A new first-principles approach for the catenary

This paper reports on findings relating to catenaries since the publication in Expositiones Mathematicae of Denzler and Hinz’s pioneering 1999 paper, Catenaria Vera – the True Catenary. New governing differential equations and explicit solutions are derived for the catenary in positive and negative radial potentials with physical constants incorporated in the derivations. In keeping with precedent by Denzler and Hinz, a measure of historical perspective is offered as homage to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Christiaan Huygens and Johann Bernoulli, the original first-solvers of the catenary.     

Influence of aspect ratio on the flow above the free end of a surface-mounted finite cylinder

The flow above the free end of a surface-mounted finite-height cylinder was studied in a low-speed wind tunnel using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Velocity measurements were made in vertical and horizontal measurement planes above the free end of finite cylinders of aspect ratios AR = 9, 7, 5 and 3, at a Reynolds number of Re = 4.2 × 10⁴. The relative thickness of the boundary layer on the ground plane was δ/D = 1.7. Flow separating from the leading edge formed a prominent recirculation zone on the free-end surface. The legs of the mean arch vortex contained within the recirculation zone terminate on the free-end surface on either side of the centreline. Separated flow from the leading edge attaches onto the upper surface of the cylinder along a prominent attachment line. Local separation downstream of the leading edge is also induced by the reverse flow and arch vortex circulation within the recirculation zone. As the cylinder aspect ratio is lowered from AR = 9 to AR = 3, the thickness of the recirculation zone increases, the arch vortex centre moves downstream and higher above the free-end surface, the attachment position moves downstream, and the termination points of the arch vortex move upstream. A lowering of the aspect ratio therefore results in accentuated curvature of the arch vortex line. Changes in aspect ratio also influence the vorticity generation in the near-wake region and the shape of the attachment line.     

A new first-principles approach for the catenary

This paper reports on findings relating to catenaries since the publication in Expositiones Mathematicae of Denzler and Hinz’s pioneering 1999 paper, Catenaria Vera – the True Catenary. New governing differential equations and explicit solutions are derived for the catenary in positive and negative radial potentials with physical constants incorporated in the derivations. In keeping with precedent by Denzler and Hinz, a measure of historical perspective is offered as homage to Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, Christiaan Huygens and Johann Bernoulli, the original first-solvers of the catenary.     

以抛物弓形为边界的周期环域的三次系统的Poincaré分支

本文以抛物弓形为边界的周期环域的三次系统的Poincaré分支为例,说明具有相同边界的周期环域的相同次数的多项式系统的Poincaré分支,由于周期环域内闭轨的不同,它们所对应的Abel积分也不同,所以它们的Poincaré分支所能分支出极限环的个数也是不同的.     

Optimization of arches using genetic algorithm

An optimization procedure is presented for the minimum weight and strain energy optimization for arch structures subjected to constraints on stress, displacement and weight responses. Both thickness and shape variables defining the natural line of the arch are considered. The computer program which is developed in this study can be used to optimize thick, thin and variable thickness curved beams/arches. An automated optimization procedure is adopted which integrates finite element analysis, parametric cubic spline geometry definition, automatic mesh generation and genetic algorithm methods. Several examples are presented to illustrate optimal arch structures with smooth shapes and thickness variations. The changes in the relative contributions of the bending, membrane and shear strain energies are monitored during the whole process of optimization.     

Shape optimal design of arch dams including dam-water–foundation rock interaction using a grading strategy and approximation concepts

Optimal design of arch dams including dam-water–foundation rock interaction is achieved using the soft computing techniques. For this, linear dynamic behavior of arch dam-water–foundation rock system subjected to earthquake ground motion is simulated using the finite element method at first and then, to reduce the computational cost of optimization process, a wavelet back propagation neural network (WBPNN) is designed to predict the arch dam response instead of directly evaluating it by a time-consuming finite-element analysis (FEA). In order to enhance the performance generality of the neural network, a dam grading technique (DGT) is also introduced. To assess the computational efficiency of the proposed methodology for arch dam optimization, an actual arch dam is considered. The optimization is implemented via the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) algorithm for the various conditions of the interaction problem. Numerical results show the merits of the suggested techniques for arch dam optimization. It is also found that considering the dam-water–foundation rock interaction has an important role for safely designing an arch dam.     

基于BOTDR的白泥井3号隧道拱圈变形监测

白泥井3号隧道是一条山岭隧道,隧道出口段位于滑坡等地质灾害多发的危险区域,为了确保隧道安全,应用国际上先进的BOTDR分布式应变测量技术,对隧道拱圈截面变形进行了分布式应变监测。本文着重介绍了BOTDR在隧道内安装布设以及监测数据的分析过程,监测成果显示,在将近1 a的监测时间里,隧道拱圈基本保持稳定,只是在个别区域,如K84+508.2处拱圈截面的衬砌表面发生张拉变形,变形量在雨季期间达到最大,据分析是由于雨水入渗山体造成围岩压力增大,致使拱圈截面受挤压变形。     

On the geometric conditions for multiple stable equilibria in clamped arches

Curved structures, such as beams, arches, and panels are capable of exhibiting snap-through buckling behavior when loaded laterally, that is they can exhibit multiple stable equilibria, sometimes after any external loading is removed. This is a consequence of highly nonlinear force-deflection relations with perhaps multiple crossings of the zero-force axis for typical equilibrium paths. However, the propensity to maintain a stable snapped-through equilibrium position (in addition to the nominally unloaded equilibrium configuration) after the load is removed depends on certain geometric properties. A number of clamped arches are used to illustrate the relation between geometry (essentially the shape) and corresponding equilibrium configuration(s), and especially those conditions for which the initial equilibrium configuration is the only stable shape possible. Furthermore, related results are obtained when a change in the thermal environment may cause a system to exhibit a stable snapped-through equilibrium even when the system at ambient thermal conditions does not. Some representative examples are produced using a 3D printer for verification purposes.     

Advances in concrete arch dams shape optimization

This paper presents an efficient methodology to find the optimum shape of arch dams. In order to create the geometry of arch dams a new algorithm based on Hermit Splines is proposed. A finite element based shape sensitivity analysis for design-dependent loadings involving body force, hydrostatic pressure and earthquake loadings is implemented. The sensitivity analysis is performed using the concept of mesh design velocity. In order to consider the practical requirements in the optimization model such as construction stages, many geometrical and behavioral constrains are included in the model in comparison with previous researches. The optimization problem is solved via the sequential quadratic programming (SQP) method. The proposed methods are applied successfully to an Iranian arch dam, and good results are achieved. By using such methodology, efficient software for shape optimization of concrete arch dams for practical and reliable design now is available.