Effects of the magnetic field on direct contact melting transport processes during rotation

Contact melting heat transfer occurs via relative motion between the heating source and a phase change material (PCM) during melting in various applications. In this study, we investigated the physics of the close contact melting process generated by rotation and when subjected to an applied magnetic field. We transformed the physical model comprising the three-dimensional mass, momentum, and energy equations of the liquid melt layer in the cylindrical coordinate system, including the effects of the Lorentz forces and coupled with an interfacial energy jump condition, into a set of nonlinear similarity equations. Various characteristic dimensionless variables were identified, including an external force parameter σ, which defines the relationship between the external load on the PCM and the centrifugal force due to rotation, and a magnetic field parameter M. Numerical results were obtained and we systematically studied and interpreted the effects of various dimensionless variables on the contact melting and heat transfer processes during rotation, including the structures of the flow and thermal fields, melt layer thickness, and the melting and heat transfer rates. In particular, our results demonstrate that the melting and heat transfer rates increase while the liquid melt film becomes thinner as the external force parameter σ increases. By contrast, an increase in the magnetic field parameter M decreases the melting and heat transfer rates, while yielding relatively thicker melt layers.     

Material-Force-Based Refinement Indicators in Adaptive Strategies

A material-force-based refinement indicator for adaptive finite element strategies for finite elasto-plasticity is proposed. Starting from the local format of the spatial balance of linear momentum, a dual material counterpart in terms of Eshelby's energy-momentum tensor is derived. For inelastic problems, this material balance law depends on the material gradient of the internal variables. In a global format the material balance equation coincides with an equilibrium condition of material forces. For a homogeneous body, this condition corresponds to vanishing discrete material nodal forces. However, due to insufficient discretization, spurious material forces occur at the interior nodes of the finite element mesh. These nodal forces are used as an indicator for mesh refinement. Assigning the ideas of elasticity, where material forces have a clear energetic meaning, the magnitude of the discrete nodal forces is used to define a relative global criterion governing the decision on mesh refinement. Following the same reasoning, in a second step a criterion on the element level is computed which governs the local h-adaptive refinement procedure. The mesh refinement is documented for a representative numerical example of finite elasto-plasticity. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Conservation laws for a consistent plate theory

Within the framework of a consistent second-order plate theory, three material conservation laws are established, which are useful to describe the energy-release rates and the material forces connected with the change of configuration of inhomogeneities or defects within the plate. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase field simulations in ferroelectric materials

The hindering of domain wall movement by defects in ferroelectric materials is closely connected to electric fatigue. A movable domain wall in a ferroelectric material in most cases is modelled as a singular surface which allows the use of configurational forces. In contrast, the present approach treats the polarization as an order parameter, extending the total energy by a phase separation energy and a domain wall energy. The polarization then no longer has a discontinuity at the domain wall but is a continuous vector field (phase field). As an example, a numerical simulation of domain evolution under stress free boundary conditions is presented. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On Configurational-Force-Driven Crack Propagation and Adaptive Mesh Refinement in Finite Inelasticity

We introduce a consistent variational framework for inelasticity at finite strains, yielding dual balances in physical and material space as the Euler equations. The formulation is employed for the simultaneous usage of configurational forces as both driving forces for crack propagation as well as h-adaptive mesh refinement. The theoretical basis builds upon a global balance of internal and external power, where the mechanical response is exclusively governed by two scalar functions, the free energy function and a dissipation potential. The resulting variational structure is exploited in the context of fracture mechanics and yields evolution equations for internal variables. In the discrete setting, we present a geometry model fully separated from the finite element mesh structure that represents structural changes of the material configuration due to crack propagation. Advanced meshing algorithms provide an optimal discretization at the crack tip. Local and global criteria are obtained via error estimators based on configurational forces being interpreted as indicators of an energetic misfit due to an insufficient discretization. The numerical handling is decomposed into a staggered algorithm scheme for the dual set of equilibrium equations in material and physical space and efficient mesh generation tools. Exemplary numerical examples are considered to illustrate the method and to underline the effects of inelastic material behaviour in the presented context. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Computation of material forces for the thermo-mechanical response of dynamically loaded elastomers

Elastomers are widely used in today's life. The material is characterized by large deformability upon failure, elastic and time dependent as well as non-time dependent effects which can be also a function of temperature. In addition, cyclically loaded components show heat build-up which is due to dissipation. As a result, the temperature evolution of an elastomeric component can strongly influence the material properties and durability characteristics. Representing best the real thermo-mechanical behaviour of an elastomeric component in its design process is one motivation for the use of sophisticated, coupled material approaches within numerical simulations. In order to assess the durability characteristics, for example regarding crack propagation, material forces (configurational forces) are one possible approach to be applied. In the present contribution, the implementation of material forces for a thermo-mechanically coupled material model including a continuum mechanical damage (CMD) approach is demonstrated in the context of the Finite Element Method (FEM). Special emphasis is given to material forces resulting from internal variables (viscosity and damage variables), temperature field evolution and dynamic loading. Using the example of an elastomeric component, for which the material model parameters have been previously identified by a uniaxial extension test, material forces are evaluated quantitatively. The influence of each contribution (internal variables, temperature field and dynamics) is illustrated and compared to the overall material force response. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The balance of material momentum at a shock wave propagating in a thermo-elastic material

