Analysis of hollow inclusion–matrix debonding in particulate composites

This work aims at understanding the effect of particle–matrix interfacial debonding on the tensile response of syntactic foams. The problem of a single hollow inclusion with spherical-cap cracks embedded in a dissimilar matrix material is studied. Degradation of elastic modulus, cavity formation in the proximity of debonded regions, stress localization phenomena in the inclusion, debonding energetics, and crack kinking are studied for a broad range of inclusion wall thickness and debonding extent. A series solution based on the Galerkin method is proposed and validated through comparison with findings from boundary element and finite element methods. Results are specialized to glass particle-vinyl ester matrix systems widely used in marine structural applications. The insight gained into the role of particle–matrix debonding extent and inclusion wall thickness is useful in understanding the possible failure mechanisms of syntactic foams under tensile and flexural loading conditions and in tailoring their parameters for specific applications.     

Elastic fields and effective moduli of particulate nanocomposites with the Gurtin–Murdoch model of interfaces

A complete solution has been obtained for periodic particulate nanocomposite with the unit cell containing a finite number of spherical particles with the Gurtin–Murdoch interfaces. For this purpose, the multipole expansion approach by Kushch et al. [Kushch, V.I., Mogilevskaya, S.G., Stolarski, H.K., Crouch, S.L., 2011. Elastic interaction of spherical nanoinhomogeneities with Gurtin–Murdoch type interfaces. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 59, 1702–1716] has been further developed and implemented in an efficient numerical algorithm. The method provides accurate evaluation of local fields and effective stiffness tensor with the interaction effects fully taken into account. The displacement vector within the matrix domain is found as a superposition of the vector periodic solutions of Lamé equation. By using local expansion of the total displacement and stress fields in terms of vector spherical harmonics associated with each particle, the interface conditions are fulfilled precisely. Analytical averaging of the local strain and stress fields in matrix domain yields an exact, closed form formula (in terms of expansion coefficients) for the effective elastic stiffness tensor of nanocomposite. Numerical results demonstrate that elastic stiffness and, especially, brittle strength of nanoheterogeneous materials can be substantially improved by an appropriate surface modification.     

The radially nonhomogeneous elastic axisymmentric problem

The plane axisymmetric problem with axisymmetric geometry and loading is analyzed for a radially nonhomogeneous circular cylinder, in linear elasticity. Considering the radial dependence of the stress, the displacements fields and of the stiffness matrix, after a series of admissible functional manipulations, the general differential system solving the problem is developed. The isotopic radially inhomogeneous elastic axisymmetric problem is also analyzed. The exact elasticity solution is developed for a radially nonhomogeneous hollow circular cylinder of exponential Young’s modulus and constant Poisson’s ratio and of power law Young’s modulus and constant Poisson’s ratio. For the isotropic elastic axisymmetric problem, a general expression of the stress function is derived. After the satisfaction of the biharmonic equation and making compatible the stress field’s expressions, the stress function and the stress and displacements fields of the axisymmetric problem are also deduced. Applications have been made for a radially nonhomogeneous hollow cylinder where the stress and displacements fields are determined.     

Low-velocity impact response of sandwich beams with functionally graded core

The problem of low-speed impact of a one-dimensional sandwich panel by a rigid cylindrical projectile is considered. The core of the sandwich panel is functionally graded such that the density, and hence its stiffness, vary through the thickness. The problem is a combination of static contact problem and dynamic response of the sandwich panel obtained via a simple nonlinear spring-mass model (quasi-static approximation). The variation of core Young’s modulus is represented by a polynomial in the thickness coordinate, but the Poisson’s ratio is kept constant. The two-dimensional elasticity equations for the plane sandwich structure are solved using a combination of Fourier series and Galerkin method. The contact problem is solved using the assumed contact stress distribution method. For the impact problem we used a simple dynamic model based on quasi-static behavior of the panel—the sandwich beam was modeled as a combination of two springs, a linear spring to account for the global deflection and a nonlinear spring to represent the local indentation effects. Results indicate that the contact stiffness of the beam with graded core increases causing the contact stresses and other stress components in the vicinity of contact to increase. However, the values of maximum strains corresponding to the maximum impact load are reduced considerably due to grading of the core properties. For a better comparison, the thickness of the functionally graded cores was chosen such that the flexural stiffness was equal to that of a beam with homogeneous core. The results indicate that functionally graded cores can be used effectively to mitigate or completely prevent impact damage in sandwich composites.     

