On the transverse compression response of Kevlar KM2 using fiber-level finite element model

Flexible textile composites like woven Kevlar fabrics are widely used in high velocity impact (HVI) applications. Upon HVI they are subjected to both longitudinal tensile and transverse compressive loads. To understand the role of transverse properties, the single fiber and tow transverse compression response (SFTCR and TTCR) of Kevlar KM2 fibers are numerically analyzed using plane strain finite element (FE) models. A finite strain formulation with a minimum number of 84 finite elements is determined to be required for the fiber cross section to capture the finite strain SFTCR through a mesh convergence study. Comparison of converged numerical solution to the experimental results indicates the dominant role of geometric stiffening at finite strains due to growth in contact width. The TTCR is studied using a fiber length scale FE model of a single tow comprised of 400 fibers transversely loaded between rigid platens. This study along with micrographs of yarn after mechanical compaction illustrates fiber spreading and fiber–fiber contact friction interactions are important deformation mechanisms at finite strains. The TTCR is also studied using homogenized yarn level models with properties from the literature. Comparison of TTCR between fiber length scale and homogenized yarn length scale models indicate the need for a nonlinear material model for homogenized approaches to accurately predict the transverse compression response of the fabrics.     

Impact of woven fabric: Experiments and mesostructure-based continuum-level simulations

Woven fabric is an increasingly important component of many defense and commercial systems, including deployable structures, restraint systems, numerous forms of protective armor, and a variety of structural applications where it serves as the reinforcement phase of composite materials. With the prevalence of these systems and the desire to explore new applications, a comprehensive, computationally efficient model for the deformation of woven fabrics is needed. However, modeling woven fabrics is difficult due, in particular, to the need to simulate the response both at the scale of the entire fabric and at the meso-level, the scale of the yarns that compose the weave. Here, we present finite elements for the simulation of the three-dimensional, high-rate deformation of woven fabric. We employ a continuum-level modeling technique that, through the use of an appropriate unit cell, captures the evolution of the mesostructure of the fabric without explicitly modeling every yarn. Displacement degrees of freedom and degrees of freedom representing the change in crimp amplitude of each yarn family fully determine the deformed geometry of the mesostructure of the fabric, which in turn provides, through the constitutive relations, the internal nodal forces. In order to verify the accuracy of the elements, instrumented ballistic impact experiments with projectile velocities of 22-550 m/s were conducted on single layers of Kevlar^® fabric. Simulations of the experiments demonstrate that the finite elements are capable of efficiently simulating large, complex structures.     

A continuum constitutive model for the mechanical behavior of woven fabrics

We propose a new approach for developing continuum models for the mechanical behavior of woven fabrics in planar deformation. We generate a physically motivated continuum model that can both simulate existing fabrics and predict the behavior of novel fabrics based on the properties of the yarns and the weave. The approach relies on the selection of a geometric model for the fabric weave, coupled with constitutive models for the yarn behaviors. The fabric structural configuration is related to the macroscopic deformation through an energy minimization method, and is used to calculate the internal forces carried by the yarn families. The macroscopic stresses are determined from the internal forces using equilibrium arguments. Using this approach, we develop a model for plain weave ballistic fabrics, such as Kevlar®, based on a pin-joined beam geometry. We implement this model into the finite element code ABAQUS and simulate fabrics under different modes of deformation. We present comparisons between model predictions and experimental findings for quasi-static modes of in-plane loading.     

基于开放式结构有限元系统 SiPESC.FEMS平板壳单元研发

基于开放式结构有限元系统SiPESC.FEMS的单元计算模块的设计模式,研发设计一种通用的平板壳单元计算框架。考虑板壳单元的组合关系和程序编制过程中的重用性及灵活性等特点,采用了软件设计中的构造器(Builder)模式实现不同的组合单元。本框架具有很好的通用性和可扩展性,为有限元程序研发提供了一个新的方式;同时,系统能够处理复杂荷载和边界条件,并可灵活实现不同类型单元的组合分析。本文利用此方法构造五种平板壳单元,通过数值算例分析对比讨论其性能,为选取合适的平板壳单元类型进行结构数值分析提供参考。     

粘结单元在模拟FRP层合板低速冲击响应中的应用

纤维增强树脂基复合材料层合板(fibre reinforced plastic composites,FRP)在航空、航天、交通、造船等诸多工程中得到了日益广泛的应用,而其在冲击载荷下的响应和破坏特别是分层一直为学术界所关注。本文中对FRP层合板在冲击载荷下的响应和破坏进行数值模拟,并通过引入粘结层重点研究其分层破坏。首先,介绍一种基于改进的粘结区域方法的粘结层损伤模型;其次,详细介绍了有限元模型建模过程和建模细节;最后,对有限元模型进行验证,并分析分层损伤发生的原因。模拟结果表明,该模型不仅能准确预测FRP层合板在低速冲击载荷下的载荷-时间曲线和载荷-位移曲线,还能成功地预测其分层破坏。     

