Three-dimensional limit analysis of rigid blocks assemblages. Part I: Torsion failure on frictional interfaces and limit analysis formulation

The governing equations of plastic torsion of, arbitrarily shaped, frictional interfaces are established and a general solution is proposed. The case of rectangular interfaces is used to study the interactions of torsion strength with bending moments and shear forces. In order to solve limit analysis problems, a piecewise linear approximation of the yield function for rectangular interfaces is proposed. A model for the limit analysis of three-dimensional block assemblages interacting through no-tension frictional interfaces is presented including the proposal for the torsion failure mode. This model takes into account non-associated flow rules and limited compressive stresses at the interfaces.     

A bipotential-based limit analysis and homogenization of ductile porous materials with non-associated Drucker–Prager matrix

In Gurson's footsteps, different authors have proposed macroscopic plastic models for porous solid with pressure-sensitive dilatant matrix obeying the normality law (associated materials). The main objective of the present paper is to extend this class of models to porous materials in the context of non-associated plasticity. This is the case of Drucker–Prager matrix for which the dilatancy angle is different from the friction one, and classical limit analysis theory cannot be applied. For such materials, the second last author has proposed a relevant modeling approach based on the concept of bipotential, a function of both dual variables, the plastic strain rate and stress tensors. On this ground, after recalling the basic elements of the Drucker–Prager model, we present the corresponding variational principles and the extended limit analysis theorems. Then, we formulate a new variational approach for the homogenization of porous materials with a non-associated matrix. This is implemented by considering the hollow sphere model with a non-associated Drucker–Prager matrix. The proposed procedure delivers a closed-form expression of the macroscopic bifunctional from which the criterion and a non-associated flow rule are readily obtained for the porous material. It is shown that these general results recover several available models as particular cases. Finally, the established results are assessed and validated by comparing their predictions to those obtained from finite element computations carried out on a cell representing the considered class of materials.     

On the existence of indeterminate solutions to the equations of motion under non-associated flow

Under certain conditions, an indeterminate solution exists to the equations of motion for dynamic elastic–plastic deformation of materials using constitutive laws based on non-associated flow that suggests that an initially unbounded dynamic perturbation in the stress can develop from a quiescent state on the yield surface. The existence of this indeterminate solution has been alleged to discourage use of non-associated flow rules for both dynamic and quasi-static analysis theoretically. It is shown in this paper that the indeterminate solution that may solve the equations of motion is intrinsically dynamic, and it determinately goes to zero in the quasi-static limit regardless of other indeterminate parameters. Consequently, the existence of this unstable dynamic solution has no impact on stability and use of non-associated flow rules for analysis of the quasi-static problem. More importantly, for dynamic applications, it is also shown that the indeterminate solution solves the equations of motion only if critical restrictions are applied to the constitutive equations such that the effective modulus during loading is constant and the direction of the perturbation is unidirectional over a finite time interval. It is shown that common components of the constitutive laws used in metal forming and deformation analysis are inconsistent with these restrictions. So, these common models can be generalized to include non-associated flow for analysis of the dynamic problem without concern that the solution will become indeterminate.     

UH模型切线刚度矩阵对称化及其应用

分析了目前常用的几种土的本构模型三维化方法以及变换应力方法的优势. 详细分析了用变换应力三维化本构模型非关联流动的本质, 针对因采用非关联流动法则而带来的本构模型切线刚度矩阵的非对称性, 建立了本构模型切线刚度矩阵的对称化方法. 将此方法应用于UH模型并进行了有限元分析, 进行了三轴伸长试验有限元分析. 通过以上分析比较发现, 切线刚度矩阵对称化方法能够明显改善有限元分析的收敛性, 缩短分析时间, 有着非常好的应用前景.      