Stiffness reduction of cracked general symmetric laminates using a variational approach

In this paper, stiffness reduction of general symmetric laminates containing a uniform distribution of matrix cracks in a single orientation is analyzed. An admissible stress field is considered, which satisfies equilibrium and all the boundary and continuity conditions. This stress field has been used in conjunction with the principle of minimum complementary energy to get the effective stiffness matrix of a cracked general symmetric laminate. Natural boundary conditions have been derived from the variational principle to overcome the limitations of the existing variational methods on the analysis of general symmetric laminates. Therefore, the capability of analyzing cracked symmetric laminates using the variational approach has been enhanced significantly. It has been shown that the method provides a rigorous lower bound for the stiffness matrix of a cracked laminate, which is very important for practical applications. Results derived from the developed method for the properties of the cracked laminates showed an excellent agreement with experimental data and with those obtained from McCartney’s stress transfer model. The differences of the developed model with McCartney’s model are discussed in detail. It can be emphasized that the current approach is simpler than McCartney’s model, which needs an averaging procedure to obtain the governing equations. Moreover, it has been shown that the existing variational models are special cases of the current formulation.     

Bonded lap joints of composite laminates with tapered edges

This study presents a semi-analytical solution method to analyze the geometrically nonlinear response of bonded composite lap joints with tapered and/or non tapered adherend edges under uniaxial tension. The solution method provides the transverse shear and normal stresses in the adhesives and in-plane stress resultants and bending moments in the adherends. The method utilizes the principle of virtual work in conjunction with von Karman’s nonlinear plate theory to model the adherends and the shear lag model to represent the kinematics of the thin adhesive layers between the adherends. Furthermore, the method accounts for the bilinear elastic material behavior of the adhesive while maintaining a linear stress–strain relationship in the adherends. In order to account for the stiffness changes due to thickness variation of the adherends along the tapered edges, the in-plane and bending stiffness matrices of the adherents are varied as a function of thickness along the tapered region. The combination of these complexities results in a system of nonlinear governing equilibrium equations. This approach represents a computationally efficient alternative to finite element method. The numerical results present the effects of taper angle, adherend overlap length, and the bilinear adhesive material on the stress fields in the adherends, as well as the adhesives of a single- and double-lap joint.     

橡胶粘结颗粒材料粘弹性性能的试验研究与离散元模拟

制备了颗粒规则四方排列和六方排列的橡胶粘接颗粒材料试样,实验测试了所制备试样在单向拉伸载荷下的应力松弛曲线和不同应变率时的应力应变曲线。基于所测试的应力松弛曲线,采用曲线拟合方法得到了所测试材料的宏观Burger’s粘弹性本构模型参数。采用离散元模型中单元间连结模型代表颗粒间橡胶粘接剂的作用,并基于试样的宏观Burger’s模型参数与离散元模型中细观Burger’s连结模型参数间的关系,建立了橡胶粘接颗粒材料的无厚度胶结离散元分析模型。最后采用所建立的离散元模型计算了所测试试样的松弛和拉伸力学性能。离散元预测结果与实验结果的对比表明,采用无厚度胶结离散元模型能较好的计算颗粒规则排列的橡胶粘接颗粒材料松弛和拉伸力学性能,但基于应力松弛实验拟合而来参数不能准确反应橡胶粘接剂在高应变率条件下其力学性能的应变率相关性。     

Buckling load optimization of beams

In this paper, shape optimization is used to optimize the buckling load of a Euler–Bernoulli beam having constant volume. This is achieved by varying appropriately the beam cross section so that the beam buckles with the maximum or a prescribed buckling load. The problem is reduced to a nonlinear optimization problem under equality and inequality constraints as well as specified lower and upper bounds. The evaluation of the objective function requires the solution of the buckling problem of a beam with variable stiffness subjected to an axial force. This problem is solved using the analog equation method for the fourth-order ordinary differential equation with variable coefficients. Besides its accuracy, this method overcomes the shortcomings of a possible FEM solution, which would require resizing of the elements and recomputation of their stiffness properties during the optimization process. Several example problems are presented that illustrate the method and demonstrate its efficiency.     

A novel APSO-aided maximum likelihood identification method for Hammerstein systems

Identification of Hammerstein nonlinear models has received much attention due to its ability to describe a wide variety of nonlinear systems. In this paper the maximum likelihood estimator which was originally derived for linear systems is extended to work for Hammerstein nonlinear systems in colored-noise environment. The maximum likelihood estimate is known to be statistically efficient, but can lead to complex nonlinear multidimensional optimization problem; traditional methods solve this problem at the computational cost of evaluating second derivatives. To overcome these shortcomings, a particle swarm optimization (PSO) aided maximum likelihood identification algorithm (Maximum Likelihood-Particle Swarm Optimization, ML-PSO) is first proposed to integrate PSO’s simplicity in implementation and computation, and its ability to quickly converge to a reasonably good solution. Furthermore, a novel adaptive strategy using the evolution state estimation technique is proposed to improve PSO’s performance (maximum likelihood-adaptive particle swarm optimization, ML-APSO). A simulation example shows that ML-APSO method outperforms ML-PSO and traditional recursive least square method in various noise conditions, and thus proves the effectiveness of the proposed identification scheme.     

