Interfacial Confinement in Semi-Crystalline Shape Memory Polymer Towards Sequentially Dynamic Relaxations

Sequential glass and melting transitions in semi-crystalline shape memory polymers (SMPs) provide great opportunities to design and generate multiple shape-memory effects (SMEs) for practical applications. However, the complexly dynamic confinements of coexisting amorphous and crystalline phases within the semi-crystalline SMPs are yet fully understood. In this study, an interfacial confinement model is formulated to describe dynamic relaxation and shape memory behavior in the semi-crystalline SMPs undergoing sequential phase/state transitions. A confinement entropy model is first established to describe the glass transition behavior of amorphous phase within the SMPs based on the free volume theory, where the free volume is critically confined by the crystalline phase. An extended Avrami model is then formulated using the frozen volume theory to characterize the melting and crystallization transitions of the crystalline phase in the SMPs, whose interfacial confinement with the amorphous phase has been identified as the driving force for the supercooled regime. Furthermore, an extended Maxwell model is formulated to describe the effect of dynamic confinement of two phases on the multiple SMEs and shape recovery behaviors in the semi-crystalline SMPs. Finally, the effectiveness of the newly proposed model is verified using the experimental data reported in the literature. This study aims to provide a new methodology for the dynamic confinements and cooperative principles in the semi-crystalline SMP towards multiple SMEs.

Laboratory for Validation of Rolling-Resistance Models

In this paper, a versatile drum setup for measuring rolling resistance of small wheels is presented. The purpose is to provide a flexible setup for testing of models for rolling resistance under controlled circumstances. To demonstrate this, measurements of rolling resistance with a series of sandpapers of different grit sizes representing surface textures were carried out. The measurements show a clear increase in the rolling-resistance coefficient with increasing surface roughness, rolling speed and load. Numerical calculations in the time domain for a visco-elastic contact model run on equivalent surfaces agree with the trends found experimentally. We conclude that this approach to simplifying the experiment in order to obtain a high degree of control, accuracy and repeatability is useful for validating and testing models for calculating the rolling resistance for a given surface texture.

Elastic Bottom Effects on Ocean Water Wave Scattering by a Composite Caisson-Type Breakwater Placed Upon a Rock Foundation in a Two-Layer Fluid

The association of oblique surface gravity waves with a caisson-type multi-chamber porous breakwater fitted with a perforated front wall in a two-layer fluid is studied in finite ocean depth with an elastic bottom. This study focuses on the influence of porous parameters of the interface-piercing structure on wave attenuation in surface and interfacial modes. The flexural gravity wave motion establishes the influence of the elastic bottom. The reflection coefficients for waves in both modes are evaluated to show their effects on the free surface and interface elevations and the waveloads. Consequently, the appropriateness of various configurations of the structure on the wave scattering is studied. Due to wave dissipation by the structure, less waveload is detected on the stiff wall and less elevation is noticed in the porous zone. The structure’s multi-chamber division allows it to have more dissipative and reflective properties. Adjustment of the structure’s height, breadth, and porous parameter leads to achieving good amount of wave reflection and maximum energy dissipation. An optimal width can be determined for a suitable configuration of the structure so that a breakwater can be built with an acceptable level of reflection and dissipation characteristics. The shear force and bottom deflection show how elastic parameters of the sea-floor affect wave scattering.

Rigid-Flexible Coupled Dynamics and PD-Robust Control Design for the Spacecraft with Rotating Solar Panels

The dynamical model for the spacecraft with multiple solar panels and the cooperative controller for such spacecraft are studied in this paper. The spacecraft consists of a rigid platform and two groups of flexible solar panels, where solar panels could be driven to rotate by the connecting shaft. The flexible solar panel involves the use of the orthogonal polynomial in two directions to describe its elastic deformation. By using the Rayleigh–Ritz method, the characteristic equation is derived to obtain natural frequencies and modal shapes of the whole spacecraft. Then the discrete rigid-flexible coupled dynamical equation of the spacecraft is obtained by using the Hamiltonian principle. The equation involves the coupling of the attitude maneuver, solar panels’ driving and vibration suppression. These dynamical behaviors are addressed by the rigid-flexible coupled mode for the first time in this paper. Based on the dynamical equation, the cooperative control scheme is designed by combing the proportional-differential and robust control method. Numerical results show the accuracy of the present modelling method and the validation of the control strategy. The modal analysis implies the complex rigid-flexible coupled characteristic between the central platform and flexible solar panels. The proposed control scheme can maintain the attitude stability while solar panels are being driven, as well as the vibration suppression of flexible solar panels.

