. 2D model materials were fabricated by laser drilling a band of holes into the gage section of sheet tensile samples using various orientation angles with respect to the tensile axis normal. Both copper and magnesium sheets have been studied in order to examine the role of crystallographic anisotropy on the void growth and linkage processes. The samples were pulled in uniaxial tension inside the chamber of an SEM, enabling a quantitative assessment of the growth and linkage processes. The void band orientation angle has a significant impact on the growth and linkage of the holes in copper. As the void band orientation angle is increased from 0° to 45°, the processes of coalescence and linkage are delayed to higher strain values. Furthermore, the mechanism of linkage changes from internal necking to one dominated by shear localization. In contrast, the void band orientation does not have a significant impact on the void growth and linkage processes in magnesium. Void growth in these materials occurs non-uniformly due to interactions between the holes and the microstructure. The heterogeneous nature of deformation in magnesium makes it difficult to apply a coalescence criterion based on the void dimensions. Furthermore, the strain at failure does not show a relationship with the void band orientation angle. Failure associated with twin and grain boundaries interrupts the plastic growth of the holes and causes rapid fracture. Therefore, the impact of the local microstructure outweighs the effects of the void band orientation angle in this material.     

Thermo-elastic optimization of material distribution of functionally graded structures by an isogeometrical approach

A new isogeometrical procedure for optimization of material composition of functionally graded structures in thermo-mechanical processes is introduced. The proposed method employs a generalized form of the standard isogeometric analysis method, allowing for gradation of material properties through patches. The variations of material properties are captured in a fully isogeometric formulation using the same NURBS basis functions employed for construction of the geometry and approximation of the solution. Subsequently, the applicates of control points that define the surfaces of volume fractions of the constituents are considered as the design variables and obtained by solving the optimization problem using a mathematical programming algorithm. Some numerical examples under thermal and mechanical loadings are considered to demonstrate the performance and applicability of the proposed method. Comparison of the obtained results with those of the other existing approaches such as finite elements and meshfree methods verifies the presented results. It will be seen that the proposed procedure considerably removes the difficulties of the existing methods and provides a promising tool for material design of functionally graded structures.     

A modified model for concurrent topology optimization of structures and materials

This paper presents a study on the concurrent topology optimization of a structure and its material microstructure. A modified optimization model is proposed by introducing microstructure orientation angles as a new type of design variable. The new model is based on the assumptions that a structure is made of a material with the same microstructure, and the material may have a different orientation within the design domain of the structure. The homogenization theory is applied to link the material and structure scales. An additional post-processing technique is developed for modifying the obtained design to avoid local optima caused by the use of orientation angle variables.Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the viability and effectiveness of the proposed model. It is found that significant improvement in structural performance can be achieved by optimizing the orientation of microstructures in concurrent topology optimization of structures and materials.     

Brownian dynamics simulation of multiphase suspension of disc-like particles and polymers

A computational model is proposed for simulating the flow of polymer nanocomposites. This model is based on a multiphase suspension of disc-like particles and polymers. The particles are represented by oblate spheroid particles that interact with each other via the Gay-Berne (GB) potential, and the polymers are modeled by finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) chains that interact with each other via the repulsive Lennard-Jones potential. The interaction between an oblate spheroid particle and a FENE chain is also considered using a modified GB potential. A Brownian dynamics simulation of the shear flows of this system was conducted to investigate the orientation behavior of disc-like particles and the rheological properties of this system. The orientation of disc-like particles was affected by polymers, and the particles in a suspension were well aligned in flows because of the flow orientation property of polymers. The predicted shear viscosity exhibited shear thinning, and the normal stress differences agree qualitatively with experimental measurements of polymer/clay nanocomposites. The simulation results suggest that the present model has the potential to be used as a computational model for polymer nanocomposites.     

A FE formulation for elasto-plastic materials with planar anisotropic yield functions and plastic spin

In this article a stress integration algorithm for shell problems with planar anisotropic yield functions is derived. The evolution of the anisotropy directions is determined on the basis of the plastic and material spin. It is assumed that the strains inducing the anisotropy of the pre-existing preferred orientation are much larger than subsequent strains due to further deformations. The change of the locally preferred orientations to each other during further deformations is considered to be neglectable. Sheet forming processes are typical applications for such material assumptions. Thus the shape of the yield function remains unchanged. The size of the yield locus and its orientation is described with isotropic hardening and plastic and material spin.The numerical treatment is derived from the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient and thermodynamic considerations in the intermediate configuration. A common formulation of the plastic spin completes the governing equations in the intermediate configuration. These equations are then pushed forward into the current configuration and the elastic deformation is restricted to small strains to obtain a simple set of constitutive equations. Based on these equations the algorithmic treatment is derived for planar anisotropic shell formulations incorporating large rotations and finite strains. The numerical approach is completed by generalizing the Return Mapping algorithm to problems with plastic spin applying Hill’s anisotropic yield function. Results of numerical simulations are presented to assess the proposed approach and the significance of the plastic spin in the deformation process.     