The uniaxial tension of particulate composite materials with nonlinear interface debonding

Debonding of particle/matrix interfaces can significantly affect the macroscopic behavior of composite material. We have used a nonlinear cohesive law for particle/matrix interfaces to study interface debonding and its effect on particulate composite materials subject to uniaxial tension. The dilute solution shows that, at a fixed particle volume fraction, small particles lead to hardening behavior of the composite while large particles yield softening behavior. Interface debonding of large particles is unstable since the interface opening (and sliding) displacement(s) may have a sudden jump as the applied strain increases, which is called the catastrophic debonding. A simple estimate is given for the critical particle radius that separates the hardening and softening behavior of the composite.     

颗粒增强复合材料的屈服极限

基于渐近均匀化方法,导出了颗粒增强复合材料的屈服准则,给出了初始屈服应力的解析表达式。因为颗粒增强体的弹性模量远比弹塑性基体的弹性模量高,这个模量差在增强体和基体中产生了装配刚度。解局部问题可以得到该装配刚度。从屈服应力的表达式可以看出,增强体和基体两者的平均装配刚度和剪切模量之比决定了屈服应力的提高程度。给出了两个数值算例。采用菱形十二面体单胞求解了局部问题。取单胞形状为菱形十二面体的优点是增强体的体积比可以高达74%。     

Interaction of general plane P wave and cylindrical inclusion partially debonded from its viscoelastic matrix

The interaction of a general plane P wave and an elastic cylindrical inclusion of infinite length partially debonded from its surrounding viscoelastic matrix of infinite extension is investigated. The debonded region is modeled as an arc-shaped interface crack between inclusion and matrix with non-contacting faces. With wave functions expansion and singular integral equation technique, the interaction problem is reduced to a set of simultaneous singular integral equations of crack dislocation density function. By analysis of the fundamental solution of the singular integral equation, it is found that dynamic stress field at the crack tip is oscillatory singular, which is related to the frequency of incident wave. The singular integral equations are solved numerically, and the crack open displacement and dynamic stress intensity factor are evaluated for various incident angles and frequencies. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19872002) and Climbing Foundation of Northern Jiaotong University     

A new formulation of the effective elastic–plastic response of two-phase particulate composite materials

In this paper the double-inclusion model, originally developed to determine effective linear elastic properties of composite materials, is reformulated and extended to predict the effective nonlinear elastic–plastic response of two-phase particulate composites reinforced with spherical particles. The resulting problem of elastic–plastic deformation of a double-inclusion embedded in an infinite reference medium subjected to an incrementally applied far-field strain is solved by the finite element method. The proposed double-inclusion model is evaluated by comparison of the model predictions to the available exact results obtained by the direct approach using representative volume elements containing many particles. It is found that the double-inclusion formulation is capable of providing accurate prediction of the effective elastic–plastic response of two-phase particulate composites at moderate particle volume fractions.     

改进的Jones—Nelson物理非线性材料模型与橡胶复合材料层板分析

Ｊｏｎｅｓ－Ｎｅｌｓｏｎ模型是复合材料物理非线性应力应变关系的一种描述方法，它通过建立材料刚度与应变能密度的关系以及考虑纤维增强复合材料的物理非线性问题，非线性的材料矩阵只为应变能的子数，使得材料模型可以方便地应用地复杂应力状态下，通过 在大变形的应变应力变量和变泊松比概念，对Ｊｏｎｅｓ－Ｎｅｌｓｏｎ模型进行了改进，解决了材料特性的扩展问题和收敛问题，同时考虑了大变形中纤维铺设角度的重新取向，使其     

Interacting elliptic inclusions by the method of complex potentials

An accurate series solution has been obtained for a piece-homogeneous elastic plane containing a finite array of non-overlapping elliptic inclusions of arbitrary size, aspect ratio, location and elastic properties. The method combines standard Muskhelishvili’s representation of general solution in terms of complex potentials with the superposition principle and newly derived re-expansion formulae to obtain a complete solution of the many-inclusion problem. By exact satisfaction of all the interface conditions, a primary boundary-value problem stated on a complicated heterogeneous domain has been reduced to an ordinary well-posed set of linear algebraic equations. A properly chosen form of potentials provides a remarkably simple form of solution and thus an efficient computational algorithm. The theory developed is rather general and can be applied to solve a variety of composite mechanics problems. The advanced models of composite involving up to several hundred inclusions and providing an accurate account for the microstructure statistics and fiber–fiber interactions can be considered in this way. The numerical examples are given showing high accuracy and numerical efficiency of the method developed and disclosing the way and extent to which the selected structural parameters influence the stress concentration at the matrix–inclusion interface.     

