Exploring the relationship between critical state and particle shape for granular materials

The relationship between critical state and particle shape corresponds to the most fundamental aspect of the mechanics of granular materials. This paper presents an investigation into this relationship through macro-scale and micro-scale laboratory experiments in conjunction with interpretation and analysis in the framework of critical state soil mechanics. Spherical glass beads and crushed angular glass beads of different percentages were mixed with a uniform quartz sand (Fujian sand) to create a sequence of mixtures with varying particle shape. On the micro-scale, particle shape was accurately measured using a laser scanning technique, and was characterized by aspect ratio, sphericity and convexity; a new shape index, taken as the average of the three shape measures and referred to as overall regularity, was proposed to provide a collective characterization of particle shape. On the macro-scale, both undrained and drained triaxial tests were carried out to provide evidence that varying particle shape can alter the overall response as well as the critical states in both stress space and volumetric compression space. The mixtures of Fujian sand and spherical glass beads were found to be markedly more susceptible to liquefaction than the mixtures of Fujian sand and crushed angular glass beads. The change in liquefaction susceptibility was shown to be consistent with the change in the position of the critical state locus (CSL) in the compression space, manifested by a decrease in the intercept and gradient of the CSL due to the presence of spherical glass beads. Quantitative relationships have been established between each of the critical state parameters and each of the shape parameters, thereby providing a way to construct macro-scale constitutive models with intrinsic micro-scale properties built in.     

Composite and filament models for the mechanical behaviour of elastomeric materials

In this work we present a composite model, which combines the approach of Poisson's function with the filament theory and requires three material parameters. We also suggest the form for a strain-energy function that approximates the constitutive equations of the composite model. Furthermore, a simple asymptotic analysis allows us to reduce the number of material constants to only two, thus, forming a new filament model. The predictive capability of the two models to reproduce the mechanical behaviour of elastomeric materials in deformation experiments is evaluated against the extensive data of Kawabata et al. (Macromolecules 14 (1981) 154). The models give excellent agreement in not only uniaxial and equibiaxial but also non-equibiaxial extension. Although being rather more simplistic in comparison with some successful network models involving non-Gaussian chain statistics, the two models conform much more closely to the classical experimental data of Treloar (Trans. Faraday Soc. 40 (1944) 59).     

Influence of isotropic and anisotropic material models on the mechanical response in arterial walls as a result of supra-physiological loadings

As accepted in the literature, arterial tissues have in principle anisotropic material properties. Although some very special situations in arteries exist where isotropic constitutive models may approximate the real material behavior with sufficient accuracy, the larger part of analyses requires an anisotropic model. In particular for overstretched arteries, as e.g. a result of a balloon angioplasty, an accurate representation of the complex softening phenomena is important and then the consideration of anisotropy may be necessary. However, a variety of publications found in the literature, where such supra-physiological loading situations are analyzed to optimize e.g. stent designs, consider isotropic models. Therefore, in this contribution, the response of an isotropic and an anisotropic material model is compared in numerical calculations where arteries are subjected to supra-physiological loading. The constitutive formulations include the typical nonlinear stiffening of the fiber response as well as softening due to microscopic damage. In detail, the isotropic and the anisotropic model are adjusted to the same experimental stress–stretch curves of different arterial layers and then both models are applied to finite element simulations of overstretched arterial walls. As it turns out a significant difference is obtained for both calculations showing the importance of anisotropic models for these loading situations.     

Constitutive modeling of soil-structure interface through the concept of critical state soil mechanics

The behavior of soil-structure interface can be crucial to the overall response of a soil-structure system. The numerical simulation of soil-structure interaction problem requires proper modeling of the interface. The similarity between the behavior of soil and interface is first analyzed in the present paper. With this similarity, the concept of critical state soil mechanics (CSSM), which has been successfully used in the modeling of soil behavior, is used to develop a constitutive model for soil-structure interface in the framework of generalized plasticity. The model is capable of modeling strain hardening, softening, normal dilatancy and stress-path dependency of interface between sandy soil and structures during shearing. The effects of normal pressure as well as density of sand are captured in the model. The performance of the model is verified with various experimental results. The unified modeling of the behavior of interfaces with different roughness, different density of soil and different normal pressures using the concept of CSSM is also successfully attempted.     

