Nonlinear transient and thermal analysis of functionally graded shells using a seven-parameter shell finite element

In this paper the thermo-mechanical response of functionally graded plates and shells is studied using a continuum shell finite element model with high-order spectral/hp basis functions. The shell element is based on the seven-parameter first-order shear deformation theory, and it does not utilize reduced integration or stabilization ideas and yet exhibits no locking. The static and dynamic response of functionally graded shells, with power-law variation of the constituents, under mechanical and thermal loads is investigated by varying the volume fraction of the constituents. Numerical results for deflections and stresses are presented and compared with available analytical and finite element results from the literature. The performance of the shell element for transient thermal problems is found to be excellent.

Unsteady Boundary Layer Flow and Convective Heat Transfer of a Fluid Particle Suspension with Nanoparticles over a Stretching Surface

We analyzed the effects of Biot number and non-uniform heat source/sink on boundary layer flow and nonlinear radiative heat transfer of fluid particle suspension over an unsteady stretching surface embedded in a porous medium with nanoparticles. We considered conducting dust particles embedded with -water nanopartcles. The governing equations are transformed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using local similarity transformations and solved numerically using Runge–Kutta-Fehlberg-45 order method along with shooting technique. The effects of non-dimensional parameters on velocity and temperature profiles for fluid phase and dust phase are discussed and presented through graphs. Also, friction factor and Nusselt number are discussed and presented through graphs. Comparisons of the present study were made with existing studies under some special assumptions. The present results have an excellent agreement with existing studies. Results indicated that the enhancement in fluid particle interaction parameter increases the heat transfer rate and depreciates the wall friction. Also, radiation parameter has the tendency to increase the temperature profiles of the dusty nanofluid.

Eringen’s small length scale coefficient for vibration of axially loaded nonlocal Euler beams with elastic end restraints

This paper presents the calibration of Eringen’s small length scale coefficient

Analysis of mechanical properties in bending processes and optimal design of simple tape spring

Tape spring is straight, thin-walled, elastic strip with curved cross-section, which can replace traditional hinges by allowing for folding elastically and unfolded releasing stored energy with fewer component parts. This work is devoted to the properties of the folding and deployment of simple tape spring by numerical simulation and experiment method. Firstly, the folding process of tape spring is experimentally investigated using a specially designed test rig and verified by using nonlinear finite element ABAQUS/Standard solver. Then the moment-rotation relationships for symmetric bending are studied, the effects of subtended angle of section, total tape spring length, thickness and cross section radius on the performance of tape spring are investigated. Furthermore, the optimal model of tape spring structure design is established based on the response surface methodology (RSM) and parameter’s effective analysis, which aims at maximum strain energy during the tape-spring hinge deployment and subjects to allowable stress of tape spring. And the interior point algorithm is used to solve the optimal model. The optimal results are of great importance to the design of novel deployable structures with high stability, reliability and lightweight.

A review on energy harvesting from ocean waves by piezoelectric technology

Piezoelectric materials have been widely used to harvest energy from ocean waves. This review is to introduce and review the development of the technologies. First, from comparison of the three major energy conversion techniques namely electrostatic, electromagnetic and piezoelectric technologies, in terms of power generation capability, transmission efficiency, and structural installation and economic costs, the advantages of applying piezoelectric energy conversion technology are identified. Second, the review sums up different methodologies and designs of harvesting energy from ocean waves based on different piezoelectric effects. In particular, the designs and efficiencies of available harvesters based on the piezoelectric effects from longitudinal, bending, and shear couplings are introduced and discussed. Finally, the futuristic research directions and methods for improving the efficiencies of the piezoelectric harvesters are discussed profoundly in this area.

A Two-Dimensional Coarse-Grained Model for Molybdenum Disulphide

We parametrize a two-dimensional (2D) coarse-grained (CG) model of molybdenum disulphide (MoS