Conservative Discretization of the Source Term in Finite Element Analyses (In the Case of Hexahedral Elements)

In view of the problems of low accuracy, small rotational angle, and large impact caused by flexure joints during the deployment process, an integrated flexure revolute (FR) joint for folding mechanisms was designed. The design was based on the method of compliance and stiffness ellipsoids, using a compliant dyad building block as its flexible unit. Using the single-point synthesis method, the parameterized model of the flexible unit was established to achieve a reasonable allocation of flexibility in different directions. Based on the single-parameter error analysis, two error models were established to evaluate the designed flexure joint. The rotational stiffness, the translational stiffness, and the maximum rotational angle of the joints were analyzed by nonlinear finite element analyses. The rotational angle of one joint can reach 25.5° in one direction. The rotational angle of the series FR joint can achieve 50° in one direction. Experiments on single and series flexure joints were carried out to verify the correctness of the design and analysis of the flexure joint.

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Finite Element Analysis of the Distributed Vibration Absorbers for Structural Noise Control

Noise Control and Acoustics ◽

10.1115/imece2005-82798 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Ashwini Gautam ◽

Chris Fuller ◽

James Carneal

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Numerical Model ◽

Base Plate ◽

Element Model ◽

Fe Model ◽

Vibration Absorbers ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Poroelastic Media ◽

Hexahedral Elements ◽

Component Models

This work presents an extensive analysis of the properties of distributed vibration absorbers (DVAs) and their effectiveness in controlling the sound radiation from the base structure. The DVA acts as a distributed mass absorber consisting of a thin metal sheet covering a layer of acoustic foam (porous media) that behaves like a distributed spring-mass-damper system. To assess the effectiveness of these DVAs in controlling the vibration of the base structures (plate) a detailed finite elements model has been developed for the DVA and base plate structure. The foam was modeled as a poroelastic media using 8 node hexahedral elements. The structural (plate) domain was modeled using 16 degree of freedom plate elements. Each of the finite element models have been validated by comparing the numerical results with the available analytical and experimental results. These component models were combined to model the DVA. Preliminary experiments conducted on the DVAs have shown an excellent agreement between the results obtained from the numerical model of the DVA and from the experiments. The component models and the DVA model were then combined into a larger FE model comprised of a base plate with the DVA treatment on its surface. The results from the simulation of this numerical model have shown that there has been a significant reduction in the vibration levels of the base plate due to DVA treatment on it. It has been shown from this work that the inclusion of the DVAs on the base plate reduces their vibration response and therefore the radiated noise. Moreover, the detailed development of the finite element model for the foam has provided us with the capability to analyze the physics behind the behavior of the distributed vibration absorbers (DVAs) and to develop more optimized designs for the same.

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