Variational Treatment and Stability Analysis of Coupled Electro-Mechanics

Dielectric materials such as electro-active polymers (EAPs) belong to the class of functional materials which are used in advanced industrial environments as sensors or actuators and in other innovative fields of research. Driven by Coulomb-type electrostatic forces EAPs are theoretically able to withstand deformations of several hundred percents. However, large actuation fields and different types of instabilities prohibit the ascend of these materials. One distinguishes between global structural instabilities such as buckling and wrinkling of EAP devices, and local material instabilities such as limit- and bifurcation-points in the constitutive response. We outline variational-based stability criteria in finite electro-elastostatics and design algorithms for accompanying stability checks in typical finite element computations. These accompanying stability checks are embedded into a computational homogenization framework to predict the macroscopic overall response and onset of local material instability of particle filled composite materials. Application and validation of the suggested method is demonstrated by a representative model problem. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Analysis of Micro- and Macro-Instability Phenomena in Computational Homogenization of Finite Electro-Statics

Dielectric materials such as electro-active polymers (EAPs) belong to the class of functional materials which are used in advanced industrial environments as sensors or actuators and in other innovative fields of research. Driven by Coulomb-type electrostatic forces EAPs are theoretically able to withstand deformations of several hundred percents. However, large actuation fields and different types of instabilities prohibit the ascend of these materials. One distinguishes between global structural instabilities such as buckling and wrinkling of EAP devices, and local material instabilities such as limit- and bifurcation-points in the constitutive response. We outline variational-based stability criteria in finite electro-elastostatics and design algorithms for accompanying stability checks in typical finite element computations. These accompanying stability checks are embedded into a computational homogenization framework to predict the macroscopic overall response and onset of local material instability of particle filled composite materials. Application and validation of the suggested method is demonstrated by representative model problems. (© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Stability of anisotropic electroactive polymers with application to layered media

The stability of anisotropic electroactive polymers is investigated. A general criterion for the onset of instabilities under plane-strain conditions is introduced in terms of a sextic polynomial whose coefficients depend on the instantaneous electroelastic moduli. In a way of an example, the stable domains of layered neo-Hookean dielectrics are determined. It is found that depending on the direction of the electrostatic excitation field relative to the lamination direction, the critical stretch ratios at which instabilities may occur can be either larger or smaller than the ones for the purely mechanical case.     

Stability of anisotropic electroactive polymers with application to layered media

The stability of anisotropic electroactive polymers is investigated. A general criterion for the onset of instabilities under plane-strain conditions is introduced in terms of a sextic polynomial whose coefficients depend on the instantaneous electroelastic moduli. In a way of an example, the stable domains of layered neo-Hookean dielectrics are determined. It is found that depending on the direction of the electrostatic excitation field relative to the lamination direction, the critical stretch ratios at which instabilities may occur can be either larger or smaller than the ones for the purely mechanical case.     

Zigzag and Breakup Instabilities of Stripes and Rings in the Two-Dimensional Gray–Scott Model

Two different types of instabilities of equilibrium stripe and ring solutions are studied for the singularly perturbed two‐component Gray–Scott (GS) model in a two‐dimensional domain. The analysis is performed in the semi‐strong interaction limit where the ratio O(?^?2) of the two diffusion coefficients is asymptotically large. For ?→ 0 , an equilibrium stripe solution is constructed where the singularly perturbed component concentrates along the mid‐line of a rectangular domain. An equilibrium ring solution occurs when this component concentrates on some circle that lies concentrically within a circular cylindrical domain. For both the stripe and the ring, the spectrum of the linearized problem is studied with respect to transverse (zigzag) and varicose (breakup) instabilities. Zigzag instabilities are associated with eigenvalues that are asymptotically small as ?→ 0 . Breakup instabilities, associated with eigenvalues that are O(1) as ?→ 0 , are shown to lead to the disintegration of a stripe or a ring into spots. For both the stripe and the ring, a combination of asymptotic and numerical methods are used to determine precise instability bands of wavenumbers for both types of instabilities. The instability bands depend on the relative magnitude, with respect to ?, of a nondimensional feed‐rate parameter A of the GS model. Both the high feed‐rate regime A=O(1) , where self‐replication phenomena occurs, and the intermediate regime O(?^1/2) ?A?O(1) are studied. In both regimes, it is shown that the instability bands for zigzag and breakup instabilities overlap, but that a zigzag instability is always accompanied by a breakup instability. The stability results are confirmed by full numerical simulations. Finally, in the weak interaction regime, where both components of the GS model are singularly perturbed, it is shown from a numerical computation of an eigenvalue problem that there is a parameter set where a zigzag instability can occur with no breakup instability. From full‐scale numerical computations of the GS, it is shown that this instability leads to a large‐scale labyrinthine pattern.     

