Fatigue Analysis of Dozer Push Arms under Tilt Bulldozing Conditions

Tilt bulldozing generates unbalanced loads on two push arms, which leads to the service lives of the two push arms being different. Because the push arms rotate in triaxial directions during tilt bulldozing, it is difficult to accurately analyze the fatigue life of the push arm with one specific boundary condition and loading history. Therefore, a fatigue analysis of the push arms under tilt bulldozing conditions is proposed based on co-simulation of RecurDyn-EDEM-AMESim in this paper. The control of tilt bulldozing conditions is realized automatically according to the tilt angle and blade depth. The dynamic loads of the push arms are accurately calculated in this virtual model. Subsequently, the stress–time histories are obtained to investigate the fatigue lives of push arms. Both the overall damage and the initiation positions of the cracks are predicted herein. It is determined that the fatigue lives of the right and left push arms are 7,317.84 h and 39,381.89 h, respectively. Thus, the life of the push arm on the blade’s tilted side is reduced by 81.42% compared to the other side. Additionally, experimental tests are conducted to verify the accuracy of the virtual model. Analysis results indicate that the strains of the push arms according to the virtual simulation are close to those measured in the experiments.

Loading History Effect on Stress Relaxation of Rock Joints

In this study, a data analysis method for the relaxation test was proposed under step loading by conducting creep and stress relaxation tests of dentate discontinuity poured by cement mortar using biaxial creep machine under step loading and single-stage loading. First, a superposition method for the stress relaxation curve was deduced based on the data processing method of creep test by considering the effect of loading history on the relaxation curve and the characteristic of relaxation was analyzed. Second, this superposition method was verified by testing data under step loading and single-stage loading. Finally, this paper indicate the accurate way for the processing of relaxation test data under step loading. The results show that under the same stress level, the values of relaxation curve after the superposition are different from that under the single-stage loading test. Furthermore, the relaxation curves in the step loading test under different stress levels are similar to those in single-stage loading under the same stress level. Furthermore, creep deformation increase monotonically during the creep, but stress do not exhibit such a trend during relaxation, which is inconsistent with the Boltzmann superposition principle. The relaxation curve in the step loading test under different shear stress could reflect the relaxation properties of the single-stage loading test under the same shear stress, and unlike the data processing method of step loading creep test, superimposition is not needed.

Low-cycle fatigue life evaluation of buckling-restrained braces based on cumulative plastic deformation curves

To quantitatively evaluate the low-cycle fatigue life of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs), an evaluation method for BRBs based on the combination of the CPD curves and CPD measurement meter (CMM) is established herein. The difference between two CPD curves (i.e., the CPD curves under constant strain amplitude loading history (C-CPD) and under random strain amplitude loading history (R-CPD)), and their selection criteria to evaluate the low-cycle fatigue life of BRBs are discussed. An example under the variable strain amplitude (VSA) loading history and an example under the multiple earthquakes are carried out. Finally, the CPD limit values of BRBs in the ANSI/AISC 341-10 and FEMA-450 are discussed by statistical analysis of the test results of BRBs. The analysis results show that the C-CPD curve can be used to evaluate the low-cycle fatigue life of BRBs under the VSA loading, and the R-CPD curve can be used to evaluate the low-cycle fatigue life of BRBs under the multiple earthquakes. The degree of reliability of the current CPD limit value is not enough. A CPD limit curve is recommended in this study to quantify the low-cycle fatigue performance of BRBs.

Influence of Loading History on Delamination in Multilayered Beam with Creep

The present paper deals with an analytical study of the time-dependent delamination in a multilayered inhomogeneous cantilever beam with considering of the loading history. The multilayered beam exhibits creep behaviour that is treated by using a non-linear stress-strain-time relationship. The material properties are continuously distributed along the thickness and length of the layers. The external loading is applied in steps in order to describe the loading history. The analysis reveals that during each step of the loading, the strain energy release rate increases with time. The influences of crack length and location on the time-dependent strain energy release rate are also investigated.

Morphometric Maps of Bilateral Asymmetry in the Human Humerus: An Implementation in the R Package Morphomap

In biological anthropology, parameters relating to cross-sectional geometry are calculated in paired long bones to evaluate the degree of lateralization of anatomy and, by inference, function. Here, we describe a novel approach, newly added to the morphomap R package, to assess the lateralization of the distribution of cortical bone along the entire diaphysis. The sample comprises paired long bones belonging to 51 individuals (10 females and 41 males) from The New Mexico Decedent Image Database with known biological profile, occupational and loading histories. Both males and females show a pattern of right lateralization. In addition, males are more lateralized than females, whereas there is not a significant association between lateralization with occupation and loading history. Body weight, height and long-bone length are the major factors driving the emergence of asymmetry in the humerus, while interestingly, the degree of lateralization decreases in the oldest individuals.

A Comprehensive Comparison Between Different Multiaxial Cycle Counting Procedure

High-temperature nuclear design codes, such as Section III, Division 5 of the American ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the French RCC-MRx, require evaluating fatigue damage for qualifying high-temperature components. Both codes provide clear guidance for counting cycles under uniaxial loading conditions, but neither provides a cycle counting procedure for multiaxial loading conditions. The ASTM E1049 also does not address multiaxial cycle counting. However, several widely utilized multiaxial cycle counting procedures are available in the open literature, but there is no agreement on the most appropriate method for high-temperature applications. Applying the different cycle counting methods to the same loading history generally produces different results. Comparisons between cycle counting procedures are available for low-temperature high-cycle fatigue but not for high-temperature low-cycle dwell-fatigue applications. This work presents an extensive comparison between different multiaxial cycle counting procedures potentially suitable for high-temperature low-cycle dwell-fatigue applications. Furthermore, how to conservatively assemble design transients to construct a loading history is also an open question. This work also investigates the uncertainty related to the loading sequence. The results guide the selection of the most appropriate cycle counting procedure, strain range metric, and cycle distribution for ASME Section III, Division 5 applications.