Constitutive modeling of biodegradable polymers: Hydrolytic degradation and time-dependent behavior

A large range of biodegradable polymers has been used to produce implantable medical devices. Apart from biological compatibility, these devices shall be also functional compatible and perform adequate mechanical temporary support during the healing process. However, the mechanical behavior of biodegradable materials during its degradation, which is an important aspect of the design of these biodegradable devices, is still an unexplored subject. Based on the literature, the mechanical behavior of biodegradable polymers is strain rate dependent and exhibits hysteresis upon cyclic loading. On the other hand, ductility, toughness and strength of the material decay during hydrolytic degradation. In this work, it is considered a three-dimensional time-dependent model adapted from the one developed by Bergström and Boyce to simulate the performance of biodegradable structures undergoing large deformations incorporating the hydrolysis degradation. Since this model assumes that the mechanical behavior is divided into a time independent network and a non-linear time-dependent network, it enables to simulate the monotonic tests of a biodegradable structure loaded under different strain rates. The hysteresis effects during unloading–reloading cycles at different strain levels can be predicted by the model. A parametric study of the material model parameters evolution during the hydrolytic degradation was conducted to identify which parameters are more sensible to this degradation process. The investigated model could predict very well the experimental results of a blend of polylactic acid and polycaprolactone (PLA–PCL) in the full range of strains until rupture during hydrolytic degradation. From these results and analyses, a method is proposed to simulate the three-dimensional mechanical behavior during hydrolytic degradation.     

Multiscale modeling of crack initiation and propagation at the nanoscale

Fracture occurs on multiple interacting length scales; atoms separate on the atomic scale while plasticity develops on the microscale. A dynamic multiscale approach (CADD: coupled atomistics and discrete dislocations) is employed to investigate an edge-cracked specimen of single-crystal nickel, Ni, (brittle failure) and aluminum, Al, (ductile failure) subjected to mode-I loading. The dynamic model couples continuum finite elements to a fully atomistic region, with key advantages such as the ability to accommodate discrete dislocations in the continuum region and an algorithm for automatically detecting dislocations as they move from the atomistic region to the continuum region and then correctly “converting” the atomistic dislocations into discrete dislocations, or vice-versa. An ad hoc computational technique is also applied to dissipate localized waves formed during crack advance in the atomistic zone, whereby an embedded damping zone at the atomistic/continuum interface effectively eliminates the spurious reflection of high-frequency phonons, while allowing low-frequency phonons to pass into the continuum region.The simulations accurately capture the essential physics of the crack propagation in a Ni specimen at different temperatures, including the formation of nano-voids and the sudden acceleration of the crack tip to a velocity close to the material Rayleigh wave speed. The nanoscale brittle fracture happens through the crack growth in the form of nano-void nucleation, growth and coalescence ahead of the crack tip, and as such resembles fracture at the microscale. When the crack tip behaves in a ductile manner, the crack does not advance rapidly after the pre-opening process but is blunted by dislocation generation from its tip. The effect of temperature on crack speed is found to be perceptible in both ductile and brittle specimens.     

Microstructure observation and mechanical behavior modeling for limnetic nacre

In the present research, microstructure of akind of limnetic shell （Hyriopsis cumingii） is observed and measured by using the scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical behavior experiments of the shell nacre are carried out by using bending and tensile tests. The dependence of mechanical properties of the shell nacre on its microstructure is analyzed by using a modified shear-lag model, and the overall stress-strain relation is obtained. The experimental results reveal that the mechanical properties of shell nacre strongly depend on the water contents of the limnetic shell. Dry nacre shows a brittle behavior, whereas wetting nacre displays a strong ductility. Compared to the tensile test, the bending test overestimates the strength and underestimates the Young＇s modulus. The modified shear-lag model can characterize the deformation features of nacre effectively.     

Engineering and chemical factors associated with fouling and cleaning in milk processing

The problem of fouling from food fluids is very severe, leading to the need for rapid and effective cleaning. Fouling of the process plant happens as a result of complex processes that occur when a fluid is heated: protein and minerals are both deposited on the surface. This review describes research into both the engineering and the chemical factors that lead to deposition. Fouling can be modeled by using data for the thermal behavior of β-lactoglobulin, coupled with models for the flows and temperatures of the process plant. The rate of cleaning depends on both the deposit present and the type of chemical treatment used.     