Stability analysis of the extended state observers by Popov criterion

The analysis and design of the extended state observer (ESO) involves a continuous non-smooth structure, thus the study of the ESO dynamic requires mathematical tools of the nonlinear systems analysis. This paper establishes the sufficient conditions for absolute stability of the ESO. Based on this study, a methodology to estimate several nonlinear functions in dynamics systems is proposed.     

On steady state computation of turbulent flows using k–ε models approximated by the time splitting method

The time splitting method is frequently used in numerical integration of flow equations with source terms since it allows almost independent programming for the source part. In this paper we will consider the question of convergence to steady state of the time splitting method applied to k–ε turbulence models. This analysis is derived from a properly defined scalar study and is carried out with success for the coupled k–ε equations. It is found that the time splitting method does not allow convergence to steady state for any choice of finite values of the time step. Numerical experiments for some typical turbulent compressible flow problems support the fact that the time splitting method is always nonconvergent, while its nonsplitting counterpart is convergent. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of soil density by cone index data

In this paper a novel soil-density determination method is presented. The classic method (sampling, drying, mass measuring, etc.) can give proper results for the given problem but the standard methodology requires a lot of practical effort. While the soil is generally inhomogeneous, the measured density values of the soil sample applies only for the sample itself. On the entire soil territory this density can be interpreted only with significant errors. For a better mapping of the soil-density distribution expansive measurements are required. The task is complicated by the determination of density distribution in deeper layers of the soil as well. Our work presents a simpler method to determine the soil-density distribution in deeper layers with the use of cone penetration test (CI) results. With this method we can obtain detailed results of the soil-density distribution in deeper layers that may help further calculations for soil deformation analysis such as an exact determination of the soil sinkage below a tire track.     

A note on the classification of anisotropy of bodies defined by implicit constitutive relations

In this note we consider the definition of anisotropy with regard to the response of bodies described by implicit constitutive relations. The class of response relations under considerations in this work is implicit relations between the history of the stress, the history of the density, and the history of the deformation gradient. It is shown that the work of Noll [4] defining the anisotropy of bodies in terms of symmetry groups for Simple Materials can be very easily extended to define the anisotropy in terms of symmetry groups for materials whose response is described by relations between the histories of the stresses and the deformation gradient. While symmetry groups are defined, the more arduous task of developing representation theorems for bodies defined through implicit response relations is an important open task.     

Influence of non-proportional loading on ratcheting responses and simulations by two recent cyclic plasticity models

Aubin and her coworkers conducted a unique set of experiments demonstrating the influence of loading non-proportionality on ratcheting responses of duplex stainless steel. In order to further explore their new observation, a set of experiments was conducted on stainless steel (SS) 304L under various biaxial stress-controlled non-proportional histories. This new set of data reiterated Aubin and her coworkers’ observation and illustrated many new responses critical to model development and validation. Two recent and different classes of cyclic plasticity models, the modified Chaboche model proposed by Bari and Hassan and the version of the multi-mechanism model proposed by Taleb and Cailletaud, are evaluated in terms of their simulations of the SS304L non-proportional ratcheting responses. A modeling scheme for non-proportional ratcheting responses using the kinematic hardening rule parameters in addition to the conventionally used isotropic hardening rule parameter (yield surface size change) in the modified Chaboche model is evaluated. Strengths and weaknesses of the models in simulating the non-proportional ratcheting responses are identified. Further improvements of these models needed for improving the non-proportional ratcheting simulations are suggested in the paper.     