A systematic procedure for constructing critical state models in three dimensions

A general procedure for developing constitutive models for frictional materials possessing a critical state is developed in a three-dimensional context. The procedure starts from the laws of thermo-dynamics, so that the first and second laws of thermo-dynamics are automatically satisfied. There is hence no need to invoke any extraneous stability postulates. The models involve a number of parameters, which can be interpreted in terms of micro-mechanical energy storage and dissipative mechanisms. In most cases non-associated flow rules are predicted and in some cases the yield surfaces are seen to have concave segments. The procedure is more general than that traditionally used for materials with non-associated flow rules, in that plastic potentials are not needed and not presumed to exist. In illustration, examples of families of models are given in which the critical state surface is either the Drucker–Prager or the Matsuoka–Nakai cone.     

Lower bound limit analysis of three-dimensional elastoplastic structures by boundary element method

IntroductionThelimitanalysisofstructuresisoneofthemostpracticalandusefulbranchesinplasticity .Ithasimportantapplicationbackgroundforproblemssuchasthedeterminationofloadcarryingcapacityandplasticformingofmetal.Thepurposeofthelimitanalysisofstructuresistoprovidereliabletheoreticalbasesforengineeringdesignandsafetyassessment.Asasimplifiedmethodforelastoplasticproblems,limitanalysisneednotrequirethehistoryofloadandcancomputethelimitloadsdirectlyinsteadofelastoplasticincrementalcomputationwhichisus…     

Micromechanical approach to the strength properties of frictional geomaterials

The present paper describes a micromechanics-based approach to the strength properties of composite materials with a Drucker–Prager matrix in the situation of non-associated plasticity. The concept of limit stress states for such materials is first extended to the context of homogenization. It is shown that the macroscopic limit stress states can theoretically be obtained from the solution to a sequence of viscoplastic problems stated on the representative elementary volume. The strategy of resolution implements a non-linear homogenization technique based on the modified secant method. This procedure is applied to the determination of the macroscopic strength properties and plastic flow rule of materials reinforced by rigid inclusions, as well as for porous media. The role of the matrix dilatancy coefficient is in particular discussed in both cases. Finally, finite element solutions are derived for a porous medium and compared to the micromechanical predictions.     

A bipotential approach for plastic limit loads of strip footings with non-associated materials

This paper is concerned with a bipotential approach for estimating the plastic collapse loads of a half-space made with a non-associated Mohr–Coulomb material and indented by a rigid punch. In geotechnics, this problem is called the bearing capacity of shallow strip footing for which the analytical solution is derived by Prandtl (1920) [46] and Hill (1950) [35] in the context of associated plasticity. However, when the plastic model is not associated, no analytical methods have yet been developed. Here we explore this issue in a rigorous mathematical framework coupling the bipotential concept and limit analysis. First, the method proposed makes use of the method of characteristics to build a statically and plastically admissible stress field that enables a lower estimate of the plastic limit loads. Next, the extended kinematic theorem of limit analysis to non-standard plasticity is applied to derive an upper quasi-bound of the collapse loads. For this aim, the internal rate of plastic dissipation is obtained thanks to the bipotential functional depending on both a trial stress field and a Prandtl-like collapse mechanism. The analytic estimates are compared to the formulae and numerical results provided in literature.     

非关联流动的安定性理论及在土力学中的应用

将Melan静力型安定定理加以推广，使其适用于非关联流动法则下的土工结构的安定性分析．应用Palmer的方法构造塑性势面，根据其性质，证明了静力型安定定理在非关联流动法则下同样成立．在非关联的Mok—Coulomb准则下，求解浅黏土层地基极限载荷，得到了比较合理的解答．最后，计算了非关联流动法则下的条形基础地基的安定裁荷．     

Solution existence conditions for elastoplastic constitutive models of granular materials

In this paper, the conditions of solution existence for stress rates under given strain rates are investigated. The focus of the solution existence investigation is on the non-associated flow rule and elastic stress–strain relationship. Granular materials characterized with strong non-associated plastic flows are used as a particular example for analysis. Various flow rules for granular materials are analyzed, including Rowe’s, Roscoe’s flow rules and their modified versions. In the elastic stress–strain relationships of materials, the effects of Poisson’s ratio on solution existence are investigated. Both isotropic and anisotropic elasticity are considered. Given a granular material and its states, it is found that there exists a critical Poisson’s ratio for a particular non-associated flow rule. When the Poisson’s ratio of a material is above this critical Poisson’s ratio, its constitutive model is susceptible to solution non-existence. It is suggested that special attentions should be paid to the selection of material Poisson’s ratio and non-associated flow rule to ensure the existence of elastoplastic solutions.     

