Non-linear dynamic intertwining of rods with self-contact

Twisted marine cables on the sea floor can form highly contorted three-dimensional loops that resemble tangles. Such tangles or ‘hockles’ are topologically equivalent to the plectomenes that form in supercoiled DNA molecules. The dynamic evolution of these intertwined loops is studied herein using a computational rod model that explicitly accounts for dynamic self-contact. Numerical solutions are presented for an illustrative example of a long rod subjected to increasing twist at one end. The solutions reveal the dynamic evolution of the rod from an initially straight state, through a buckled state in the approximate form of a helix, through the dynamic collapse of this helix into a near-planar loop with one site of self-contact, and the subsequent intertwining of this loop with multiple sites of self-contact. This evolution is controlled by the dynamic conversion of torsional strain energy to bending strain energy or, alternatively, by the dynamic conversion of twist (Tw) to writhe (Wr).     

Homogenization of rods and plates with weakenings

Rods and plates with weakenings are studied using homogenization approach. For rods, two limiting cases amenable to asymptotic integration are considered. It is shown, among other things, that plates with periodic weakenings can be reduced to rods.     

非圆截面弹性细杆的螺旋线平衡及稳定性

本文研究端部受力和力矩作用，且存在初曲率和初扭率的非圆截面弹性细杆的螺旋线平衡及其稳定性。描述弹性细杆平衡状态的Kirchhoff方程存在与杆的螺旋线平衡状态相对应的特解。直杆和圆环杆为螺旋线状态的两种特例。文中分析了螺旋线的几何特性与作用力和力矩之间的相互关系，并导出螺旋线平衡的一次近似解析形式稳定性判据。分析表明，松弛状态下弹性杆可处于螺旋线状态，直杆只有在轴向压力的作用下才能保持螺旋线平衡。无初曲率和初扭率弹性杆的螺旋线平衡稳定性必要条件是杆截面绕副法线轴的抗弯刚度大于或等于绕法线轴的抗弯刚度。此条件也适用于带初扭率的圆环杆及更普遍情形。无初曲率和初扭率的圆截面杆的螺旋线平衡恒稳定。     

Justification of the kinematic assumptions for thin-walled rods with shallow profile

In this Note we present a justification of the kinematic assumptions for thin-walled rods with shallow profile. These assumptions are fundamental to writing the one-dimensional equilibrium equations for such structures. The obtained kinematics are different from the Vlassov case, which is only valid for strongly curved profiles. They are also different from the that classically used in shell theory. The justification given in this Note is based on an asymptotic approach. To cite this article: L. Grillet et al., C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

Dynamics and control of a self-sustained electromechanical seismographs with time-varying stiffness

This paper is concerned with the nonlinear dynamics and vibration control of an electromechanical seismograph system with time-varying stiffness. The instrument consists of an electrical part coupled to mechanical one and is used to record the vibration during earthquakes. An active control method is applied to the system based on cubic velocity feedback. The electromechanical system is subjected to parametric and external excitations and modeled by a coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The method of multiple scales is used to obtain approximate solutions and investigate the response of the system. The results of perturbation solution have been verified through numerical simulations, where different effects of the system parameters have been reported.     

可伸长变截面杆的弹性过屈曲模型及其数值解

在Ｋｉｒｃｈｈｏｆｆ基本假设下,基于轴线可伸长弹性杆的几何非线性理论,建立了一端简支另一端固定夹紧变截面直什的过屈曲控制方程,并应用打靶法直接数值求解相应的强非线性过值问题,获得了数值意义上的精确解。     

Quantification of the stiffness and strength of cadherin ectodomain binding with different ions

The stiffness and strength of extracellular (EC) region of cadherin are proposed to be two important mechanical properties both for cadherin as a mechanotransductor and for the formation of cell-cell adhesion. In this study, we quantitatively characterized the stiffness and strength of EC structure when it binds with different types of ions by molecular dynamics simulations. Results show that EC structure exhibits a rod-like shape with high stiffness and strength when it binds with the bivalent ions of calcium or magnesium. However, it switches to a soft and collapsed conformation when it binds with the monovalent ions of sodium or potassium. This study sheds light on the important role of the bivalent ions of calcium in the physiological function of EC.     