At a surface of discontinuity, the mechanical balance laws are represented by jump conditions. It is shown how the balance of material momentum at an adiabatic shock propagating in a thermo-elastic material is obtained from the discontinuous balances of physical momentum and energy. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Variational statement of deformation problems for a composite latticed plate with various types of lattices

The variational statement of various boundary value problems for tangential displacements and forces in a latticed plate with an arbitrary piecewise smooth contour is investigated. The lattice consists of several families of bars made of a homogeneous composite material with a matrix of relatively low shear stiffness. The energy method reduces the problem to the variational problem of minimizing the energy functional. The conditions on the plate contour are established under which the functional is minimal and positive definite, which ensures that the problem is well posed.     

Mathematical modelling and the study of the influence of initial stresses on the SIF and ERR at the crack tips in a plate-strip of orthotropic material

A plate-strip fabricated from the orthotropic material and containing a crack whose edges are parallel to the face planes of the plate is considered. It is assumed that the strip is stretched (or compressed) initially along the crack edges by uniformly distributed external normal forces acting on the simply supported ends of the plate-strip. After this initial stretching (or compression) the crack edges are loaded by additional uniformly distributed normal (opening) forces. As a result of the action of these additional forces the stress concentration characterized by the stress intensity factor (SIF) of mode I or by the energy release rate (ERR) of mixed mode arises at the crack tips. In this paper, the influence of the initial stresses on the SIF or ERR is modelled mathematically by the use of the three-dimensional linearized theory of elasticity. The aim of the present investigations is to study the effect of the mechanical–orthotropic properties of the plate-strip material on this influence by the use of the finite element method (FEM) modelling of the corresponding boundary-value problem.     

Configurational forces on material defects

In micromechanical applications, the behaviour of material defects has been a great subject of interest. In this paper, the idea of Eshelby's energy momentum tensor is briefly reconsidered with respect to problems in solid mechanics. The derived configurational force balance is used to obtain the thermodynamic driving forces acting on centers of dilatation, dislocations, crack tips and interfaces of misfitting precipitates.     

Global well-posedness and stability of semilinear Mindlin–Timoshenko system

We study long-term behavior of Reissner–Mindlin–Timoshenko (RMT) plate systems, focusing on the interplay between nonlinear viscous damping and source terms. The sources may represent restoring forces, but may also be focusing thus potentially amplifying the total energy which is the primary scenario of interest. This work complements [28] which established local well-posedness of this problem, global well-posedness when damping dominates the sources (in an appropriate sense) and a blow-up in the complementary scenario assuming negative “total” initial energy. The current paper develops the potential well theory for the RMT system: it proves global existence for potential well solutions without restricting the source exponents, derives explicit energy decay rates dependent on the order of the damping exponents, and verifies a blow-up result for positive total initial energy.     

Formulation of the Material Force Approach for Finite Inelasticity

The material forces represent the thermodynamically driving forces on any kind of inhomogeneity and discontinuity. For comprehensive investigations, the balance of the inverse motion problem has to be formulated and evaluated to separate different portions of the material forces arising from different inhomogeneities and discontinuities. This paper presents a general approach for inelastic material models based on the multiplicative split of the deformation gradient in order to calculate the J -integral of an inelastic crack tip. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Interaction of phase-transformations and plasticity – a multi-phase micro-sphere approach

We present an efficient model for the simulation of solid to solid phase-transformations in polycrystalline materials. As a basis, we implement a scalar-valued Gibbs-energy-barrier-based phase-transformation model making use of statistical physics. In this work, we particularly adopt the model for the simulation of phase-transformations between an austenitic parent phase and a martensitic tension and compression phase. The incorporation of plasticity phenomena is established by enhancing the Helmholtz free energy functions of the material phases considered, where the plastic driving forces acting in each phase are derived from the overall free energy potential. The coupled model is embedded into a micro-sphere formulation in order to simulate three-dimensional boundary value problems—a technique well-established in the context of computational inelasticity at small strains. It is shown that the model is capable of reflecting experimentally observed behaviour. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

叠层复合材料杆弯曲的层间应力(Ⅰ)

一矩形横截面的叠层复合材料杆,由以一种材料为中心部分,及另一种材料的上下两相同的盖板所组成.各等于P的压力和张力,均匀分布在上下盖板的两端.它们形成两力偶使杆弯曲.本文将探讨层间应力,以表明力是怎样通过胶合面而传递的.     