A powerful force-based approach for the limit analysis of three-dimensional frames

For the estimation of the strength of a structure, one could avoid detailed elastoplastic analysis and resort, instead, to direct limit analysis methods that are formulated within linear programming. This work describes the application of the force method to the limit analysis of three-dimensional frames. For the limit analysis of a framed structure, the force method, being an equilibrium-based approach, is better suited than the displacement method and results, generally, to faster solutions. Nevertheless, the latter has been used mostly, since it has a better potential for automation. The difficulty for the direct computerization of the force method is to automatically pick up the structure’s redundant forces. Graph theory concepts may be used to accomplish this task, and a numerical procedure was proposed for the optimal plastic design of plane frames. An analogous approach is developed herein for the limit analysis of space frames which is computationally more cumbersome than the limit analysis of plane frames. The proposed procedure results in hypersparse matrices, and in conjunction with the kinematic upper bound linear program which is solved by a sparse solver, the proposed method appears computationally very efficient. It is also proved that it is much more effective than any displacement-based formulation. The robustness and efficiency of the approach are testified by numerical examples for grillages and multi-storey frames that are included.     

Mathematical and numerical modeling of the non-associated plasticity of soils—Part 2: Finite element analysis

The method of the implicit standard material has allowed the formulation of a consistent mathematical model of the boundary value problem for the non-associated plasticity of soil. The mean accomplished steps are the achievement of the bipotential function, the recovering of the stress–strain relationship under a normality rule, introduction of the bifunctional and the proof of the solution existence. Here the mathematical model is discretized by the finite element method. First, the stress update scheme was formulated, the tangent matrix is explicitly derived and then the non-linear system is solved by the Newton–Raphson method where a new algorithm using a symmetrical tangent matrix is improved. This is in opposition to conventional non-associated plasticity, which uses a non-symmetric tangent matrix. Through the numerical examples we show the feasibility and the efficiency of the algorithm. It is also seen that we perform some studies of the numerical solutions, particularly the comparison between associated and non-associated limit load.     

轴对称结构极限下限分析的自然单元法

作为一种基于自然邻近插值的新型无网格法,自然单元法克服了大多数无网格法难以施加本质边界条件的困难.将自然单元法与减缩基技术相结合,建立了一种轴对称结构极限下限分析的数值格式和求解算法.通过不断修正自平衡应力场,轴对称结构极限下限分析可转化为一系列的非线性数学规划子问题,并由复合形法求解.在每个非线性规划子问题中,自平衡应力场表示为一组带有待定系数的自平衡应力场基矢量的线性组合,并且这些自平衡应力场基矢量可由弹塑性增量分析的平衡迭代结果得到.算例结果表明,本文所提的轴对称结构极限下限分析方法行之有效.     

极限分析的弹性补偿法及其应用

有限元法与数学规划法相结合，应用极限上、下限定理，将极限分析归结为求解最优化问题，是目前被普遍应用的极限分析方法，但是该方法受到计算能力的限制，难以应用到实际工程问题中。鉴于此，本文介绍一种基于线弹性分析基础上的简单的求解复杂结构极限栽荷下限、上限的方法——弹性补偿法，同时结合三维有限元分析，求解内压下三通结构的极限载荷。通过与弹塑性分析结果比较发现，简单的弹性补偿法能够很好的评估复杂三雏结构的塑性承载能力。     

Limit analysis of masonry structures with free discontinuities

We formulate a novel procedure for the limit analysis of two-dimensional masonry structures subject to arbitrary loading conditions. The proposed approach works in the framework of free discontinuity methods, on examining collapse mechanisms that exhibit free crack opening discontinuities. The load bearing capacity and the collapse mechanism of the structure are obtained through a fully variational approach, by minimizing a kinetic functional that admits the collapse crack pattern as a variable. Numerical examples illustrate the practical application of the proposed procedure to the limit analysis of a variety of masonry walls and arches subject to foundation settlements, vertical and horizontal forces.     