Identification of dynamic properties of plate-like structures by using a continuum model

The common approach currently used in the aircraft structural analysis is the finite element method. NASA's research in computational structures technology (CST) is helping to develop the finite element analysis to a new stage, although the significant limitations still exist. The elements used in the finite element method are usually void of dynamics. The consequence is that hundreds and thousands of elements are needed to represent large flexible aircraft structures in order to acquire analytical accuracy. To avoid the large dimensionality the current practice is to reduce the order of the model for structural system identification and control synthesis. This approximation, however, can lead to system instability due to the dynamics which are ignored.In contrast, distributed parameter modeling seems to offer a viable alternative to the finite element approach for modeling large flexible aerospace structures. Distributed parameter models have the advantage of improved accuracy, reduced number of modal parameters, and the avoidance of modal order reduction. Most of the effort on the continuum modeling so far is contributed to the beam-like structures which are composed of beams, tethers and rigid bodies. For the aircraft structural analysis, however, another important type of structural elements is plate. The principle of the monocoque or semi-monocoque type of aircraft construction is fundamentally the use of a thin-walled tube to carry compression, tension, shear, and bending. It is necessary, therefore, to expand the continuum modeling methodology to the plate-like structures to satisfy the requirement in the aircraft structural analysis, especially for the monocoque structures.This paper has developed a continuum modeling algorithm for the identification of dynamic properties of plate-like structures. A closed-form solution of the Timoshenko plate equation consistent with the maximum likelihood estimator has been derived. The closed-form expressions of the gradient functions have thereby been resulted from the solution of the partial differential equation. The proposed distributed parameter model involves far fewer unknown parameters than independent modal characteristics for finite element models. Illustration of this approach is given by a computer simulation which shows that the estimated results by using continuum model are reasonably accurate compared with the theoretical results.     

Three‐dimensional sloshing: A consistent finite element approach

This paper presents a new computational methodology based on Legendre's polynomials to predict the slosh and acoustic motion in nearly incompressible fluids in both rigid and flexible structures with free surface. Here, we have used a finite element formulation based on Lagrangian frame of reference to model the fluid motion derived using Hamiltonian equation of the fluid system. We formulated three hexahedral finite elements based on strain fields expressed in terms of extended Legendre's polynomials. Sloshing and acoustic motion of liquid is investigated using these newly formulated elements and inf–sup test is performed on these new elements to check the performance of these elements in modeling sloshing under two severe constraints, namely incompressibility and irrotationality. Comparisons of slosh and acoustic frequencies, and mode shapes with exact solutions are given. Dynamic analysis with earthquake and harmonic kind of forcing function is carried out to validate the formulated hexahedral elements to analyze the sloshing response. Numerical results obtained with these new finite elements, and with the present finite element formulation of the mathematical model agree well with the exact solution and as well as with published experimental literature. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental analysis and modeling of biaxial mechanical behavior of woven composite reinforcements

This paper presents experimental studies on the mechanical behavior of fiber fabrics using a biaxial tensile device based on two deformable parallelograms. The cross-shaped specimens are well adapted to fabrics because of their lack of shear stiffness. Tension versus deformation curves, for different strain ratios, are obtained in the case of composite woven reinforcements used in aeronautic applications. It is shown that the tensile behavior of the fabric is strongly nonlinear due to the weaving undulations and the yarn contraction, and that the phenomenon is clearly biaxial. A constitutive model is described and identified from the experimental data. The essential role played by the yarn crushing will be pointed out.     

Finite element modelling of woven composite failure modes at the mesoscopic scale: deterministic versus stochastic approaches

Textile composites are composed of 3D complex architecture. To assess the durability of such engineering structures, the failure mechanisms must be highlighted. Examinations of the degradation have been carried out thanks to tomography. The present work addresses a numerical damage model dedicated to the simulation of the crack initiation and propagation at the scale of the warp yarns. For the 3D woven composites under study, loadings in tension and combined tension and bending were considered. Based on an erosion procedure of broken elements, the failure mechanisms have been modelled on 3D periodic cells by finite element calculations. The breakage of one element was determined using a failure criterion at the mesoscopic scale based on the yarn stress at failure. The results were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data for the two kinds of macroscopic loadings. The deterministic approach assumed a homogeneously distributed stress at failure all over the integration points in the meshes of woven composites. A stochastic approach was applied to a simple representative elementary periodic cell. The distribution of the Weibull stress at failure was assigned to the integration points using a Monte Carlo simulation. It was shown that this stochastic approach allowed more realistic failure simulations avoiding the idealised symmetry due to the deterministic modelling. In particular, the stochastic simulations performed have shown several variations of the stress as well as strain at failure and the failure modes of the yarn.     