OR and energy: Problems of modelling

Attention is focused on three problem areas in energy modelling: (1) identifying the essential elements of the system, (2) coping with multiple criteria, (3) incorporating learning in the system. These aspects are illustrated through examples in current energy systems research, involving the oil market, power systems planning, and the role of nuclear energy.In modelling the word oil market, too heavy emphasis is placed on economic forces, but practically non on the political forces. However, certain economics-oriented studies indicate that financial gains of OPEC may actually be intensitive to the oil pricing policy followed. If that is indeed the case, the significant (political) elements and their motives have to be captured in the model in order to arrive at consistent results.Modelling the different objectives in power systems planning is an area where advances are urgently needed. A method is proposed, where decision alternatives are generated a posteriori, in contrast to recent approaches involving a priori articulation of preferences, or interactive methods. A multicriterion dynamic linear programming model and a fast algorithm are used in generating efficient solutions, which are then grouped, based on the clustering in objective values.The problem associated with changing system objectives is discussed and the nuclear programme is given as an example of how the system objectives move from costs to perceived risks. In line with the real system that ‘learns’ from its experience, we need models that change their objective functions as a result of their own outputs at prior times.     

A Moreau-type Variational Integrator

In this paper we derive a variational integrator for nonsmooth mechanical systems by discretizing the principle of virtual action with finite elements in time. After the discretization with local finite elements, the constitutive laws for the contact forces are introduced as in Moreau's time stepping scheme. This derivation shows exemplary how variational integrators for systems with frictional unilateral constraints can be derived. The long-time energy behavior of the presented scheme is compared with the behavior of Moreau's stepping scheme on an example system. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A theory of heating of Voigt solids and fluids by external energy sources and flame theory

The purpose of this paper is to develop

1. a theory of laser stimulated vaporization of droplets,

2. a theory of internal heating resulting from vibration waves in linearly responding elastic material, and

3. flame theory.

There are applications to sending information through clouds on laser beams and to the control of temperature in ultrasonic welding, and improvement of the design of aircraft engines and the processes used for the destruction of toxic chemicals.

We develop a theory of thermal excursions resulting from ultrasonic welding in 3 and 7 dimensions, and interpret it as an elastic interaction with damping in a Voigt solid. It is hypothesized that with good control of temperature, one could achieve strong and uniform welds by this process and greatly reduce the cost of manufacturing aircraft, and other aluminum structures. We consider equations describing the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy coupled by an equation of state, and consider general mass, momentum, and energy transfer relationships in a compressible body subjected to external stimuli. For the Voigt solid theory, a linear elastic theory with damping forces, we show how some simple local time averaging gives us a dovetailed system consisting of the elastic wave equations whose solution provides the source term for an otherwise uncoupled heat equation. For the more general theory of droplet vaporization, we illustrate a general nonlinear energy equation which includes a radiation energy conductivity term. We get a class of exact solutions for a nonlinear flame front boundary value problem.     

Plastic limit analysis and optimum design of structures for uncertain conditions.

At the application of the plastic analysis and design methods the control of the plastic behaviour of the structures is an important requirement. Since the plastic limit analysis provides no information about the magnitude of the plastic deformations and residual displacements accumulated before the adaptation of the structure, therefore complementary strain energy of the residual forces could be considered an overall measure of the plastic performance of structures and the plastic deformations should be controlled by introducing a bound for magnitude of this energy. If the design uncertainties (manufacturing, strength, geometrical) are expressed by the calculation of the complementary strain energy of the residual forces a reliability based extended plastic limit design problem is formed. In this research, due to the uncertainties the bound for the complementary strain energy of the residual forces is given randomly and a general approach to evaluate the limit load capacity of structures for uncertain conditions is presented. The aim of this study is to evaluate limit load capacity of structures with limited residual strain energy on the probabilistically given conditions. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Damping of structural vibrations using an electromotive eddy current damper

Structural vibrations are normally the cause for high cycle fatigue failure (HCF) in technical structures. For example, the blades of rotating bladed turbine disks are subjected to fluctuating gas forces during operation that cause blade vibrations. Therefore, one of the main tasks in the design of turbomachinery blading is the reduction of the vibration amplitudes of the blades and it is well known that the vibration amplitudes can be reduced significantly to a reasonable amount by means of friction damping devices such as underplatform dampers, tip shrouds and damping wires. If the temperature of the working fluid is not excessively high, the use of an electromotive eddy current damper can be a possible alternative to this well known classical friction damping devices. If a conducting material is moving in a stationary magnetic field, eddy currents are generated inside the conductor. These eddy currents cause an energy dissipation effect and damping forces are generated. This damping effect can be used to reduce the resonance amplitudes and therefore to decrease the risk of a HCF failure. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)