Characterization of strongly interacted multiple cracks in an infinite plate

Based on the Kachanov method and the alternating iteration technique, a new method is proposed to deal with the problem of the strongly interacted multiple cracks in an infinite plate. Unlike the Kachanov method which neglects the interaction of the tractions of the non-uniform components, the tractions of the non-uniform components on the surfaces of cracks are considered through the alternating technique. The accuracy and efficiency of present method are validated by comparing the results of two collinear and two parallel overlapped open the cracks obtained by the present method with those of the exact solutions, the results of the Kachanov method and the alternating iteration technique. Applications of present method in solving sliding close crack problems and evaluating the plastic zones demonstrate the versatility of present method.     

The effect of simultaneous temperature, pressure and stress on the experimental annealing of spontaneous fission tracks in apatite: a brief overview

Tracks made in minerals by the electronic stopping of uranium fission fragments provide a modern geological dating tool, and are believed also to yield specific information on the low-temperature thermal history of rocks. Experimental work showing that the damaged crystal lattice along a fission track recovers primarily as a function of temperature ignored the fact that the basic theory of atomic diffusion requires an exponential decrease in the intrinsic diffusion coefficient with increasing pressure. Here, fission track recovery was experimentally investigated in basic apatite under the simultaneous influences of temperature, pressure and stress. We show that track fading is a complex recovery mechanism responding to several environmental physical parameters simultaneously. In particular a strong decrease in the track recovery rate was observed as a function of increasing pressure. And a nearly temperature-independent recovery was observed in samples under stress.     

Experimental Evaluation of Strain Shielding in Distal Femur in Revision TKA

Theoretical concerns about the use of cemented and press-fit stems in revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) include stress shielding with adverse effects on prosthesis fixation. Radiological studies have showed distal femoral bone resorption after revision TKA. The revision with use of stems can place abnormal stresses. These stresses can promote the effect of bone stress shielding and may contribute to bone loss. Experimental quantification of strain shielding in the distal synthetic femur following TKA is the main purpose of the present study. Three different constructs of TKA were assessed. The first construct included a stemless femoral component. The other two included a press-fit and a cemented femoral stem. Cortical bone strains were measured experimentally with tri-axial strain gauges in synthetic femurs before and after in-vitro knee surgery. The difference between principal strains of implanted and intact femur was calculated for each strain gauge position. This study indicates that the use of stems in distal femur changes the distribution and magnitude of bone strains. The press-fit stem provoked relevant bone area (stem length) subjected to strain shielding and also originated the highest reduction of strains in the distal region, which can potentially induce bone resorption. The stemless implanted femur produced minor bone strain changes relatively to the intact femur. The use of distal femur stems increases initial stability in the bone, but the observed reduction of strains in this region, relative to the intact femur, provokes strain shielding that can induce bone resorption and may compromise the long term implant stability.     

A bio-mechanical model for coupling cell contractility with focal adhesion formation

Focal adhesions (FAs) are large, multi-protein complexes that provide a mechanical link between the cytoskeletal contractile machinery and the extracellular matrix. They exhibit mechanosensitive properties; they self-assemble upon application of pulling forces and dissociate when these forces are decreased. We rationalize this mechano-sensitivity from thermodynamic considerations and develop a continuum framework in which the cytoskeletal contractile forces generated by stress fibers drive the assembly of the FA multi-protein complexes. The FA model has three essential features: (i) the low and high affinity integrins co-exist in thermodynamic equilibrium, (ii) the low affinity integrins within the plasma membrane are mobile, and (iii) the contractile forces generated by the stress fibers are in mechanical equilibrium and change the free energies of the integrins. A general two-dimensional framework is presented and the essential features of the model illustrated using one-dimensional examples. Consistent with observations, the coupled stress fiber and FA model predict that (a) the FAs concentrate around the periphery of the cell; (b) the fraction of the cell covered by FAs increases with decreasing cell size while the total FA intensity increases with increasing cell size; and (c) the FA intensity decreases substantially when cell contractility is curtailed.     