离散元与壳体有限元结合的多尺度方法及其应用

在深入研究复杂结构和非均质材料冲击响应和破坏机理的过程中,往往遇到多尺度计算问题。本文尝试建立三维离散元与壳体有限元结合的多尺度方法用于处理圆柱壳问题,该方法采用三维离散元对感兴趣的局域进行局部模拟,利用平板壳体有限元进行整体模拟,采用一种特殊的过渡层使离散元区和有限元区能很好的衔接。我们将这一方法应用于激光辐照下充压柱壳的热/力耦合冲击破坏响应,得到的模拟结果与文献报道有较好的吻合。     

Shell element based model for wave propagation analysis in multi-wall carbon nanotubes

A spectrally formulated finite element is developed to study very high frequency elastic waves in carbon nanotubes (CNTs). A multi-walled nanotube (MWNT) is modelled as an assemblage of shell elements connected throughout their length by distributed springs, whose stiffness is governed by the van der Waals force acting between the nanotubes. The spectral element is formulated using the recently developed strategy based on singular value decomposition (SVD) and polynomial eigenvalue problem (PEP). The element can model a MWNT with any number of walls. Studies are carried out to investigate the effect of the number of walls on the spectrum and dispersion relation. The importance of shell element based model over the beam model is established. The zone of validity of the previously developed beam model is also investigated. It is shown that the shell model is required to capture the symmetric Lamb wave modes. It is also shown through numerical examples that the developed element efficiently captures the response of MWNT for Tera-hertz level frequency loading.     

Materially and geometrically non-linear woven composite micro-mechanical model with failure for finite element simulations

A computational micro-mechanical material model of woven fabric composite material is developed to simulate failure. The material model is based on repeated unit cell approach. The fiber reorientation is accounted for in the effective stiffness calculation. Material non-linearity due to the shear stresses in the impregnated yarns and the matrix material is included in the model. Micro-mechanical failure criteria determine the stiffness degradation for the constituent materials. The developed material model with failure is programmed as user-defined sub-routine in the LS-DYNA finite element code with explicit time integration. The code is used to simulate the failure behavior of woven composite structures. The results of finite element simulations are compared with available test results. The model shows good agreement with the experimental results and good computational efficiency required for finite element simulations of woven composite structures.     

复合结构壳体蠕变变形有限元研究

基于蠕变理论，采用有限元数值计算方法，用ANSYS作为计算平台，建立了壳体结构的蠕变变形计算模型．对由耐火材料是镁碳砖炉衬和炉壳组成的复合结构转炉，由于高导热率的镁碳砖广泛使用，引起转炉炉壳的温度升高，导致转炉不同程度地出现了炉壳蠕变变形，致使炉壳使用寿命缩短．研究转炉炉壳蠕变变形的状态及分布规律，可为控制炉壳蠕变变形、延长炉壳使用寿命提供依据．运用所述的有限元计算模型，对复合结构的转炉炉壳的蠕变变形行为进行模拟，模拟结果与现场测量值基本吻合．     

Modeling of unilateral contact conditions with application to aerospace systems involving backlash, freeplay and friction

This paper describes an analysis procedure for the modeling of backlash, freeplay and friction in flexible multibody systems. The first two effects are formulated in a general manner as unilateral contact conditions in multibody dynamics. The incorporation of the effects of friction in joint elements is also discussed, together with an effective computational strategy. These non-standard effects are formulated within the framework of finite element based multibody dynamics that allows the analysis of complex, flexible systems of arbitrary topology. The versatility and generality of the approach are demonstrated by presenting applications to aerospace systems: the flutter analysis of a wing-aileron system with freeplay, the impact of an articulated rotor blade on its doop stop during engagement operation in high wind conditions, and the dynamic response of a space antenna featuring joints with friction.     

Woven fabric composite material model with material nonlinearity for nonlinear finite element simulation

The objective of the current investigation is to develop a simple, yet generalized, model which considers the two-dimensional extent of woven fabric, and to have an interface with nonlinear finite element codes. A micromechanical composite material model for woven fabric with nonlinear stress-strain relations is developed and implemented in ABAQUS for nonlinear finite element structural analysis. Within the model a representative volume cell is assumed. Using the iso-stress and iso-strain assumptions the constitutive equations are averaged along the thickness direction. The cell is then divided into many subcells and an averaging is performed again by assuming uniform stress distribution in each subcell to obtain the effective stress–strain relations of the subcell. The stresses and strains within the subcells are combined to yield the effective stresses and strains in the representative cell. Then this information is passed to the finite element code at each material point of the shell element. In this manner structural analysis of woven composites can be performed. Also, at each load increment global stresses and strains are communicated to the representative cell and subsequently distributed to each subcell. Once stresses and strains are associated to a subcell they can be distributed to each constituent of the subcell i.e. fill, warp, and resin. Consequently micro-failure criteria (MFC) can be defined for each constituent of a subcell and the proper stiffness degradation can be modeled if desired. This material model is suitable for implicit and could be modified for explicit finite element codes to deal with problems such as crashworthiness, impact, and failure analysis under static loads.     