An Euler solver for three-dimensional turbomachinery flows

A time-marching finite volume numerical procedure is presented for three-dimensional Euler analysis of turbomachinery flows. The proposed scheme is applied to the conservative form of the Euler equations written in general curvilinear co-ordinates. A simple but computationally efficient grid is constructed. Numerical solution results for three 3D turbine cascade flows have been presented and compared with available measurements as well as with another state-of-the-art 3D Euler analysis numerical solution in order to demonstrate the accuracy and computational efficiency of the analysis method. Also, the predicted results are compared with a 3D potential flow solver and comparison is made with the analytical solution. The proposed method is an accurate and reliable technique for solving the compressible flow equations in turbomachinery geometries.     

Limit analysis by linear programming of 3D masonry structures with associative friction laws and torsion interaction effects

In this paper, a formulation for limit analysis of three-dimensional masonry structures discretized as rigid block assemblages interacting through no-tension and frictional contact interfaces is developed. Linear and piecewise linearized yield functions are used for rocking, sliding and torsion failure. A simple yield condition has been defined to take into account interaction effects of shear force with torsion and bending moment. Associative flow rules are considered for strain rates. On the basis of the developed governing equations, the limit analysis problem has been formulated as a nonlinear mathematical program. An iterative solution procedure based on linear programming is used to solve the limit analysis problem and to take into account nonlinearities due to the influence of bending moments and shear stresses on torsion strength. The results of experimental investigations on out-of-plane masonry walls constrained at one edge and different examples from literature were considered for validation. Comparison with existing formulations is carried out.     

Plastic collapse in non-associated hardening materials with application to Cam-clay

This paper presents a variational formulation for the analysis of plastic collapse conditions for a class of hardening materials that accounts for some non-associated flow laws such as the modified Cam-clay model of soils. In this framework, classical statical and kinematical principles of limit analysis do not hold. The variational principle is formulated for the general class of materials whose flow equations are derived from a kind of generalized potentials named bipotentials by de Saxcé.The plastic collapse phenomenon for hardening materials is considered first and formulated as a system of equations. In particular, the case of the usual modified Cam-clay model is analyzed. The paper follows with the proposal of a minimization principle whose solution is then related to the solution of the plastic collapse problem. We demonstrate the use of this minimum principle in a simple example of triaxial compression of a modified Cam-clay material. Finally, we discuss the particular form of the proposed variational formulation for the case of associated plasticity.     

Unified elastoplastic finite difference and its application

Two elastoplastic constitutive models based on the unified strength theory (UST) are established and implemented in an explicit finite difference code, fast Lagrangian analysis of continua (FLAC/FLAC3D), which includes an associated/non-associated flow rule, strain-hardening/softening, and solutions of singularities. Those two constitutive models are appropriate for metallic and strength-different (SD) materials, respectively. Two verification examples are used to compare the computation results and test data using the two-dimensional finite difference code FLAC and the finite element code ANSYS, and the two constitutive models proposed in this paper are verified. Two application examples, the large deformation of a prismatic bar and the strain-softening behavior of soft rock under a complex stress state, are analyzed using the three-dimensional code FLAC3D. The two new elastoplastic constitutive models proposed in this paper can be used in bearing capacity evaluation or stability analysis of structures built of metallic or SD materials. The effect of the intermediate principal stress on metallic or SD material structures under complex stress states, including large deformation, three-dimensional and non-association problems, can be analyzed easily using the two constitutive models proposed in this paper.     

A Generalized Piezoelectric Bernoulli–Navier Anisotropic Rod Model

We apply the asymptotic analysis procedure to the three-dimensional static equations of piezoelectricity, for a linear nonhomogeneous anisotropic thin rod. We prove the weak convergence of the rod mechanical displacement vectors and the rod electric potentials, when the diameter of the rod cross-section tends to zero. This weak limit is the solution of a new piezoelectric anisotropic nonhomogeneous rod model, which is a system of coupled equations, with generalized Bernoulli–Navier equilibrium equations and reduced Maxwell–Gauss equations.