Saint-Venant problem for solids with helical anisotropy

We discuss the solution of Saint-Venant’s problem for solids with helical anisotropy. Here the governing relations of the theory of elasticity in terms of displacements were presented using the helical coordinate system. We proposed an approach to construct elementary Saint-Venant solutions using integration of ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients in the case of a circular cylinder with helical anisotropy. Elementary solutions correspond to problems of extension, of torsion, of pure bending and of bending of shear force. The solution of the problem is obtained using small parameter method for small values of twist angle and numerically for arbitrary values. Numeric results correspond to problems of extension–torsion. Dependencies of the stiffness matrix (in dimensionless form) on angle between the tangent to the helical coil and the axis of the cylinder corresponding to stiffness on stretching and torsion are illustrated graphically for different values of material and geometrical parameters.     

Computational studies on high-stiffness,high-damping SiC–InSn particulate reinforced composites

With the objective of achieving composite material systems that feature high stiffness and high mechanical damping, consideration is given here to unit cell analysis of particulate composites with high volume fraction of inclusions. Effective elastic properties of the composite are computed with computational homogenization based on unit cell analysis. The correspondence principle together with the viscoelastic properties of the indium–tin eutectic matrix are then used to compute the effective viscoelastic properties of the composite. Comparison is made with parallel experiments upon composites with an indium–tin eutectic matrix and high volume fractions of silicon-carbide reinforcement. The analytical techniques indicate that combinations of relatively high stiffness and high damping can be achieved in particulate composites with high SiC volume fractions. Based on analysis, the tradeoffs between stiffness and damping characteristics are assessed by changing the volume fraction, size, packing, and gradation of the particulate reinforcement phases. Practical considerations associated with realization of such composites based on the surface energy between the SiC and the InSn are discussed.     

Nonlinear free vibration of nanotube with small scale effects embedded in viscous matrix

In this paper, the nonlinear free vibration of the nanotube with damping effects is studied. Based on the nonlocal elastic theory and Hamilton principle, the governing equation of the nonlinear free vibration for the nanotube is obtained. The Galerkin method is employed to reduce the nonlinear equation with the integral and partial differential characteristics into a nonlinear ordinary differential equation. Then the relation is solved by the multiple scale method and the approximate analytical solution is derived. The nonlinear vibration behaviors are discussed with the effects of damping, elastic matrix stiffness, small scales and initial displacements. From the results, it can be observed that the nonlinear vibration can be reduced by the matrix damping. The elastic matrix stiffness has significant influences on the nonlinear vibration properties. The nonlinear behaviors can be changed by the small scale effects, especially for the structure with large initial displacement.     

Elastic interaction of partially debonded circular inclusions. I. Theoretical solution

A complete solution has been obtained of the elasticity problem for a plane containing a finite array of partially debonded circular inclusions, regarded as the open-crack model of fibrous composite with interface damage. A general displacement solution of the single-inclusion problem has been derived by combining the complex potentials technique with the newly derived series expansions. This solution is valid for any non-uniform far load and is finite and exact in the case of polynomial far field. Applying the superposition principle expands this theory to the multiple inclusion problem and provides a simple and rapidly convergent iterative algorithm. The presented numerical data show an accuracy and numerical efficiency of the proposed method and discover the way and extent to which the elastic interaction between the partially debonded inclusions affects the local fields, stress intensity factors and the energy release rate at the interface crack tips.     

A concurrent micromechanical model for predicting nonlinear viscoelastic responses of composites reinforced with solid spherical particles

A concurrent micromechanical model for predicting nonlinear viscoelastic responses of particle reinforced polymers is developed. Particles are in the form of solid spheres having micro-scale diameters. The composite microstructures are idealized by periodically distributed cubic particles in a matrix medium. Each particle is assumed to be fully surrounded by polymeric matrix such that contact between particles can be avoided. A representative volume element (RVE) is then defined by a single particle embedded in the cubic matrix. A spatial periodicity boundary condition is imposed to the RVE. One eighth unit-cell model with four particle and polymer subcells is generated due to the three-plane symmetry of the RVE. The solid spherical particle is modeled as a linear elastic material. The polymeric matrix follows nonlinear viscoelastic behaviors of thermorheologically simple materials. The homogenized micromechanical relation is developed in terms of the average strains and stresses in the subcells and traction continuity and displacement compatibility at the subcells’ interfaces are imposed. A stress–strain correction scheme is also formulated to satisfy the linearized micromechanical and the nonlinear constitutive relations. The micromechanical model provides three-dimensional (3D) effective properties of homogeneous composite responses, while recognizing microstructural geometries and in situ material properties of the heterogeneous medium. The micromechanical formulation is designed to be compatible with general displacement based finite element (FE) analyses. Experimental data and analytical micromechanical models available in the literature are used to verify the capability of the above micromechanical model for predicting the overall composite behaviors. The proposed micromodel is also examined in terms of computational efficiency and accuracy.