DIFFERENCE DISCRETE SYSTEM OF EULER-BEAM WITH ARBITRARY SUPPORTS AND SIGN-OSCILLATORY PROPERTY OF STIFFNESS MATRICES

The difference discrete system of Euler-beam with arbitrary supports was constructed by using the two order central difference formulas. This system is equivalent to the spring-mass-rigidrod model. By using the theory of oscillatory matrix, the sign-oscillatory property of stiffness matrices of this system was proved, and the necessary and sufficient condition for the system to be positive was obtained completely.     

Three-dimensional static and dynamic stiffness analyses of the cable driven parallel robot with non-negligible cable mass and elasticity

This study investigates the three-dimensional static and dynamic stiffness analyses of the cable driven parallel robot by considering cable mass, elasticity, and mass of end-effector. According to these models, optimization of cable tensions and cable lengths using fminimax solver is performed to determine the static stiffness. Static and dynamic stiffness of the cables are obtained with simulations. Results show that analyses in three-dimension are very important to measure the actual performance of the cable driven parallel robot. This demonstrates potential for general applicability and motion of the cable driven parallel robot.     

Age- and direction-related adaptations of lumbar vertebral trabecular bone with respect to apparent stiffness and tissue level stress distribution

The objective of this study was to study the age-related adaptation of lumbar vertebral trabecular bone at the apparent level, as well as the tissue level in three orthogonal directions. Ninety trabecular specimens were obtained from six normal L4 vertebral bodies of six male cadavers in two age groups, three aged 62 years and three aged 69 years, and were scanned using a high-resolution micro-computed tomography （micro-CT） system, then converted to micro- finite element models to do micro-finite element analyses. The relationship between apparent stiffness and bone volume fraction, and the tissue level yon Mises stress distribution for each trabecular specimen when compressed separately in the longitudinal direction, medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions （transverse directions） were derived and compared between two age groups. The results showed that at the apparent level, trabecular bones from 69-year group had stiffer bone structure relative to their volume fractions in all three directions, and in both age groups, changes in bone volume fraction could explain more variations in apparent stiffness in the longitudinal direction than the transverse directions; at the tissue level, aging had little effect on the tissue von Mises stress distributions for the compressions in all the three directions. The novelty of the present study was that it provided quantitative assessments on the age and direction- related adaptation of Chinese male lumbar vertebral trabecular bone from two different levels： stiffness at the apparent level and stress distribution at the tissue level. It may help to understand the failure mechanisms and fracture risks of vertebral body associated with aging and direction for the prevention of fracture risks in elder individuals.     

Dynamics and thermodynamics of a model with long-range interactions

The dynamics and thermodynamics of particles/spins interacting via long-range forces display several unusual features compared with systems with short-range interactions. The Hamiltonian mean field (HMF) model, a Hamiltonian system of N classical inertial spins with infinite-range interactions represents a paradigmatic example of this class of systems. The equilibrium properties of the model can be derived analytically in the canonical ensemble: in particular, the model shows a second-order phase transition from a ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic phase. Strong anomalies are observed in the process of relaxation towards equilibrium for a particular class of out-of-equilibrium initial conditions. In fact, the numerical simulations show the presence of quasi-stationary states (QSSs), i.e. metastable states that become stable if the thermodynamic limit is taken before the infinite time limit. The QSSs differ strongly from Boltzmann-Gibbs equilibrium states: they exhibit negative specific heats, vanishing Lyapunov exponents and weak mixing, non-Gaussian velocity distributions and anomalous diffusion, slowly decaying correlations, and aging. Such a scenario provides strong hints for the possible application of Tsallis generalized thermostatistics. The QSSs have recently been interpreted as a spin-glass phase of the model. This link indicates another promising line of research, which does not preclude to the previous one.Received: 8 July 2003, Accepted: 27 October 2003, Published online: 11 February 2004PACS: 05.70.Fh, 89.75.Fb, 64.60.Fr, 75.10.NrCorrespondence to: A. Rapisarda     

