Stability of the critical equilibrium of a compressed column on a Winkler foundation

In this paper, the critical equilibrium of a simply supported compressed column on a Winkler foundation is analyzed based on Koiter’s theory. The exact expression of the potential energy functional is presented. By the Fourier series of the disturbance deflection, the second-order variation of the potential energy is expressed as a quadratic form. At critical equilibrium, the second-order variation of the potential energy is semi-positive definite, so that the stability of the critical equilibrium is determined by the sign of the fourth-order variation or sixth-order variation. It can be seen that only in two small ranges of elastic-foundation stiffness is the corresponding critical state stable and the bifurcation equilibrium upward. Then, the theoretical results of this paper are compared with previous experimental and theoretical results.

Analytical Study of Bending Characteristics of an Elastic Rectangular Plate using Direct Variational Energy Approach with Trigonometric Function

In this paper, an analytical three-dimensional (3D) bending characteristic of an isotropic rectangular thick plate with all edges simply supported (SSSS) and carrying uniformly distributed transverse load using the energy technique is presented. The three-dimensional constitutive relations which involves six stress components were used in the established, refined shear deformation theory to obtain a total potential energy functional. This theory obviates application of the shear correction factors for the solution to the problem. The governing equation of a thick plate was obtained by minimizing the total potential energy functional with respect to the out of plane displacement. The deflection functions which are in form of trigonometric were obtained as the solution of the governing equation. These deflection functions which are the product of the coefficient of deflection and shape function of the plate were substituted back into the energy functional, thereafter a realistic formula for calculating the deflection and stresses were obtained through minimizations with respect to the rotations and deflection coefficients. The values of the deflections and stresses obtained herein were tabulated and compared with those of previous 3D plate theory, refined plate theories and, classical plate theory (CPT) accordingly. It was observed that the result obtained herein varied more with those of CPT and RPT by 25.39% and 21.09% for all span-to-thickness ratios respectively. Meanwhile, the recorded percentage differences are as close as 7.17% for all span-to-thickness ratios, when compared with three dimensional plate analysis. This showed that exact 3D plate theory is more reliable than the shear deformation theory which are quite coarse for thick plate analysis. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-01320 Full Text: PDF

A Contribution to Analytical Solutions for Buckling Analysis of Axially Compressed Rectangular Stiffened Panels

Analytical solution to the buckling problems of stiffened panels subjected to in-plane compressive loads is presented. The total potential energy functional of stiffened panel is obtained by the summation of that of a line continuum and stiffened panel derived from elastic principles of mechanics. Minimizing the resulting equation with respect to deflection coefficient and rearranging gives the expression for obtaining the buckling load of stiffened panel. Exact deflection functions were substituted directly in the new solution and various edge conditions were considered in this analysis. Obtained results were compared with analytical results of previous works. The method is computationally efficient for complex edge conditions and gives high numerical accuracy.

Principles of minimum potential energy and complementary energy

With the displacement field taken as the only fundamental unknown field in a mixed-boundary-value problem for linear elastostatics, the principle of minimum potential energy asserts that a potential energy functional, which is defined as the difference between the free energy of the body and the work done by the prescribed surface tractions and the body forces --- assumes a smaller value for the actual solution of the mixed problem than for any other kinematically admissible displacement field which satisfies the displacement boundary condition. This principle provides a weak or variational method for solving mixed boundary-value-problems of elastostatics. In particular, instead of solving the governing Navier form of the partial differential equations of equilibrium, one can search for a displacement field such that the first variation of the potential energy functional vanishes. A similar principle of minimum complementary energy, which is phrased in terms of statically admissible stress fields which satisfy the equilibrium equation and the traction boundary condition, is also discussed. The principles of minimum potential energy and minimum complementary energy can also be applied to derive specialized principles which are particularly well-suited to solving structural problems; in this context the celebrated theorems of Castigliano are discussed.

Analysis of Orthotropic Thin Rectangular Simply Supported Plate Subjected to both In-Plane Compression and Lateral Loads

This study presents the analysis of thin rectangular orthotropic plate, simply supported at all edges (SSSS) subjected to both in-plane compression and lateral loads. The total potential energy functional was used in the analysis. The general variation of the total potential energy functional was done and the governing equation was obtained. The solution of the direct integration of the governing equation gave the deflection of the plate as a product of the coefficient of deflection and an orthogonal polynomial shape function. The expression for the coefficient of deflection was obtained by the direct variation of the total potential energy functional. This was used to derive the equation for the Lateral load parameter of an orthotropic thin rectangular plate carrying both in-plane compression and lateral loads based on the maximum deflection condition and also based on the elastic stability (yield strength) condition. The peculiar deflection equation for the SSSS plate was obtained using the formulated polynomial shape function. Numerical examples were carried out to determine the lateral load parameters corresponding to various plate thickness and permissible deflection for orthotropic thin SSSS plate carrying both in-plane compression and lateral load. In the same way, the lateral load parameters using the elastic stability condition (yield strength) were obtained for yield strength of 275 MPa, 355 MPa and 410 MPa

Magnetic motion of spherical frictional charged particles on the unit sphere

Mathematically, the sphere unit S² is described to be a 2-sphere in an ordinary space with a positive curvature. In this study, we aim to present the manipulation of a spherical charged particle in a continuous motion with a magnetic field on the sphere S² while it is exposed to a frictional force. In other words, we effot to derive the exact geometric characterization for the spherical charged particle under the influence of a frictional force field on the unit 2-sphere. This approach also helps to discover some physical and kinematical characterizations belonging to the particle such as the magnetic motion, the torque, the potential energy functional, and the Poynting vector.

Two Kinds of Finite Element Variables Based on B-Spline Wavelet on Interval for Curved Beam

Curved beam structure has been widely used in engineering, due to its good load-bearing and geometric characteristics. More common methods for analyzing and designing this structure are the finite element methods (FEMs), but these methods have many disadvantages. Fortunately, the multivariable wavelet FEMs can solve these drawbacks. However, the multivariable generalized potential energy functional of curved beam, used to construct this element, has not been given in previous literature. In this paper, the generalized potential energy functional for curved beam with two kinds of variables is derived initially. On this basis, the B-spline wavelet on the interval (BSWI) is used as the interpolation function to construct the wavelet curved beam element with two kinds of variables. In the end, several typical numerical examples of thin to thick curved beams are given, which show that the present element is more effective in static and free vibration analysis of curved beam structures.

Wrinkle surface instability of an inhomogeneous elastic block with graded stiffness

Surface instabilities have been studied extensively for both homogeneous materials and film/substrate structures but relatively less for materials with continuously varying properties. This paper studies wrinkle surface instability of a graded neo-Hookean block with exponentially varying modulus under plane strain by using the linear bifurcation analysis. We derive the first variation condition for minimizing the potential energy functional and solve the linearized equations of equilibrium to find the necessary conditions for surface instability. It is found that for a homogeneous block or an inhomogeneous block with increasing modulus from the surface, the critical stretch for surface instability is 0.544 (0.456 strain), which is independent of the geometry and the elastic modulus on the surface of the block. This critical stretch coincides with that reported by Biot (1963 Appl. Sci. Res. 12 , 168–182. ( doi:10.1007/BF03184638 )) 53 years ago for the onset of wrinkle instabilities in a half-space of homogeneous neo-Hookean materials. On the other hand, for an inhomogeneous block with decreasing modulus from the surface, the critical stretch for surface instability ranges from 0.544 to 1 (0–0.456 strain), depending on the modulus gradient, and the length and height of the block. This sheds light on the effects of the material inhomogeneity and structural geometry on surface instability.