CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PRE-TWISTED THICK BEAMS USING VARIATIONAL ASYMPTOTIC METHOD

An asymptotically-exact methodology is presented for obtaining the cross-sectional stiffness matrix of a pre-twisted moderately-thick beam having rectangular cross sections and made of transversely isotropic materials. The anisotropic beam is modeled from 3-D elasticity, without any further assumptions. The beam is allowed to have large displacements and rotations, but small strain is assumed. The strain energy of the beam is computed making use of the constitutive law and the kinematical relations derived with the inclusion of geometrical nonlinearities and initial twist. Large displacements and rotations are allowed, but small strain is assumed. The Variational Asymptotic Method is used to minimize the energy functional, thereby reducing the cross section to a point on the reference line with appropriate properties, yielding a 1-D constitutive law. In this method as applied herein, the 2-D cross-sectional analysis is performed asymptotically by taking advantage of a material small parameter and two geometric small parameters. 3-D strain components are derived using kinematics and arranged as orders of the small parameters. Warping functions are obtained by the minimization of strain energy subject to certain set of constraints that renders the 1-D strain measures well-defined. Closed-form expressions are derived for the 3-D non-linear warping and stress fields. The model is capable of predicting interlaminar and transverse shear stresses accurately up to first order.

Investigation of schemes for incorporating generator Q limits in the fast decoupled load flow method

Fast Decoupled Load Flow (FDLF) is a very popular and widely used power flow analysis method because of its simplicity and efficiency. Even though the basic FDLF algorithm is well investigated, the same is not true in the case of additional schemes/modifications required to obtain adjusted load flow solutions using the FDLF method. Handling generator Q limits is one such important feature needed in any practical load flow method. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of two classes of schemes intended to handle this aspect i.e. the bus type switching scheme and the sensitivity scheme. We propose two new sensitivity based schemes and assess their performance in comparison with the existing schemes. In addition, a new scheme to avoid the possibility of anomalous solutions encountered while using the conventional schemes is also proposed and evaluated. Results from extensive simulation studies are provided to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these existing and proposed schemes, especially from the point of view of reliability.

Learning-Based Fast Iterative Convergence of 3-D MoM via Eigen-AGMRES Method

Three-dimensional (3-D) full-wave electromagnetic simulation using method of moments (MoM) under the framework of fast solver algorithms like fast multipole method (FMM) is often bottlenecked by the speed of convergence of the Krylov-subspace-based iterative process. This is primarily because the electric field integral equation (EFIE) matrix, even with cutting-edge preconditioning techniques, often exhibits bad spectral properties arising from frequency or geometry-based ill-conditioning, which render iterative solvers slow to converge or stagnate occasionally. In this communication, a novel technique to expedite the convergence of MoMmatrix solution at a specific frequency is proposed, by extracting and applying Eigen-vectors from a previously solved neighboring frequency in an augmented generalized minimum residual (AGMRES) iterative framework. This technique can be applied in unison with any preconditioner. Numerical results demonstrate up to 40% speed-up in convergence using the proposed Eigen-AGMRES method.

Application of enthalpy method for moving boundary problem in laser surface melting

A numerical analysis was carried out to study the moving boundary problem in the physical process of pulsed Nd-YAG laser surface melting prior to vaporization. The enthalpy method was applied to solve this two-phase axisymmetrical melting problem Computational results of temperature fields were obtained, which provide useful information to practical laser treatment processing. The validity of enthalpy method in solving such problems is presented.

Material response and failure mechanism of unidirectional metal matrix composites under impulsive shear loading

The material response and failure mechanism of unidirectional metal matrix composite under impulsive shear loading are investigated in this paper. Both experimental and analytical studies were performed. The shear strength of unidirectional C-f/A356.0 composite and A356.0 aluminum alloy at high strain rate were measured with a modified split Hopkinson torsional bar technique. The results indicated that the carbon fibers did not improve the shear strength of aluminum matrix if the fiber orientation aligned with the shear loading axis. The microscopic inspection of the fractured surface showed a multi-scale zigzag feature which implied a complicated shear failure mechanism in the composite. In addition to testing, the micromechanical stress field in the composite was analyzed by the generalized Eshelby equivalent method (GEEM). The influence of cracking in matrix on the micromechanical stress field was investigated as well. The results showed that the stress distribution in the composite is quite nonhomogeneous and very high shear stress concentrations are found in some regions in the matrix. The high shear stress concentration in the matrix induces tensile cracking at 45 degrees to the shear direction. This in turn aggravates the stress concentration at the fiber/matrix interface and finally leads to a catastrophic failure in the composite. From the correlation between the analysis and experimental results, the shear failure mechanism of unidirectional C-f/A356.0 composite can be elucidated qualitatively.

