A control volume finite element method for three-dimensional three-phase flows

A novel control volume finite element method with adaptive anisotropic unstructured meshes is presented for three-dimensional three-phase flows with interfacial tension. The numerical framework consists of a mixed control volume and finite element formulation with a new P₁DG-P₂ elements (linear discontinuous velocity between elements and quadratic continuous pressure between elements). A “volume of fluid” type method is used for the interface capturing, which is based on compressive control volume advection and second-order finite element methods. A force-balanced continuum surface force model is employed for the interfacial tension on unstructured meshes. The interfacial tension coefficient decomposition method is also used to deal with interfacial tension pairings between different phases. Numerical examples of benchmark tests and the dynamics of three-dimensional three-phase rising bubble, and droplet impact are presented. The results are compared with the analytical solutions and previously published experimental data, demonstrating the capability of the present method.     

Design of a tuned vibration absorber for a slender hollow cylindrical structure

Abstract

In this paper, details of the design work for a tuned vibration absorber to be used on a hollow cylindrical structure is presented. The vibration problem is of resonant type and the tuned vibration absorber is designed to suppress the displacement vibration response of the free end of the slender hollow structure dominated by the contribution of its lowest transverse vibration modes. The structure is modeled using a commercial finite element software. Finite element model of the structure is verified using experimentally obtained frequency response functions and modal parameters. Effective parameters of the tuned vibration absorber design are then determined based on finite element analysis simulations of the vibration suppression performance of the tuned vibration absorber as it is used on the structure. Details of the tuned vibration absorber design are determined and a prototype is fabricated. Prototype tuned vibration absorber is then characterized experimentally both as a standalone system and also as it is used on the main structure. Vibration reduction performance of the physical prototype of the tuned vibration absorber is also compared with its vibration reduction performance estimated from finite element analysis simulations so that the analysis based design process can be validated.

Communicated by Dumitru Caruntu.     

板结构计算模型的新发展

现代复合材料层合板具有高强和轻型的突出优点,从而在军工和民用等诸多领域发挥着重要作用。这种板结构的特点是随着纤维走向的不同,层间材料的物理-力学特性发生剧烈变化。沿板厚方向变形的梯度比较陡峭,并在层间结合面处发生强不连续,呈现zig-zag （锯齿状）现象。这导致横向剪应变在板的静态和动态响应中发生重要作用,不计横向变形的经典组合板计算模型CLPT难以适应现代多层板计算分析的需要。考虑横向剪切变形影响的板的计算模型得到重视和发展。需要指出,现有各种考虑剪切变形影响的计算模型虽然有了很大的发展,但在全面和准确性上仍然存在一定的不足,难以适应现代多层组合板横向力和物理性能多变的情况。模型预测的沿板厚方向位移和应力的变化规律难以通过严格的检验。本文提出的以比例边界有限元为基础的正交各向异性板的数值计算模型,同时可适用于各种薄板与厚板的分析,对现代复合材料层合板的分析具有特殊的优越性。所得到的板的位移、正应力和剪应力沿板厚方向的变化,与三维弹性理论的标准解高度吻合。数值算例进一步表明,随着层间纤维走向的变化,板内位移场和应力场沿板厚方向剧烈变化所呈现的锯齿现象均可以精准地进行模拟。据此,本文建议方法对现代板分析的广泛适应性和高度准确性得到了充分论证。     

一种基于自适应单元删除率的BESO方法

在ESO中采用动态删除率能有效地提高优化效率和稳定性,但现有的动态删除率策略都含有经验参数,确定删除率的过程较为复杂。本文提出了一种用于BESO的无经验参数自适应单元删除率确定方法。通过分析单元删除率对优化稳定性的影响,得到了结构优化过程中单元删除率的理想变化规律和单元灵敏度均匀化信息对删除率的影响情况,并据此分析了经验参数引入的原因,从而构造了评价单迭代步的单元灵敏度均匀化程度指标。然后,基于单迭代步的单元灵敏度均匀化程度指标,构造了全部迭代步信息下的单元灵敏度均匀化程度相对指标,结合单元删除率的推荐范围值,给出了一种自适应于结构优化进程的单元删除率自适应函数。最后,给出了基于自适应单元删除率的BESO方法实现流程。经典算例的结果对比说明,本文方法在保证优化质量相近的情况下,具有更好的优化效率和稳定性。     

A proposal for a convertible stadium roof structure derived from Watt-I linkage

In this paper, a novel convertible stadium roof structure is introduced, which has been derived from a special geometric configuration of Watt-I linkage, a 1-DoF mechanism used in robot technologies as anthropomorphic fingers. The proposed structure can offer a wide range of different shape configurations according to the environmental conditions and spatial needs, thus offering several aesthetic and functional advantages over existing solutions. This paper serves as a feasibility investigation of this concept, mainly from geometric and structural point of view. To that affect, first kinematic analysis and geometric design of this linkage are introduced. Then, structural analyses of the proposed structure with realistic dimensions and loading conditions are performed in three different geometric configurations, in order to discuss strength and stiffness limitations. Finally, potential cover materials and actuators are briefly discussed.     

颗粒流的动力学模型和实验研究进展

首先叙述了颗粒流研究的背景和基本概念,接着概述了颗粒流动力学研究的三种基本数学力学模型:颗粒动理论(kinetic theory)模型、摩擦塑性模型和离散元模拟模型.介绍了它们的基本原理,并分析了各个模型的优缺点和适用范围.随之,对颗粒流的实验研究情况作了简要的介绍,列举了研究中几种常用的试验方法和观测手段,以及观测到的一些典型现象.最后,我们简述了颗粒流研究的主要困难,并提出了某些有待解决的研究课题.      

BEM for simulation of a 2D elastic body with randomly distributed circular inclusions

Based on our 2D BEM software THBEM2 which can be applied to the simulation of an elastic body with randomly distributed identical circular holes, a scheme of BEM for the simulation of elastic bodies with randomly distributed circular inclusions is proposed. The numerical examples given show that the boundary element method is more accurate and more effective than the finite element method for such a problem. The scheme presented can also be successfully used to estimate the effective elastic properties of composite materials. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 19772025).     

AN IMPROVED ARC-LENGTH METHOD AND APPLICATION IN THE POST-BUCKLING ANALYSIS FOR COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

Based on the conventional arc- length method, an improved arc- length method with high-efficiency is proposed. The weighted modifications with respect to the variation of structural stiffness and extra-interpolation modification by using the information of known equilibrium points are introduced to improve the incremental arc- length . An approximate expansion method for the accumulated and expected arc-length is used to ensure the convergence at given load levels in large range of applications. Numerical results show that the improved arc-length method has well adaptability and higher efficiency in the post-buckling analysis of plates and sheik structures for tracing whole load-deflection path and obtaining the convergence values at any specified load levels.     

Third body modeling in fretting using the combined finite-discrete element method

A new approach was developed for modeling the effect of the third body on fretting. This was accomplished using the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) in which the third body is analyzed as discrete elements while the first bodies are modeled using finite elements. This approach provides a link between large scale models which treat the mass of wear debris as a single or small number of bodies and small scale models which only study a control volume. The FDEM was used to analyze the behavior of third body particles between flat sliding surfaces. When the third body mass is composed of unconnected particles, it behaves as a Newtonian fluid, but this behavior ceases when the particles are connected into platelets. The FDEM was also used to study the behavior of third body particles inside a Hertzian line contact. As the number of particles and platelet size increase the load carried by the worn slip zone grows larger in relationship to the unworn stick zone.