General mean-field homogenization schemes for viscoelastic composites containing multiple phases of coated inclusions

We consider matrix materials reinforced with multiple phases of coated inclusions. All materials are linear viscoelastic. We present general schemes for the prediction of the effective properties based on mean-field homogenization. There are four contributions in this work. First, we present a two-step homogenization procedure in a general setting which besides the usual assumptions of Eshelby-based models, does not suffer any restriction in terms of material properties, aspect ratio or orientation. Second, for a matrix reinforced with coated inclusions, we propose two general homogenization schemes, a two-step method and a two-level recursive scheme. We develop and compare the mathematical expressions obtained by the two schemes and a generalized Mori–Tanaka (M–T) model. Third, for a two-phase composite, either standalone or stemming from two-step or two-level schemes, we use a double-inclusion model based on a closed-form but non-trivial interpolation between M–T and inverse M–T estimates. Fourth, we conduct an extensive validation of the proposed schemes as well as others against experimental data and unit cell finite element simulations for a variety of viscoelastic composite materials. Under severe conditions, the proposed schemes perform much better than other existing homogenization methods.     

Optimal lift force coefficient databases from riser experiments

Significant past effort has gone into understanding the complicated flow–structure interaction problem of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of long flexible cylindrical structures (e.g., risers, mooring lines, tendons, conductors) in the ocean environment. However, major challenges persist with regard to riser VIV modeling and response prediction. The existing prediction schemes are based on a number of hypotheses, experimental facts and data like strip theory, energy balance, correlation length and, most importantly, the use of lift force coefficient databases. Recent advances in observing the VIV motions on experimental risers with high confidence shows that some of these assumptions may not be valid. One important source of the discrepancies between theoretical estimates and experimental observations arise from the use of experimentally obtained lift coefficient databases. These databases were obtained under the laboratory conditions of limited Reynolds number, and under the assumption that the cross-flow motions are not influenced by restraining the in-line motions. In this paper we develop a method to improve the modeling capability of riser VIV by extracting empirical lift coefficient databases from field riser VIV measurements. The existing laboratory-based lift coefficient databases are represented in a flexible parameterized form using a set of carefully chosen parameters. Extraction of the lift coefficient parameters is posed as an optimization problem, where the objective is to minimize the error between the prediction using a theoretical model and the experimental data. Application of the method to data from the Norwegian Deepwater Programme experiments shows that the new optimal databases significantly reduce the error in estimating the riser VIV cross-flow response.     

Further results on memory control of nonlinear discrete-time networked control systems with random input delay

This paper is concerned with the problem of memory state feedback stabilization for a class of nonlinear discrete-time networked control systems with partly known probability distribution of input delay. Different from the common assumptions on the delay in the existing literatures, it is assumed that the probabilities of the delay taking values in a finite set are partly known or fully known in advance. In terms of the information about the occurrence probabilities of the delay taking values in the two finite sets, a new stochastic delay model is proposed, where the probability information of the delay is included in the parameter matrices of the transformed system. Based on the new model, a delay-dependent stabilization criterion is derived using a combination of the Lyapunov functional method, convexity of matrix inequalities, and linear matrix inequality technique. Finally, three illustrative examples are provided to show the effectiveness and applicability of the developed theoretical results.     

Evaluation of three-dimensional stresses in shrink-fit problems by scattered-light photoelasticity

Stresses caused by shrink fits are commonly evaluated by using Lame's solution or by other analytical methods in which it is assumed that the radial stresses on the surface of contact are distributed uniformly, or in some stepwise manner, and that friction forces between the bodies are zero. These assumptions were not necessary in the experimental problem solved. Heretofore, no experimental techniques have been available to check the existing theories on a three-dimensional basis. The stresses which result when a short, hollow, thick-walled cylinder is shrunk over a shaft which is a solid shaft or a thick-walled, hollow shaft were determined. Equipment and techniques using scattered-light three-dimensional photoelasticity with a laser light source were developed and applied.