Simulation of Free-Surface Flow in a Tank Using the Navier-Stokes Model and Unstructured Finite Volume Method

Modelling free-surface flow has very important applications in many engineering areas such as oil transportation and offshore structures. Current research focuses on the modelling of free surface flow in a tank by solving the Navier-Stokes equation. An unstructured finite volume method is used to discretize the governing equations. The free surface is tracked by dynamically adapting the mesh and making it always surface conforming. A mesh-smoothing scheme based on the spring analogy is also implemented to ensure mesh quality throughout the computaiton. Studies are performed on the sloshing response of a liquid in an elastic container subjected to various excitation frequencies. Further investigations are also carried out on the critical frequency that leads to large deformation of the tank walls. Another numerical simulation involves the free-surface flow past as submerged obstacle placed in the tank to show the flow separation and vortices. All these cases demonstrate the capability of this numerical method in modelling complicated practical problems.

Effects of Nanostructures on the Fracture Strength of the Interfaces in Nacre

A strengthening mechanism arising from a type of inorganic nanostructure in the organic matrix layers is presented by studying the structural and mechanical properties of the interfaces in nacre. This nanostructural mechanism not only averagely increases the fracture strength of the organic matrix interfaces by about 5 times, but also effectively arrests the cracks in the organic matrix layers and causes the crack deflection in this biomaterial. The present investigation shows that the main mechanism governing the strength of the organic matrix interfaces relies on the inorganic nanostructures rather than the organic matrix. This study provides a guide to the interfacial design of synthetic materials.

Formation of composite organic thin film transistors with nanotubes and nanowires

Plastic electronics is a rapidly expanding topic, much of which has been focused on organic semiconductors. However, it is also of interest to find viable ways to integrate nanomaterials, such as silicon nanowires (SiNWs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), into this technology. Here, we present methods of fabrication of composite devices incorporating such nanostructured materials into an organic matrix. We investigate the formation of polymer/CNT composites, for which we use the semiconducting polymer poly(3,3‴-dialkyl-quaterthiophene) (PQT). We also report a method of fabricating polymer/SiNW TFTs, whereby sparse arrays of parallel oriented SiNWs are initially prepared on silicon dioxide substrates from forests of as-grown gold-catalysed SiNWs. Subsequent ink-jet printing of PQT on these arrays produces a polymer/SiNW composite film. We also present the electrical characterization of all composite devices. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Onset of Adiabatic Shear Instability in Strain Gradient Dependent Metal Matrix Composites

In this paper, effect of strain gradient on adiabatic shear instability in particle reinforced metal matrix composites is investigated by making use of the strain gradient dependent constitutive equation developed by Dai et al. [9] and the linear perturbation analysis presented by Bai [10]. The results have shown that the onset of adiabatic shear instability in metal matrix composites reinforced with small particles is more prone to occur than in the composites reinforced with large particles. This means that the strain gradient provides a strong deriving force for onset of adiabatic shear instability in metal matrix composites.

Effect Of A Negative Poisson Ratio In The Tension Of Ceramics

The effect of a negative Poisson ratio is experimentally revealed in the tension deformation of a natural layered ceramic. This effect can increase the volume strain energy per unit volume by 1100% and, simultaneously, decrease the deformation strain energy per unit volume by about 44%, so that it effectively enhances the deformation capacity by about 1 order of magnitude in the tension of the material. The present study also shows that the physical mechanisms producing the effect are attributed to the climbing on one another of the nanostructures in the natural material, which provides a guide to the design of synthetic toughening composites.

A micromechanical model of influence of particle fracture and particle cluster on mechanical properties of metal matrix composites

A general analytical model for a composite with an isotropic matrix and two populations of spherical inclusions is proposed. The method is based on the second order moment of stress for evaluating the homogenised effective stress in the matrix and on the secant moduli concept for the plastic deformation. With Webull's statistical law for the strength of SiCp particles, the model can quantitatively predict the influence of particle fracture on the mechanical properties of PMMCs. Application of the proposed model to the particle cluster shows that the particle cluster has neglected influence on the strain and stress curves of the composite. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.