Experimental validation of distinct element simulation for dynamic wheel–soil interaction

The deformation behaviour of the soil during dynamic wheel–soil interaction was studied by using the discontinuum modelling technique, distinct or discrete element method (DEM). The simulation model was developed using DEM for two types of soil, soil-A (coarse sand) and soil-B (medium sand). A transparent sided soil bin was used to observe the soil deformation. Three CCD video camera photographic images of the validation experiments were analyzed and compared with the simulation program results.This paper presents the simulation and validation results for two types of soil at three different vertical loadings of 4.9, 9.8 and 14.7 N. Wheel sinkage, vertical and horizontal draft force acting on the rigid wheel and the soil deformation images from the validation experiments were some of the data used to compare the simulation program results with the validation experiments. The simulation program was helpful to understand the complex deformation behaviour of the soils. The simulated results for the deformation behaviour of soil-B showed better correlation with the validation experiments than soil-A. The results obtained have also been compared with the previous work on DEM to explain phenomena such as the high simulated sinkage of the rigid wheel.     

Artificial neural network prediction to the hot compressive deformation behavior of Al–Cu–Mg–Ag heat-resistant aluminum alloy

The behavior of the flow stress of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag heat-resistant aluminum alloys during hot compression deformation was studied by thermal simulation test. The temperature and the strain rate during hot compression were 340-500 °C, 0.001 s⁻¹ to 10 s⁻¹, respectively. Constitutive equations and an artificial neural network (ANN) model were developed for the analysis and simulation of the flow behavior of the Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloys. The inputs of the model are temperature, strain rate and strain. The output of the model is the flow stress. Comparison between constitutive equations and ANN results shows that ANN model has a better prediction power than the constitutive equations.     

Elastic–plastic-hydrodynamic analysis of crater blasting in steel fiber reinforced concrete

This paper presents a numerical analysis of crater blasting in steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC). In order to model the nonlinear damage-softening behavior of SFRC, the effective stress and effective plastic strain curve is tabulated and used as input for the material Type10 (MAT_ELASTIC_PLASTIC_HYDRO) available in LS-DYNA. The Gruneisen equation of state (EOS) is used to model the pressure volume relationship. With the two erosion criteria namely tensile cut-off and failure strain incorporated, the crater blasting in SFRC is simulated. Numerical results show that the adopted model and high-pressure EOS can well capture the main characteristics and failure process of SFRC under blast loading, and the related parameters can be determined conveniently. In addition, the volume fraction of fibers exerts a significant influence on the dimension of blast-induced crater.     

Raviart–Thomas and Brezzi–Douglas–Marini finite‐element approximations of the shallow‐water equations

An analysis of the discrete shallow‐water equations using the Raviart–Thomas and Brezzi–Douglas–Marini finite elements is presented. For inertia–gravity waves, the discrete formulations are obtained and the dispersion relations are computed in order to quantify the dispersive nature of the schemes on two meshes made up of equilateral and biased triangles. A linear algebra approach is also used to ascertain the possible presence of spurious modes arising from the discretization. The geostrophic balance is examined and the smallest representable vortices are characterized on both structured and unstructured meshes. Numerical solutions of two test problems to simulate gravity and Rossby modes are in good agreement with the analytical results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Triaxial stress state of cylindrical openings for rocks modeled by elastoplasticity and strength criterion

An analytical solution for calculating the triaxial stress state around a cylindrical opening in an elastoplastic cohesive medium is developed. Magnitude of the slip zones around a cylindrical opening in crack-weakened rock masses is considered by modifying the existing strength criterion for rocks of different types. The disturbance coefficient, the geological strength index and the other strength parameters are also investigated.     

Computation of internal high-speed separated flow with modified B–L and J–K models

The existence of shock–turbulent boundary layer interactions lead to very complicated flow phenomena and pose a challenge for numerical simulation. In this paper, two turbulence models, the Baldwin–Lomax (B–L) model and the Johnson–King (J–K) model, which were originally developed for simple external flow simulation, are modified to model complex high-speed internal separated flows. The full Navier–Stokes solver used in this paper is based on a cell-centered finite volume method and multistepping time marching scheme. Both implicit residual smoothing and local time stepping techniques are incorporated to accelerate the convergence rate. To ensure the numerical stability with the present explicit scheme, a point-implicit treatment to the source term in the ordinary differential equation (ODE) of the J–K model has been developed and has proved to be very effective in modeling such a complex flow. An arc-bump channel flow case has been studied. Comparisons of computed results with experimental data show that the present solver, with the modified turbulence models, predicts the shock and the flow separation very well. The J–K model is found to predict the size of the separation bubble with a higher accuracy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Understanding the influence of structural hierarchy and its coupling with chemical environment on the strength of idealized tropocollagen–hydroxyapatite biomaterials

