Numerical simulation of EPS geofoam behaviour in triaxial tests

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1372-1390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanka Dilshan Ekanayake ◽  
D.S. Liyanapathirana ◽  
Chin Jian Leo

Purpose – EPS geofoam has been widely used in embankment construction, slope stabilisation, retaining walls, bridge approaches and abutments. Nevertheless, the potential of EPS geofoam as an engineering material in geotechnical applications has not been fully realised yet. The purpose of this paper is to present the finite element formulation of a constitutive model based on the hardening plasticity, which has the ability to simulate short-term behaviour of EPS geofoam, to predict the mechanical behaviour of EPS geofoam and it is implemented in the finite element programme ABAQUS. Design/methodology/approach – Finite element formulation is presented based on the explicit integration scheme. Findings – The finite element formulation is verified using triaxial test data found in the literature (Wong and Leo, 2006 and Chun et al., 2004) for two varieties of EPS geofoam. Performance of the constitute model is compared with four other models found in the literature and results confirm that the constitutive model used in this study has the ability to simulate the short-term EPS geofoam behaviour with sufficient accuracy. Research limitations/implications – This research is focused only on the short-term behaviour of EPS geofoam. Experimental studies will be carried out in future to incorporate effects of temperature and creep on the material behaviour. Practical implications – This formulation will be applicable to finite element analysis of boundary value problems involving EPS geofoam (e.g. application of EPS geofoam in ground vibration isolation, retaining structures as compressible inclusions and stabilisation of slopes). Originality/value – Finite element analysis of EPS geofoam applications are available in the literature using elastic perfectly plastic constitutive models. However, this is the first paper presenting a finite element application utilising a constitutive model specifically developed for EPS geofoam.

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. Nguyen

This paper presents a p-version finite element formulation for incompressible lubrication analyses where the pressure field can be of any arbitrary polynomial of order p. The formulation ensures the C° continuity between mating element boundaries. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the simplicity of modeling and the accuracy of the formulation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Walid Larbi ◽  
Jean-François Deü ◽  
Monica Ciminello ◽  
Roger Ohayon

In this paper, we present a finite element formulation for vibration reduction in structural-acoustic systems using passive or semipassive shunt techniques. The coupled system consists of an elastic structure (with surface-mounted piezoelectric patches) filled with an inviscid linear acoustic fluid. An appropriate finite element formulation is derived. Numerical results for an elastic plate coupled to a parallelipedic air-filled interior acoustic cavity are presented, showing the performances of both the inductive shunt and the synchronized switch shunt techniques.


2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaxin Zhao

The kinematics and dynamics of two dimensional linkages is analyzed using an uniformed finite element approach in this paper. Each link in the linkage is a naturally discretized finite element and the joints are the nodes connecting elements. The analysis consists of two parts, namely the kinematics part and the dynamics part. In the first kinematics part, positions, linear velocities and linear accelerations of the joints are used as the solution variables in the finite element formulation. In order to have close-form solutions, the linkage must have only one degree of freedom. These joint variables are then solved for each input link configuration of angular position, velocity and acceleration. The angular positions, velocities and accelerations of the other links are then calculated from the joint variables. The position, linear velocity and acceleration of any point on the linkage, like the center of gravity for a particular link, can also be determined if desired. The second dynamics part uses joint forces as the solution variables in the finite element formulation. In each element, a third node is also defined to allow an external force or torque to be applied. Based on the solutions in the first kinematics part, the joint forces are solved for each input configuration. The forces inside each link can then be determined from the joint forces. A MATLAB program is developed for this finite element analysis on general four bar linkages and is posted on the author’s webpage.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Zheng ◽  
Yi Cai ◽  
Kelun Tang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to realize the lightweight of connecting rod and meet the requirements of low energy consumption and vibration. Based on the structural design of the original connecting rod, the finite element analysis was conducted to reduce the weight and increase the natural frequencies, so as to reduce materials consumption and improve the energy efficiency of internal combustion engine. Design/methodology/approach The finite element analysis, structural optimization design and topology optimization of the connecting rod are applied. Efficient hybrid method is deployed: static and modal analysis; and structure re-design of the connecting rod based on topology optimization. Findings After the optimization of the connecting rod, the weight is reduced from 1.7907 to 1.4875 kg, with a reduction of 16.93%. The maximum equivalent stress of the optimized connecting rod is 183.97 MPa and that of the original structure is 217.18 MPa, with the reduction of 15.62%. The first, second and third natural frequencies of the optimized connecting rod are increased by 8.89%, 8.85% and 11.09%, respectively. Through the finite element analysis and based on the lightweight, the maximum equivalent stress is reduced and the low-order natural frequency is increased. Originality/value This paper presents an optimization method on the connecting rod structure. Based on the statics and modal analysis of the connecting rod and combined with the topology optimization, the size of the connecting rod is improved, and the static and dynamic characteristics of the optimized connecting rod are improved.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafida Kahoul ◽  
Samira Belhour ◽  
Ahmed Bellaouar ◽  
Jean Paul Dron