The Improved Interpolating Dimension Splitting Element-Free Galerkin Method for 3D Potential Problems

This paper proposes the improved interpolating dimension splitting element-free Galerkin (IIDSEFG) method based on the nonsingular weight function for three-dimensional (3D) potential problems. The core of the IIDSEFG method is to transform the 3D problem domain into a series of two-dimensional (2D) problem subdomains along the splitting direction. For the 2D problems on these 2D subdomains, the shape function is constructed by the improved interpolating moving least-squares (IIMLS) method based on the nonsingular weight function, and the finite difference method (FDM) is used to couple the discretized equations in the direction of splitting. Finally, the calculation formula of the IIDSEFG method for a 3D potential problem is derived. Compared with the improved element-free Galerkin (IEFG) method, the advantages of the IIDSEFG method are that the shape function has few undetermined coefficients and the essential boundary conditions can be executed directly. The results of the selected numerical examples are compared by the IIDSEFG method, IEFG method and analytical solution. These numerical examples illustrate that the IIDSEFG method is effective to solve 3D potential problems. The computational accuracy and efficiency of the IIDSEFG method are better than the IEFG method.

Nonlinear Deformation and Numerical Post-Buckling Analysis of Plate Structures Using the Assumed Natural Strain Concept

In this study, an efficient triangular element for the fast nonlinear analysis of moderately thick Mindlin–Reissner plates is proposed. The element is formulated using a newly developed method, which is based on the assumed natural strain concept, and called Continuously Variable Strain (CVS). The continuous higher-order strain field is proposed by using the fundamental lemma of the variational calculus. Furthermore, the updated Lagrangian tensor together with rigid body terms is employed allowing for large deformations. The proposed element (CVST10), which is obtained by minimizing the total potential energy, has only 10 degrees of freedom and demonstrates high-efficiency and fast convergence rate in analysis of problems with coarse and distorted meshes. The arc-length iterative technique is applied to handle the geometrically post-buckling behavior of homogeneous plates under various load and boundary conditions. Various numerical examples prove the accuracy of the proposed element.

Transient Response of a Hollow Functionally Graded Piezoelectric Cylinder Subjected to Coupled Hygrothermal Loading

In this paper, transient response of a simply supported finite length hollow cylinder made of functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) subjected to coupled hygrothermal loading was investigated. The coupled equations of heat conduction and moisture diffusion as well as motion equations and the electrostatic equation of FGPM were solved employing the Fourier series expansion method through the longitudinal direction, the differential quadrature method (DQM) along the radius and Newmark method for time domain. Finally, the distribution of temperature, humidity, electric potential, stresses and displacements was achieved. The effect of coupled and uncoupled hygrothermal loading, grading index and hygrothermal loading was illustrated in the numerical examples. The results show that using the coupled model is vital for analysis of transient response of the cylinder subjected to hygrothermal loading.

Study on the Seepage Force-Induced Stress and Poroelastic Stress by Flow Through Porous Media Around a Vertical Wellbore

Fluid flowing through reservoir pores not only generates poroelastic stress but also exerts seepage force on rock skeleton. However, the mechanism of seepage force is not clear. Traditional methods of analyzing wellbore stability and hydraulic fracture initiation are mainly focused on the poroelastic stress without the effects of seepage force. Based on the linear elasticity and consolidation theory, this paper analyzed the mechanism of seepage force and poroelastic stress, and presented an analytical solution for seepage force-induced stress around a vertical wellbore. It also introduced how to calculate poroelastic stress by exerting hypothetical body force and surface force. Through comparison and superposition of stress fields, this paper studied the change characteristics of the poroelastic and seepage force-induced stress under different borehole pressures and the effects of seepage force on the wellbore tensile failure. Numerical simulation results show that when fluid flows through the rock, using traditional models without considering, the effect of seepage force to calculate the borehole pressure-induced stress will result in lower calculation results. Compared with the traditional model, seepage force-induced circumferential tensile stress is larger, and the seepage force significantly reduces the formation breakdown pressure. Rocks near the borehole wall with lower permeability and larger Poisson’s ratio have a greater action of seepage force. When fluid flows through the reservoir, the effects of seepage forces cannot be ignored in the analysis of hydraulic fracturing and wellbore stability.