Hard biomaterials such as bone, dentin, and nacre have primarily an organic phase (e.g. tropocollagen (TC)) and a mineral phase (e.g. hydroxyapatite (HAP) or aragonite) arranged in a staggered arrangement at the nanoscopic length scale. Interfacial interactions between the organic phase and the mineral phase as well as the structural effects arising due to the staggered arrangement significantly affect the strength of such biomaterials. The effect of such factors is intricately intertwined with the chemical environment of such materials. In the present investigation, an idealized TC–HAP composite system under tensile loading is analyzed using explicit three-dimensional (3-D) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to develop an understanding of these factors. The material system is analyzed in three different environments: (1) in the absence of water molecules (non-hydrated), (2) in the presence of water molecules (hydrated), and (3) in the presence of water molecules with calcium ions (ionized water). The analyses focus on understanding the correlations among factors such as the structural arrangement, the peak stress during deformation, Young's modulus, the peak interfacial strength, and the length scale of the localization of peak stress during deformation. Analyses show that maximizing the contact area between the TC and HAP phases results in higher interfacial strength as well as higher fracture strength. Due to the staggered arrangement, the orientation of HAP crystals has insignificant effect on the biomaterial strength. Analyses based on strength scaling as a function of structural hierarchy level reveal that while peak strength follows a multiscaling relation, the fracture strength does not. The peak strain for failure was found to be independent of the changes in levels of structural hierarchy. Overall, the analyses, being limited in size due to the computational time constraint, point out important correlations between the mechanical strength and chemically influenced structural hierarchy of biomaterials.     

Nonlinear analysis of beam–column joints using softened truss model

The aim of this study is to expand the application of the nonlinear softened truss model for membrane elements on beam–column joints. The softened truss model employs three equations for equilibrium, three for compatibility and four equations for the constitutive laws of materials. The constitutive equations for both the concrete and steel are based on the actually observed stress–strain relationships. The model has three important attributes. The first is the nonlinear association of stress and strain. The second, and conceivably more noteworthy, is the softening of concrete in compression due to tensile strains in the perpendicular direction. The third is that the influence of the concrete tensile stresses between cracks on the average stress–strain relationship for reinforcing steel and the influence of orthogonal tensile stresses on the compression stress–strain relationship for concrete can be considered in the model. For beam–column joints, one of the most important factors influencing the behaviour is certainly the bond conditions of the beam bars. In this study, the softened truss model is expanded to take into account the influence of this important factor into account. In the revised version of the model, full strain compatibility does not exist between the steel reinforcement and the surrounding concrete and thus the factors influencing the bond-slip between concrete and reinforcement is adequately considered. The improved softened truss model is applied on 51 exterior beam–column joint tests. It is apparent from the results that the revised model gives very accurate predictions of the shear strength of joints and is an improvement on the existing version of the model proposed by Hsu.     

A critical evaluation of seven discretization schemes for convection–diffusion equations

A comparative study of seven discretization schemes for the equations describing convection-diffusion transport phenomena is presented. The (differencing) schemes considered are the conventional central- and upwind-difference schemes, together with the Leonard,¹ Leonard upwind¹ and Leonard super upwind difference¹ schemes. Also tested are the so called locally exact difference scheme² and the quadratic-upstream difference scheme.^3,4 In multidimensional problems errors arise from ‘false-diffusion’ and function approximations. It is asserted that false diffusion is essentially a multidimensional source of error. No mesh constraints are associated with errors in function approximation and discretization. Hence errors associated with discretization only may be investigated via one-dimensional problems. Thus, although the above schemes have been tested for one- and two-dimensional flows with sources, only the former are presented here. For 1D flows, the Leonard super upwind difference scheme and the locally exact scheme are shown to be far superior in accuracy to the others at all Peclet numbers and for most source distributions, for the test cases considered. Furthermore, the latter is shown to be considerably cheaper in computational terms than the former. The stability of the schemes and their CPU time requirements are also discussed.