Implicit formulation for advection–diffusion simulation based on particle distribution moments

This paper introduces an implicit method for advection–diffusion equations called Implicit DisPar, based on particle displacement moments applied to uniform grids. The present method tries to solve constraints associated with explicit methods also based on particle displacement methods, in which diffusivity-dominated situations can only be handled by considerably increasing the associated computational costs. In fact, a higher particle destination nodes number allows the use of higher diffusion coefficients for the transport simulation without instabilities. The average was evaluated by an analogy between the Fokker–Planck and the transport equations. The variance is considered to be Fickian. The particle displacement distribution is used to predict deterministic mass transfers between domain nodes. Mass conservation was guaranteed by the distribution concept. In the truncation error analysis, it was shown that the linear Implicit DisPar formulation does not have numerical error up to v − 1 order, if the first v particle moments are forced by the Gaussian moments. It was shown by theoretical tests for linear conditions that the model accuracy level is proportional to the number of particle destination nodes.     

Perturbed kernel approximation on homogeneous manifolds

Current methods for interpolation and approximation within a native space rely heavily on the strict positive-definiteness of the underlying kernels. If the domains of approximation are the unit spheres in euclidean spaces, then zonal kernels (kernels that are invariant under the orthogonal group action) are strongly favored. In the implementation of these methods to handle real world problems, however, some or all of the symmetries and positive-definiteness may be lost in digitalization due to small random errors that occur unpredictably during various stages of the execution. Perturbation analysis is therefore needed to address the stability problem encountered. In this paper we study two kinds of perturbations of positive-definite kernels: small random perturbations and perturbations by Dunkl's intertwining operators [C. Dunkl, Y. Xu, Orthogonal polynomials of several variables, Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Its Applications, vol. 81, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2001]. We show that with some reasonable assumptions, a small random perturbation of a strictly positive-definite kernel can still provide vehicles for interpolation and enjoy the same error estimates. We examine the actions of the Dunkl intertwining operators on zonal (strictly) positive-definite kernels on spheres. We show that the resulted kernels are (strictly) positive-definite on spheres of lower dimensions.     

Computational efficiency and approximate inertial manifolds for a Bénard convection system

Summary A computational comparison between classical Galerkin and approximate inertial manifold (AIM) methods is performed for the case of two-dimensional natural convection in a saturated porous material. For prediction of Hopf and torus bifurcations far from convection onset, the improvements of the AIM method over the classical one are small or negligible. Two reasons are given for the lack of distinct improvement. First, the small boundary layer length scale is the source of the instabilities, so it cannot be modeled as a “slave” to the larger scales, as the AIM attempts to do. Second, estimates based on the Gevrey class regularity of solutions to the governing equations show that the classical and AIM methods may be virtually equivalent. It is argued that these two reasons are physical and mathematical reflections of one another.     

The Existence and Stability of Spike Equilibria in the One-Dimensional Gray–Scott Model: The Low Feed-Rate Regime

In a singularly perturbed limit of small diffusivity ɛ of one of the two chemical species, equilibrium spike solutions to the Gray–Scott (GS) model on a bounded one-dimensional domain are constructed asymptotically using the method of matched asymptotic expansions. The equilibria that are constructed are symmetric k -spike patterns where the spikes have equal heights. Two distinguished limits in terms of a dimensionless parameter in the reaction-diffusion system are considered: the low feed-rate regime and the intermediate regime. In the low feed-rate regime, the solution branches of k -spike equilibria are found to have a saddle-node bifurcation structure. The stability properties of these branches of solutions are analyzed with respect to the large eigenvalues λ in the spectrum of the linearization. These eigenvalues, which have the property that  λ= O (1)  as  ɛ→ 0  , govern the stability of the solution on an O (1) time scale. Precise conditions, in terms of the nondimensional parameters, for the stability of symmetric k -spike equilibrium solutions with respect to this class of eigenvalues are obtained. In the low feed-rate regime, it is shown that a large eigenvalue instability leads either to a competition instability, whereby certain spikes in a sequence are annihilated, or to an oscillatory instability (typically synchronous) of the spike amplitudes as a result of a Hopf bifurcation. In the intermediate regime, it is shown that only oscillatory instabilities are possible, and a scaling-law determining the onset of such instabilities is derived. Detailed numerical simulations are performed to confirm the results of the stability theory. It is also shown that there is an equivalence principle between spectral properties of the GS model in the low feed-rate regime and the Gierer–Meinhardt model of morphogenesis. Finally, our results are compared with previous analytical work on the GS model.     

The existence and stability of spike equilibria in the one-dimensional Gray–Scott model on a finite domain

Results for the existence, stability, and pulse-splitting behavior of spike patterns in the one-dimensional Gray–Scott model on a finite domain in the semi-strong spike interaction regime are summarized. Conditions on the parameters for the existence of competition instabilities, synchronous oscillatory instabilities, or pulse-splitting behavior of spike patterns are given.     