Lagrangian slug flow modeling and sensitivity on hydrodynamic slug initiation methods in a severe slugging case

Severe slugging is a dynamic two-phase flow phenomenon with regular liquid accumulation and blow-out in flow-line riser geometries. This paper discusses the applicability of a slug tracking model on a case where hydrodynamic slug initiation in a horizontal part of the pipeline upstream the riser base affects the severe slugging cycle period. The given experimental case is from the Shell laboratories in Amsterdam: air–water flow in a 100 m long pipe (65 m horizontal and 35 m −2.54° downwards) followed by a 15 m long vertical riser.A Lagrangian slug and bubble tracking model is described. A two-fluid model is applied in the bubble region and the slug region is treated as incompressible flow, with an integral momentum equation. Slug initiation from unstable stratified flow can be captured directly by solving the two-fluid model on a fine grid (a hybrid capturing and tracking scheme). Alternatively, slug initiation can be made from sub grid models, allowing for larger grid sizes. The sub grid models are based on the two established flow regime transition criteria derived from the stability of stratified flow and from the limiting solution of the unit cell slug flow model.Sensitivity studies on hydrodynamic slug initiation models on the severe slugging characteristics are presented. No hydrodynamic slug initiation (e.g. large grid size in the capturing scheme) overestimates the severe slug period compared with the experiments. Slug capturing and sub grid initiation models both give good predictions for small grid sizes (provided the detailed inlet configuration is included in the capturing case). Good predictions are also shown for larger grid sizes (factor of 50) and sub grid initiation models.The numerical tests show that correct prediction of the severe slugging cycle is sensitive to the initiation of upstream hydrodynamic slugs, but less sensitive to the local structure of the slug flow (frequencies and lengths) in the upstream region.     

Numerical modeling of flow with chemical reactions in a strong shock wave with approximate allowance for translational nonequilibrium

The effect of translational nonequilibrium on the course of chemical reactions in a shock wave is studied using the beam–gas model extended to the case of a multicomponent gas. For Arrhenius reactions of general form with collisions between beam and gas molecules, a modified expression of reaction rate is obtained that takes into account the relative motion of the two media. A procedure for numerical solution of the problem is considered, and calculation results for a shock wave in a dissociating air at an oncoming flow velocity of 6000 m/sec are given.     

Plane-Strain Fracture with Curvature-Dependent Surface Tension: Mixed-Mode Loading

There have been a number of recent papers by various authors addressing static fracture in the setting of the linearized theory of elasticity in the bulk augmented by a model for surface mechanics on fracture surfaces with the goal of developing a fracture theory in which stresses and strains remain bounded at crack-tips without recourse to the introduction of a crack-tip cohesive-zone or process-zone. In this context, surface mechanics refers to viewing interfaces separating distinct material phases as dividing surfaces, in the sense of Gibbs, endowed with excess physical properties such as internal energy, entropy and stress. One model for the mechanics of fracture surfaces that has received much recent attention is based upon the Gurtin-Murdoch surface elasticity model. However, it has been shown recently that while this model removes the strong (square-root) crack-tip stress/strain singularity, it replaces it with a weak (logarithmic) one. A simpler model for surface stress assumes that the surface stress tensor is Eulerian, consisting only of surface tension. If surface tension is assumed to be a material constant and the classical fracture boundary condition is replaced by the jump momentum balance relations on crack surfaces, it has been shown that the classical strong (square-root) crack-tip stress/strain singularity is removed and replaced by a weak, logarithmic singularity. If, in addition, surface tension is assumed to have a (linearized) dependence upon the crack-surface mean-curvature, it has been shown for pure mode I (opening mode), the logarithmic stress/strain singularity is removed leaving bounded crack-tip stresses and strains. However, it has been shown that curvature-dependent surface tension is insufficient for removing the logarithmic singularity for mixed mode (mode I, mode II) cracks. The purpose of this note is to demonstrate that a simple modification of the curvature-dependent surface tension model leads to bounded crack-tip stresses and strains under mixed mode I and mode II loading.     

The application of ideas associated with materials with memory to modeling the inelastic behavior of solid bodies

In this paper, we present a new way to describe the rate-independent inelastic behavior of metals undergoing finite deformations. Experiments indicate that the stress often has a stronger dependence on the inelastic history in the more recent past as compared to that in the distant past. For this reason, an “annihilation” function is used to weight the inelastic history so that less importance is given to the strains in the more distant past. This “annihilation” function does not depend explicitly on time, but instead on the pathlength associated with the history of stress-free or natural configurations in the strain space relative to the current natural configuration. In this formulation the current configuration is adopted as the reference configuration for the kinematic quantities. The constitutive equation for stress is expressed in terms of the strain associated with the current natural configuration relative to the current actual configuration. Equations have been developed to prescribe the change in the natural configuration as the material yields. A general yield function has been defined in terms of the relative natural strain to restrict the manner in which the natural configuration changes. Since the yield conditions are in terms of the relative natural strain, we can account for situations in which a material yields during the process of unloading. For the sake of simplicity, the elastic properties of the material are considered to be constant throughout the deformation with the material remaining isotropic with respect to the natural configuration. With the proposed theory, we have examined the “Bauschinger effect” which is exhibited by metals that are deformed beyond the yield limit before being deformed beyond the yield limit in the reverse direction.     