近场动力学与有限元的混合建模方法

综述了近场动力学与有限元混合建模方法的研究进展,阐明了各种混合建模方法的基本原理与特点,并重点介绍本课题组在近场动力学与有限元方法混合建模方面的研究工作。现有近场动力学与有限元混合建模方法包括位移协调约束、力耦合、混合函数方法以及子模型方法等,除子模型方法外,都可归结为并行式多尺度分析方法,其基本思想是将计算结构划分为近场动力学子域、有限元子域以及两者的交界区域(或重叠区域、或界面单元、或过渡区域)。子模型方法可归结为显-显分析方法,先采用显式有限元进行整体分析,后采用近场动力学方法对重点区域进行分析。混合建模方法需要着重提高交界区域的计算精度,并且消除虚假力和虚假应力波问题。提出了通过力耦合的近场动力学与有限元混合建模的隐式分析方法,该方法不再设置重叠区,通过杆单元连接近场动力学子域与有限元子域,其中界面上的有限元结点不仅与其所在单元的其他结点发生作用,还通过杆单元与以其为圆心、一定半径的圆域内的其他物质点相互作用。研究表明,本文提出的混合模型和求解方法既能有效解决裂纹扩展等不连续问题,又可提高计算效率,为工程结构破坏问题的计算分析提供一种有效方法。     

A new high-precision stress finite element for analysis of shell structures

A new high-precision finite element for analysis of shell structures is presented. It is derived from a slightly generalized equilibrium principle. Accordingly both stresses and displacements are obtained as primary result of analysis. At the assembly level the element has 45 degrees of freedom, all of them generalized displacements. For the price of some additional computational effort on the elemental level of analysis the proposed element is believed to gain certain advantages over the recently developed high-precision displacement elements. Thin as well as thick shell structures of arbitrary shape and loading can be equally analyzed. Engineering accuracy is attained with only very few elements. A variety of numerical examples demonstrates the applicability of the new element to all kinds of situations occuring in practice. A review of the existing high-precision shell elements is also included.     

《余能理论》引领中国变分原理的研究

正今年是钱令希院士诞辰100周年,带着崇敬的心情我们缅怀先生的一生。作为一名杰出的科学家,除了在很多研究工作中取得优秀的成果,钱令希先生的战略眼光更值得我们学习。1950年钱令希先生在中国科学杂志发表《余能理论》[1]。论文中钱令希先生引用了Westergaard 1941年关于余能原理的论文,特别引用了Westergaard的观点,认为余能方法没有受到与其价     

A continuous material law for modeling thin-sheet piles and their frictional connection

In the present paper, the mechanical modeling and the numerical simulation of a pile of thin sheets under compressive and in-plane forces is presented. These sheets are not glued or laminated, but interact through frictional contact only. In applications, as for example the core of a large power transformer, such piles may consist of thousands of sheets, which are of thickness below 1 mm, while the dimensions of the pile reaches several meters. Also, several piles may interact by a frictional connection. Such connections are realized by regions where sheets from both stacks overlap mutually. Simulations using a properly meshed original geometry and standard finite element models lead to billions of unknowns for industrial applications. Additionally, the system is highly nonlinear due to the heavily coupled contact conditions posed on thousands of interfaces. Simulations become extremely expensive in terms of both memory and computation time, if not even unsolvable due to numerical convergence problems. The aim of this paper is to present a macroscopic material model, which can be applied to an equivalent homogenized computational domain representing the interconnected sheet piles. An extension of the material law in regions of mutual overlapping due to frictional connections is provided. When using the present approach, the homogenized computational domain can be discretized by a far smaller number of unknowns, while a good overall accuracy is retained. The numerical solution of standardized test problems is presented and verified against analytical considerations.     

基于内聚力理论的二维二次界面单元在ABAQUS中的UEL程序实现

依据有限元理论,结合内聚力模型法则,推导出二维二次粘结界面单元在大位移情况下的数值格式,得到用形函数表示的单元位移模式、载荷向量和刚度矩阵,并进行了离散化。基于ABAQUS软件的自定义扩展模块,编制了相应的用户单元子程序UEL,通过数值算例验证了该程序的准确性和有效性。这一成果能为在ABAQUS软件中开展相关数值研究,以及开发其他类型的内聚力界面有限单元提供思路和参考。