Analytical Study of Elastic-Plastic Fracture in the Crack-Lap Shear Multilayered Beam Configuration

This paper reports an analytical study of delamination fracture in the Crack-Lap Shear (CLS) multilayered beam configuration with taking into account the material non-linearity. A delamination crack was located arbitrary along the beam height. It was assumed that the CLS mechanical response can be described by using a power-law stress-strain relation. It should be mentioned that each layer may have different material constants in the stress-strain relation. Besides, the thickness of each layer may be different. The classical beam theory was applied in the present study. The non-linear fracture behaviour was analyzed by the J-integral. Analytical solutions of the J-integral were obtained for homogeneous as well as for multilayered CLS beams. In order to verify the solutions obtained, analyses of the strain energy release rate were developed with considering material non-linearity. Material properties and crack location effects on the non-linear fracture behaviour were investigated. The analysis revealed that the J-integral value increases when the material non-linearity is taken into account. It was found also that the J-integral value decreases with increasing the lower crack arm thickness. The approach developed here is very convenient for parametric fracture analyses. The solutions derived can be used for optimization of the CLS multilayered beams with respect to their fracture performance.

Effect of Higher Order Element on Numerical Instability in Topological Optimization of Linear Static Loading Structure

This paper presents the mathematical model to solve the topological optimization problem. Effect of higher order element on the optimum topology of the isotropic structure has been studied by using 8-node elements which help in decreasing the numerical instability due to checkerboarding problem in the final topologies obtained. The algorithms are investigated on a number of two-dimensional benchmark problems. MATLAB code has been developed for different numerical two dimensional linear isotropic structure and SIMP approach is applied. Models are discretized using linear quadratic 4-node and 8-node elements and optimal criteria method is used in the numerical scheme. Checkerboarding instability in the final topology is greatly reduces when incorporated 8-node element instead of 4-node element which can be confirmed through comparing the final topologies of the structure.

Study of Radial Vibrations in an Infinitely Long Fluid-Filled Transversely Isotropic Thick-Walled Hollow Composite Poroelastic Cylinders

In this paper, radial vibrations of an infinitely long fluid-filled transversely isotropic thick-walled hollow composite poroelastic cylinder are investigated in the framework of poroelasticity. The cylinder consists of two concentric cylindrical layers namely, core (inner one) and coating (outer one), each of which retains its own distinctive properties. A comparative study has been made between the thick-walled hollow composite poroelastic cylinder and that of fluid-filled one. Frequency is computed against the ratio between the thickness to inner radius of the composite cylinder at various anisotropic ratios. Another comparative study is made between the results of current case and that of isotropic case by making Young’s modulus and Poisson ratio values of isotropic and that of transversely isotropic in the transverse direction equal. Numerical results are depicted graphically and then discussed.

Buckling Analysis of Orthotropic Thick Cylindrical Shells Considering Geometrical Imperfection Using Differential Quadrature Method (DQM)

This paper presented a three dimensional analysis for the buckling behavior of an imperfect orthotropic thick cylindrical shells under pure axial or external pressure loading. Critical loads are computed for different imperfection parameter. Both ends of the shell have simply supported conditions. Governing differential equations are driven based on the second Piola–Kirchhoff stress tensor and are reduced to a homogenous linear system of equations using differential quadrature method. Buckling loads reduction factor is computed for different imperfection parameters and geometrical properties of orthotropic shells. The sensitivity is established through tables of buckling load reduction factors versus imperfection amplitude. It is shown that imperfections have higher effects on the buckling load of thin shells than thick ones. Results show that the presented method is very accurate and can capture the various geometrical imperfections observed during the manufacturing process or transportation.

Mechanical Systems of Cosserat–Zhilin

Mechanical systems of Cosserat–Zhilin are introduced as the main object of rational (non-relativistic) mechanics on the base of new notions of vector calculus—sliders and screw measures (bi-measures).