Evolution of fabric tensors in damage mechanics of solids with micro-cracks: Part I – Theory and fundamental concepts

The evolution of fabric tensors based on micro-crack distributions is formulated based on sound thermodynamic principles. In Part I of this work, the exact definition of fabric tensors based on micro-crack distributions is presented. This definition is seen to incorporate both the orientation and length of a micro-crack. In this regard, the micro-crack distribution is assumed to be radially symmetric, i.e. symmetric about a line through the origin.The equations of thermodynamics are employed in order to derive the exact evolution equations of the fabric tensors defined in the first part. In this regard, a thermodynamic force that is associated with the fabric tensor is defined and utilized in the derivation of the evolution equations. The application of the theory to the case of uniaxial tension is derived in Part II (companion paper) of this work.     

Evolution of fabric tensors in damage mechanics of solids with micro-cracks: Part II – Evolution of length and orientation of micro-cracks with an application to uniaxial tension

In Part II of this work, the equations of thermodynamics are employed in order to derive the exact evolution equations of the fabric tensors defined in Part I (companion paper). In this regard, a thermodynamic force that is associated with the fabric tensor is defined and utilized in the derivation of the evolution equations. A special case of uniaxial tension is solved in order to illustrate the theory.We also derive specific uncoupled equations for the evolution of the length and orientation of micro-cracks. In this regard, some interesting results are obtained. It is concluded that the micro-crack length and orientation cannot evolve simultaneously for the same set of micro-cracks. However, two different sets of micro-cracks may be considered in the same RVE where in one set the micro-crack length evolves, while in the second set the micro-crack orientation evolves.     

Theory of Supercoiled Elastic Rings with Self-Contact and Its Application to DNA Plasmids

Methods are presented for obtaining exact analytical representations of supercoiled equilibrium configurations of impenetrable elastic rods of circular cross-section that have been pretwisted and closed to form rings, and a discussion is given of applications in the theory of the elastic rod model for DNA. When, as here, self-contact is taken into account, and the rod is assumed to be inextensible, intrinsically straight, transversely isotropic, and homogeneous, the important parameters in the theory are the excess link Δℒ (a measure of the amount the rod was twisted before its ends were joined), the ratio ω of the coefficients of torsional and flexural rigidity, and the ratio d of cross-sectional diameter to the length of the axial curve C. Solutions of the equations of equilibrium are given for cases in which self-contact occurs at isolated points and along intervals. Bifurcation diagrams are presented as graphs of Δℒ versus the writhe of C and are employed for analysis of the stability of equilibrium configurations. It is shown that, in addition to primary, secondary, and tertiary branches that arise by successive bifurcations from the trivial branch made up of configurations for which the axial curve is a circle, there are families of equilibrium configurations that are isolas in the sense that they are not connected to bifurcation branches by paths of equilibrium configurations compatible with the assumed impenetrability of the rod. Each of the isolas found to date is connected to a bifurcation branch by a path which, although made up of solutions of the governing equations, contains regions on which the condition of impenetrability does not hold. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

ACTUATION OF SLOSHING MODULATED FORCE AND MOMENT ON LIQUID CONTAINER DRIVEN BY JITTER ACCELERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SIEW MOTION IN MICROGRAVITY

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压电材料反平面运动裂纹的能量释放率与分叉角

用复变函数方法,研究了压电材料中反平面运动裂纹的动态断裂问题,研究表明：介质内的耦合场与裂纹运动速度有关,在裂纹尖端有奇异。应力强度因子与裂纹运动速度无关,与纯弹性结构一致,沿裂纹延长线扩展的动态能量释放率可用应力强度因子表示,而与电载荷无关,裂纹运动的高速度具有止裂作用,在一定条件下,裂纹有扩展成曲线裂纹或分叉的趋势。