An evolutionary method for optimization of plate buckling resistance

Optimization of plate buckling resistance is very complicated, because the in-plane stress resultants in the prebuckled state of a plate are functions of thickness distribution. This paper discusses the problem of finding the optimum thickness distribution of isotropic plate structures, with a given volume and layout, that would maximise the buckling load. A simple numerical method using the finite-element analysis is presented to obtain the optimum thickness distribution. Optimum designs of compression-loaded rectangular plates with different boundary conditions and plate aspect ratios are obtained by using the proposed method. Optimum designs from earlier studies and the methods of buckling analysis used to attain these results are discussed and compared with the designs from the proposed method. This paper also examines the reliability of the optimality criterion generally used for plate buckling optimization, which is based on the uniform strain energy density.     

应变速率和电位对应力腐蚀裂纹扩展的影响

以滑移-溶解-再钝化模型为基础,推导出应力腐蚀裂纹扩展速率与裂尖应变速率和电位之间的理论公式.计算表明,在裂纹扩展速率与裂尖应变速率的关系曲线中有两个特征区域.裂纹扩展速率在区域I随裂尖应变速率增加而增大,而在区域II不随裂尖应变速率的改变而变化.用慢应变速率拉伸技术（SSRT）测量了304L不锈钢的裂纹增长速率.当电位控制在区域II的阳极区时,理论计算的裂纹扩展速率与实验得到的结果比较吻合.     

The combined effect of photodegradation and stress cracking in polystyrene

This work aims to analyze the effects of photodegradation on the stress cracking resistance of polystyrene. Injection moulded samples were exposed to the ultraviolet light for various times in the laboratory prior to solvent contact. The bars were then stressed in a tensile testing machine under the presence of butanol. During this period the stress relaxation was monitored and the ultimate properties were evaluated after selected periods of stress cracking. Complementary tests were done by size exclusion chromatography and by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that butanol causes significant modification in polystyrene, with extensive surface crazing as well as reduction in mechanical properties. This is intensified under higher mechanical stress. The previous degraded samples showed a higher level of stress relaxation and a greater loss in tensile strength in comparison to the undegraded ones. The synergist action of photodegradation and stress cracking in polystyrene may be a consequence of the chemical changes caused by oxidation like the formation of polar chemical groups and the reduction in molecular weight.     

动态力学温度谱分析的新方法及其应用 Ⅳ.从动态力学温度谱求两相聚合物的双活化能和应力松弛

提出用两个热流变简单粘弹体的并联体系作为两相聚合物的粘弹模型,将先前的动态力学温度谱分析方法推广到两相聚合物中去.运用这种新方法从动态力学数据求出了PET/70PHB共聚物的双活化能,其中150℃左右的转变活化能为71.9kcal/mol,70℃左右的转变活化能为117.5koal/mol,这一数值与文献上PET/60PHB这个转变的活化能120kcal/mol相接近.文中还计算了共聚物在不同温度下的10s应力松弛模量,所得结果与实测值相吻合.     

Leray–Hopf solutions to a viscoelastoplastic fluid model with nonsmooth stress–strain relation

We consider a fluid model including viscoelastic and viscoplastic effects. The state is given by the fluid velocity and an internal stress tensor that is transported along the flow with the Zaremba–Jaumann derivative. Moreover, the stress tensor obeys a nonlinear and nonsmooth dissipation law as well as stress diffusion. We prove the existence of global-in-time weak solutions satisfying an energy inequality under general Dirichlet conditions for the velocity field and Neumann conditions for the stress tensor.     

VISCOELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF THE NON-HOOKE DEFORMATION BEFORE YIELDING IN UNIAXIAL DRAWING OF AMORPHOUS POLY(ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)*

Viscoelastic behavior of the non-Hooke deformation of amorphous PET film before yield was investigated in thetemperature region 74--80.5℃ around the glass transition temperature. The film specimen was drawn to yield point followedby unloading to zero stress, then the residual deformation was held constant, while the subsequent evolution of the stress wasrecorded. An induction period was found in the course of stress evolution fol1owed by a stress step-increase. The inductionperiod decreases with increasing drawing temperature with an activation energy of 1.10 MJ/mol·K, which is attributed tothe time needed for the relaxation of rubbery deformation through cooperative internal rotations. At temperatures lower than74℃, there is no stress increase or the induction period becomes too long to be observed. Thus the nature of anelasticity inthe non-Hooke region before yielding is attributed to stress induced rubbery deformation. The experimental results areinterpreted in terms of Perez' rheological model of a series connected Hooke spring and a Voigt element consisting of aparallel connected elastic spring and a dashpot.