Reduction of Drag of SUV Similar to Tata Sumo Using Vortex Generator

The aim of this research paper is to reduce the drag of SUV by using a vortex generator and to calculate the pressure and turbulence profile across the vehicle. The Ahmed Reference Model is taken as a benchmark test. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation with and without vortex generator is performed at different velocities across the SUV similar to TATA Sumo. The performance of Vortex generator is analyzed at different velocities to obtain the particular velocity at which it will have the minimum value of drag. The end results are henceforth analyzed and a comparative study has been performed with the experimental data given by Gopal and Senthikumar on SUV. And finally it is found that the 10 % of drag reduction is achieved using vortex generator.

Tensile and Surface Mechanical Properties of Polyethersulphone (PES) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Membranes

Mechanical properties of polymer membranes (strength, hardness and elasticity) are very important parameters for the application performance, e.g. water purification. We study the tensile and surface mechanical properties of hollow fiber and flat sheets mat membranes based on PES and PVDF polymers. Tensile test, nanoindentation and atom force microscopy are used for characterization at macro and nanoscale. Mechanical properties are correlated with pore structure of membranes. The reinforced PVDF HF hollow fiber membranes show 30-fold higher stiffness and 3-fold higher hardness compared to non-reinforced PES HF. Surface mechanical properties of flat sheet membranes are strongly improved by decreasing the pore size. The smoothest surface with 100–200 nm roughness has the best surface mechanical performance obtained by nanoindentation.

A Tilted Lorentz Force Effect on Porous Media Filled with Nanofluid

This paper is intended to investigate the effects of an inclined magnetic field on the mixed convection flow in a lid-driven porous enclosure filled with nanofluid. Both the left and right vertical walls of the cavity are thermally insulated while the bottom and top horizontal walls are maintained at constant but different temperatures. The governing equations are solved numerically by using finite volume method on a uniformly staggered grid system. The computational results are obtained for various combinations of Richardson number, Darcy number, Hartmann number, inclination angle of magnetic field, and solid volume fraction. It is found that the presence of magnetic field deteriorates the fluid flow, which leads to a significant reduction in the overall heat transfer rate. The inclination angle of magnetic field plays a major role in controlling the magnetic field strength and the overall heat transfer rate is enhanced with the increase of inclination angle of magnetic field. Adding the nanoparticles in the base fluid significantly increases the overall heat transfer rate in the porous medium whether the magnetic field is considered or not.

Performance Assessment of Variational Integrators for Thermomechanical Problems

Structure-preserving integrators are in the focus of ongoing research because of their distinguished features of robustness and long time stability. In particular, their formulation for coupled problems that include dissipative mechanisms is still an active topic. Conservative formulations, such as the thermo-elastic case without heat conduction, fit well into a variational framework and have been solved with variational integrators, whereas the inclusions of viscosity and heat conduction are still under investigation. To encompass viscous forces and the classical heat transfer (Fourier’s law), an extension of Hamilton’s principle is required. In this contribution we derive variational integrators for thermo-viscoelastic systems with classical heat transfer. Their results are compared for two discrete model problems vs. energy-entropy-momentum methods.

Dynamic Response of a Cracked Viscoelastic Anisotropic Plane Using Boundary Elements and Fractional Derivatives

The aim of this study is to develop an efficient numerical technique using the non-hypersingular, traction boundary integral equation method (BIEM) for solving wave propagation problems in an anisotropic, viscoelastic plane with cracks. The methodology can be extended from the macro-scale with certain modifications to the nano-scale. Furthermore, the proposed approach can be applied to any type of anisotropic material insofar as the BIEM formulation is based on the fundamental solution of the governing wave equation derived for the case of general anisotropy. The following examples are solved: (i) a straight crack in a viscoelastic orthotropic plane, and (ii) a blunt nano-crack inside a material of the same type. The mathematical modelling effort starts from linear fracture mechanics, and adds the fractional derivative concept for viscoelastic wave propagation, plus the surface elasticity model of M. E. Gurtin and A. I. Murdoch, which leads to nonclassical boundary conditions at the nano-scale. Conditions of plane strain are assumed to hold. Following verification of the numerical scheme through comparison studies, further numerical simulations serve to investigate the dependence of the stress intensity factor (SIF) and of the stress concentration factor (SCF) that develop in a cracked inhomogeneous plane on (i) the degree of anisotropy, (ii) the presence of viscoelasticity, (iii) the size effect with the associated surface elasticity phenomena, and (iv) finally the type of the dynamic disturbance propagating through the bulk material.