Numerical Challenges for Resolving Spike Dynamics for Two One-Dimensional Reaction-Diffusion Systems

Asymptotic and numerical methods are used to highlight different types of dynamical behaviors that occur for the motion of a localized spike-type solution to the singularly perturbed Gierer–Meinhardt and Schnakenberg reaction-diffusion models in a one-dimensional spatial domain. Depending on the parameter range in these models, there can either be a slow evolution of a spike toward the midpoint of the domain, a sudden oscillatory instability triggered by a Hopf bifurcation leading to an intricate temporal oscillation in the height of the spike, or a pulse-splitting instability leading to the creation of new spikes in the domain. Criteria for the onset of these oscillatory and pulse-splitting instabilities are obtained through asymptotic and numerical techniques. A moving-mesh numerical method is introduced to compute these different behaviors numerically, and results are compared with corresponding results computed using a method of lines based software package.     

Macroscopic parameters of three-dimensional flows in free shear turbulence

The initial stage of the onset of turbulence in a three-dimensional compressible inviscid shear flow is studied. An initial deterministic velocity perturbation in the form of one or several Fourier modes leads to the development of a cascade of instabilities, which is numerically simulated. The influence exerted on the formation of the cascade of instabilities and the transition to turbulence by the size of the computational domain, the shear layer width, and the initial conditions is analyzed. It is shown that the mechanism of turbulence onset is essentially three-dimensional. The influence of various flow parameters and initial conditions on the formation of the turbulence cascade is studied numerically.     

Complex loading of a polymer material with nonlinear creep

The nonlinear tensor stress, strain, and time relations for a memory-type medium under complex loading are examined using degenerate kernels. The basic expressions for simple loading and the material parameters were determined in [5]. The local strains theory is used to find expressions for the strain components in the presence of stepwise complex variation of the stress components, and these expressions are shown to be in satisfactory agreement with the experimental data for high-density polyethylene.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 421–426, 1967     

Defining relations for a viscoelastic medium with microrotation

The results of [1, 2] are extended to the case of a Cosserat medium with a memory (the force stress tensor and the couple stress tensor depend on the history of deformations and rotations of a particle in the medium). In the linear approximation the defining relations have the form of convolutions with some relaxation kernels with respect to time. Restrictions for the kernels are obtained, which follow from the general principles of thermodynamics. The propagation of weak perturbations is studied. The general functional form of the ken nels corresponding to experimental data on the viscoelasticity of rock formations is given.     

Nonlinear Evolution Equations and the Braiding of Weakly Transporting Flows Over Gravel Beds

The flow of a river that transports sediment in the form of gravel as bedload is investigated for the case when the transport is small. The linear stability of such flows is discussed and used to formulate some strongly nonlinear investigations describing the interaction of bar instabilities that are known to occur. The key spatial scales in the asymptotic limit of small transport are identified, and highly nonlinear evolution equations derived for each case. A generalized KDV equation is found to govern the nonlinear evolution at small wavenumbers, while at O(1) wavenumbers an infinite set of "triad-like" amplitude equations describes the flow. The interactions demonstrate the natural tendency of rivers of width significantly higher than the critical width at which instability first occurs to form complex patterns that may be associated with braided rivers. The weak transport limit used in our anaysis makes our work directly relevant to rivers experiencing flood conditions where the onset of a flood causes transport to begin. The results shown suggest that in the highly nonlinear stages, bars take the form of slabs tilted in the flow direction with steep edges. In addition, it is found that there is no equilibrium state. These findings are consistent with observations.     

On identification of memory kernels in linear theory of heat conduction

A linear integrodifferential equation describing the heat flow in a material with memory is considered. This equation contains a pair of time-dependent convolution kernels that are unknown. Such kernels are determined as solutions of an optimal control problem by using additional data obtained from measurements of average temperature around some fixed points of the domain over some finite time interval. We show the existence of an optimal solution of this problem and derive optimality conditions for it.     

The effect of suspended particles on Rayleigh-Bénard convection II. A nonlinear stability analysis of a thermal disequilibrium model

The weakly nonlinear stability of the pure conduction solution for an appropriate aerosol one-layer Rayleigh-Bénard model of a Boussinesq particle-gas system retaining both the particle and collision pressures and considering particle to particle radiative effects while relaxing the usual assumption of thermal equilibrium between those particles and the gas is investigated. Then an analysis of the criteria governing the occurrence of supercritically re-equilibrated stationary rolls yields a minimum Rayleigh number and a critical wavelength which are completely compatible in their layer-depth behavior with normal convective and columnar instabilities observed in mixtures of smoke with air or carbon dioxide.     

Convergence of high-order deterministic particle methods for the convection-diffusion equation

A proof of high-order convergence of three deterministic particle methods for the convection-diffusion equation in two dimensions is presented. The methods are based on discretizations of an integro-differential equation in which an integral operator approximates the diffusion operator. The methods differ in the discretization of this operator. The conditions for convergence imposed on the kernel that defines the integral operator include moment conditions and a condition on the kernel's Fourier transform. Explicit formulae for kernels that satisfy these conditions to arbitrary order are presented. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.