Numerical modeling of compact high temperature heat exchanger and chemical decomposer for hydrogen production

The present study addresses fluid flow and heat transfer in a high temperature compact heat exchanger which will be used as a chemical decomposer in a hydrogen production plant. The heat exchanger is manufactured using fused ceramic layers that allow creation of channels with dimensions below 1 mm. The main purpose of this study is to increase the thermal performance of the heat exchanger, which can help to increase the sulfuric acid decomposition rate. Effects of various channel geometries of the heat exchanger on the pressure drop are studied as well. A three-dimensional computational model is developed for the investigation of fluid flow and heat transfer in the heat exchanger. Several different geometries of the heat exchanger channels, such as straight channels, ribbed ground channels, hexagonal channels, and diamond-shaped channels are examined. Based on the results, methods on how to improve the design of the heat exchanger are recommended.     

Correlated scale-free network with community: modeling and transportation dynamics

Many transport processes on network depend crucially on the underlying network topology. In this paper, we propose a model to generate correlated scale free transportation networks with community structure by considering the mechanisms of dynamical network evolution and rewiring links. With the introduction of congestion effects, we investigate the performance and carrying capacity of this network. The results show that congestion in the uncorrelated network is more serious than the assortative or disassortative ones. Therefore, the correlated network with communities can bear much more traffic flow. In addition, the networks with lager modularity can enhance the transportation efficiently.     

Fracture and stability of materials and structural members with cracks: approaches and results

A new alternative approach to fracture problems for materials and structural elements with cracks is set out. It is based on the mechanism of local instability near defects. The approach is used to study the fracture of materials compressed along interacting cracks and the fracture of thin structural members with cracks under tension with allowance for local buckling.__________Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 40, No. 12, pp. 18–64, December 2004.     

Spatial rigid-multibody systems with lubricated spherical clearance joints: modeling and simulation

The dynamic modeling and simulation of spatial rigid-multibody systems with lubricated spherical joints is the main purpose of the present work. This issue is of paramount importance in the analysis and design of realistic multibody mechanical systems undergoing spatial motion. When the spherical clearance joint is modeled as dry contact; i.e., when there is no lubricant between the mechanical elements which constitute the joint, a body-to-body (typically metal-to-metal) contact takes place. The joint reaction forces in this case are evaluated through a Hertzian-based contact law. A hysteretic damping factor is included in the dry contact force model to account for the energy dissipation during the contact process. The presence of a fluid lubricant avoids the direct metal-to-metal contact. In this situation, the squeeze film action, due to the relative approaching motion between the mechanical joint elements, is considered utilizing the lubrication theory associated with the spherical bearings. In both cases, the intra-joint reaction forces are evaluated as functions of the geometrical, kinematical, and physical characteristics of the spherical joint. These forces are then incorporated into a standard formulation of the system’s governing equations of motion as generalized external forces. A spatial four bar mechanism that includes a spherical clearance joint is considered here as an example. The computational simulations are carried out with and without the fluid lubricant, and the results are compared with those obtained when the system is modeled with perfect joints only. From the general results, it is observed that the system’s performance with lubricant effect presents fewer peaks in the kinematic and dynamic outputs, when compared with those from the dry contact joint model.     

Constitutive modeling of temperature and strain rate dependent elastoplastic hardening materials using a corotational rate associated with the plastic deformation

In this paper, a constitutive model with a temperature and strain rate dependent flow stress (Bergstrom hardening rule) and modified Armstrong-Frederick kinematic evolution equation for elastoplastic hardening materials is introduced. Based on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient,new kinematic relations for the elastic and plastic left stretch tensors as well as the plastic deformation-dependent spin tensor are proposed. Also, a closed-form solution has been obtained for the elastic and plastic left stretch tensors for the simple shear problem.To evaluate model validity, results are compared with known experimental data for SUS 304 stainless steel, which shows a good agreement with the results of the proposed theoretical model.Finally, the stress-deformation curve, as predicted by the model, is plotted for the simple shear problem at room and elevated temperatures using the same material properties for AA5754-O aluminium alloy.     

Fracture control: Past,present and future

The treatment of this topic is selective; it concentrates initially on the recognition of fracture problems and the experimental investigations that developed in response to them, including fracture-propagation studies in plates and pipelines. Attention is then given to several criteria for crack extension that have been investigated, and to the methods used. Although an understanding of stationary crack stress fields has been established, it is concluded that the position with just-moving cracks is less satisfactory, so that further progress is impeded for lack of a sufficient basis of comparison. Many of the practical problems most in need of fracture-analysis techniques involve complex shapes, and it is suggested that theoretical stress analysis even using numerical methods is unlikely to provide complete solutions in the near future. In helping to resolve the remaining uncertainties with fracture criteria, and in handling complex shapes of component there should be more scope for experimental methods in fracture mechanics than ever before.