Purpose This paper aims to present the fatigue life behaviour of upper arm suspension. The main objectives are to predict the fatigue life of the component and to identify the critical location. In this analysis, three aluminium alloys were used for the suspension, and their fatigue life was compared to select the suitable material for the suspension arm. Design/methodology/approach CAD model was prepared using Solid Works software, and finite element analysis was done using ANSYS 14.0 software by importing the Parasolid file to ANSYS. The model is subjected to loading and boundary conditions; the authors consider a vertical force with constant amplitude applied at the bushing that connected to the tire, the others two bushing that connected to the body of the car are constraint. Tetrahedral elements given enhanced results as compared to other types of elements; therefore, the elements (TET 10) are used. The maximum principal stress was considered in the linear static analysis, and fatigue analysis was done using strain life approach. Findings Life and damage are evaluated and the critical location was considered at node 63,754. From the fatigue analysis, aluminium alloys 7175-T73 (Al 90%-Zn 5.6%-Mg 2.5% -… …) and 2014-T6 (Al 93.5%-Cu 4.4%-Mg 0.5%… …) present a similar behaviour as compared to 6061-T6 (Al 97.9%-Mg 1.0%-Si 0.6%… … .); in this case of study, these lather are considered to be the materials of choice to manufacture the suspension arms; but 7175-T73 aluminium alloys remain the material with a better resistance to fatigue. Originality/value By the finite element analysis method and assistance of ANSYS software, it is able to analyse the different car components from varied aspects such as fatigue, and consequently save time and cost. For further research, the experimental works under controlled laboratory conditions should be done to determine the validation of the result from the software analysis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 2421-2447 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Paulo Pascon

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to deal with large deformation analysis of plane beams composed of functionally graded (FG) elastic material with a variable Poisson’s ratio. Design/methodology/approach The material is assumed to be linear elastic, with a Poisson’s ratio varying according to a power law along the thickness direction. The finite element used is a plane beam of any-order of approximation along the axis, and with four transverse enrichment schemes, which can describe constant, linear, quadratic and cubic variation of the strain along the thickness direction. Regarding the constitutive law, five materials are adopted: two homogeneous limiting cases, and three intermediate FG cases. The effect of both finite element kinematics and distribution of Poisson’s ratio on the mechanical response of a cantilever is investigated. Findings In accordance with the scientific literature, the second scheme, in which the transverse strain is linearly variable, is sufficient for homogeneous long (or thin) beams under bending. However, for FG short (or moderate thick) beams, the third scheme, in which the transverse strain variation is quadratic, is needed for a reliable strain or stress distribution. Originality/value In the scientific literature, there are several studies regarding nonlinear analysis of functionally graded materials (FGMs) via finite elements, analysis of FGMs with constant Poisson’s ratio, and geometrically linear problems with gradually variable Poisson’s ratio. However, very few deal with finite element analysis of flexible beams with gradually variable Poisson’s ratio. In the present study, a reliable formulation for such beams is presented.


Author(s):  
Weijie Jiang ◽  
Jianping Zhao ◽  
Dingyue Chen

A tensile test of buried PE pipe is designed to test the mechanical performance. Then the constitutive model for the PE pipe can be established. The limit load of the PE pipe with local thinning defect can be studied with the method of combining the orthogonal design of experiment and finite element analysis. Then the factors of local thinning defect pipe limit load factors can be analyzed. The results show that the depth of the defect has a great effect on the limit load (internal pressure and bending moment) of PE pipe. The effects that the axial length of the defect and the circumferential length of the defect have on the limit load are not significant.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 678-691
Author(s):  
Intan Najwa Humaira Mohamed Haneef ◽  
Norhashimah Shaffiar ◽  
Yose Fachmi Buys ◽  
Abdul Malek Abd. Hamid

Purpose The internal fixation plate of bone fractures by using polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted the attention of many researchers, as it is biodegradable and biocompatible to the human body. However, its brittleness has led to implant fracture. On the contrary, polypropylene carbonate (PPC), which is also biodegradable and biocompatible, has an excellent elongation at break. The purpose of this paper is to compare the PLA fixation plate with the new fixation plate made up of PLA/PPC blends by using finite element analysis (FEA). Design/methodology/approach The mandible bone from CT data set and fixation plate was designed by using the MIMICS, Amira and Solidworks softwares. Abaqus software was used for FEA of PLA/PPC fixation plate applied on the fractured mandible bone. A model of mandibular bone with a fracture in the body was subjected to incisor load. The analysis was run to determine the von Mises stress, elongation of the fixation plate and the displacement of the fractured gap of PLA/PPC blends fixation plate. Findings The von Mises stress predicted that all the blend compositions were safe to be used as a fixation plate since the stress values were less than the yield strength. In addition, the stress value of the fixation plate was gradually decreased up to 20 percent when the amount of PPC increased to 30 percent. This indicates that the stress shielding effect was successfully reduced. The elongation of the fixation plate was gradually increased from 11.54 to 12.55 µm as the amount of PPC in the blends increased from 0 to 30 percent, thereby illustrating that the flexibility of the fixation plate was improved by the addition of PPC. Finally, the measured displacement of the fractured gap for all compositions of PLA/PPC blends fixation plate is less than 150 µm, which proves the likely success of fracture fixation by using the PLA/PPC blends. Research limitations/implications An optimum solution of PLA/PPC blends and another new material such as compatibilizer need to be introduced in the blends in order to improve the performance of PLA/PPC blends as a new material for a fixation plate. Besides, by using the same method of producing PLA/PPC blends, longer durations for in vitro degradation of PLA/PPC blends are essential to further understand the degradation behavior of the blends applied in the human body. Finally, it is also important to further test the mechanical strength of PLA/PPC blends during the degradation period to know the current strength of the implant in the healing process of the bone. Practical implications PLA fixation plate and screw can commercially be used in CMF surgery since they reduce cost because of the elimination of secondary surgery to remove the fixation plate and screw after the healing process. Social implications It is hoped that the advantages of this research will ensure the market of PLA product to continue expanding in medical application. Originality/value This study is one of the alternative ways for the biomedical researchers to improve the elongation break of PLA. Currently, many researchers focus on polymeric materials such as PLA, poly(glycolic) acid and polydioxanone blends, which were extensively being used in CMF surgery. However, the work on PLA/PPC blends to be used as one of the materials for the CMF fixation plate is very limited, if any. PPC, the proposed material for this research, will improve the mechanical performance of PLA fixation plate and screw to become more sustainable and flexible when applied on human mandible bone.


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