Topology optimization for crashworthiness of thin-walled structures under axial crash considering nonlinear plastic buckling and locations of plastic hinges

Although topology optimization is established for linear static problems, more effort is required for solving nonlinear plastic problems. A new topology optimization approach with equivalent static loads (ESLs) is suggested to find the optimum topologies and locations of plastic hinges of thin-walled crash boxes by considering crash-induced deformation, the main crash energy-absorbing mechanism. Together with finite element method crashworthiness analyses, considering all nonlinearities with rate-dependent plasticity, the method was developed using an appropriate time-incremental scheme of ESLs without removing any high values of loads. Analyses show that the crash boxes with optimum topologies have energy-absorbing capabilities equivalent to the original structure. The proposed method is evaluated for two crashes: a crash box at low speed and a double cell subjected to high-speed collision. The results indicate that this method captures nonlinear crushing behaviours and accurate locations of plastic hinges where, if proper reinforcements are made, energy absorption can be enhanced.     

Ballistic behavior of plain and reinforced concrete slabs under high velocity impact

This work presents a numerical simulation of ballistic penetration and high velocity impact behavior of plain and reinforced concrete slabs. In this paper, we focus on the comparison of the performance of the plain and reinforced concrete slabs of unconfined compressive strength 41 MPa under ballistic impact. The concrete slab has dimensions of 675 mm × 675 mm × 200 mm, and is meshed with 8-node hexahedron solid elements in the impact and outer zones. The ogive-nosed projectile is considered as rigid element that has a mass of 0.386 kg and a length of 152 mm. The applied velocities vary between 540 and 731 m/s. 6 mm of steel reinforcement bars were used in the reinforced concrete slabs. The constitutive material modeling of the concrete and steel reinforcement bars was performed using the Johnson-Holmquist-2 damage and the Johnson-Cook plasticity material models, respectively. The analysis was conducted using the commercial finite element package Abaqus/Explicit. Damage diameters and residual velocities obtained by the numerical model were compared with the experimental results and effect of steel reinforcement and projectile diameter were studies. The validation showed good agreement between the numerical and experimental results. The added steel reinforcements to the concrete samples were found efficient in terms of ballistic resistance comparing to the plain concrete sample.     

Experimentelle und analytische Untersuchung des out‐of‐plane‐Verhaltens von unbewehrten Mauerwerkswänden unter Erdbebenbelastung

Experimental and analytical investigation of the seismic out‐of‐plane behavior of unreinforced masonry walls In addition to the vertical and horizontal load‐bearing in‐plane, masonry must also withstand out‐of‐plane loads that occur in earthquake scenarios. The out‐of‐plane behavior of unreinforced masonry walls depends on a variety of parameters and is very complex due to the strong non‐linearity. Current design methods in German codes and various international codes have not been explicitly developed for out‐of‐plane behavior and contain considerable conservatism. In the present work, shaking‐table experiments with heat‐insulating masonry walls have been conducted to investigate the out‐of‐plane behavior of vertical spanning unreinforced masonry walls. As shown in previous numerical investigations, important parameters are neglected in existing design and analysis models and the out‐of‐plane capacity is underestimated significantly. In the conducted experiments the results of these numerical investigations are verified. Furthermore, the development of an analytical design model to determine the force‐displacement relationship and the out‐of‐plane load‐bearing capacity considering all significant parameters is presented.     

The potential of energy flexibility of space heating and cooling in Portugal

This study assesses the potential of energy flexibility of space heating and cooling for a typical household under different geographical conditions in Portugal. The proposed approach modifies the demand through the optimization of the thermostat settings using a genetic algorithm to reduce either operational costs or interaction with the grid. The results show that the used energy flexibility indicator expresses the available potential and that flexibility depends on several factors, namely: i) thermal inertia of the archetypical household; ii) the time of use electricity tariffs; iii) users’ comfort boundaries; and iv) the geographical location of the houses.     

冲击载荷下TC18钛合金力学性能模拟研究

TC18钛合金在退火状态下的屈服强度非常高,进行动态力学性能测试存在一定困难,可优先考虑采用数值模拟方法对其动态力学性能进行研究,而数值模拟结果的精确性主要取决于合金本构方程的精确性。为了减少数值模拟与实验结果之间的差异,在Johnson-Cook模型的基础上做了调整,利用ABAQUS软件的子程序接口自定义了材料本构子程序UMAT,以代码的形式来扩展ABAQUS程序的功能。通过与ABAQUS/Standard软件分析结果以及实验结果的对比,验证了自定义材料本构子程序UMAT计算结果的精确性与可靠性。该研究可为TC18钛合金的结构设计提供参考。     

Environmental contours for circular‐linear variables based on the direct sampling method

Environmental contours are often used in the design of engineering structures to identify extreme environmental conditions that may give rise to extreme loads and responses. The perhaps most common application of environmental contours is for wave climate variables such as significant wave height and wave period. However, for the design of wind energy installations, the joint distribution of wind speed and wind direction may be equally important. In this case, joint modelling of linear (wind speed) and circular (wind direction) variables are needed, and methods for establishing environmental contours for circular‐linear variables will be required. In this paper, different ways of establishing environmental contours for circular‐linear variables will be presented and applied to a joint distribution model for wind speed and wind direction. In particular, the direct sampling approach to environmental contours will be modified to the case where one of the variables is cyclic. In addition, contours based on exceedance planes in polar coordinates will be established, and circular‐linear contours will also be calculated based on the inverse FORM (I‐FORM) approach.     

Die Sturzflut von Braunsbach – Ingenieuranalyse der Gebäudeschäden

The flash flood of Braunsbach – engineering analysis of the building damage At the end of May to the beginning of June, a series of extreme rainfall events occurred in the southern part of Germany, which triggered some severe flash floods with significant building damage in the affected municipalities. The devastating flash flood of May 29, 2016 in Braunsbach in the district Schwäbisch Hall in Baden‐Württemberg caused heavy structural damage to some of the approximately 130 affected buildings. The paper gives an overview of the building damages documented immediately after the event. The damages cases were classified and assessed using the evaluation system of the EDAC‐flood damage model developed at the Earthquake Damage Analysis Center (EDAC) of the Bauhaus‐Universität Weimar. The analysis illustrates the particularities of the damage patterns due to flash floods compared to conventional river floods.     

等离子熔覆NiCr-Cr3C2复合涂层摩擦磨损性能的研究

目的研究碳化铬含量及磨损载荷力对复合涂层摩擦磨损性能的影响,探究不同磨损载荷下的磨损机制。方法采用5种Ni55和NiCr-Cr_3C_2的混合粉末(Ni Cr-Cr_3C_2质量分数分别为10%、20%、30%、40%、50%),通过等离子熔覆技术制备金属基复合涂层。采用XRD、SEM对涂层物相进行检测分析,使用Rtec万能摩擦磨损试验机对复合涂层表面进行不同载荷下的摩擦磨损性能测试。对涂层组织、摩擦系数、磨损体积及磨损表面微观形貌进行对比分析,探究碳化铬的含量以及摩擦载荷对复合涂层摩擦磨损性能的影响。结果 NiCr-Cr_3C_2在熔覆过程中发生熔化,XRD测得涂层中的碳化物主要以Cr_7C_3为主,其他主要物相包括Cr_3C_2、Cr_(23)C_6、Cr_5B_3、Ni_3Si。复合涂层的硬度及耐磨性能随着碳化铬含量的增加而增大,硬度最高达1500HV以上,耐磨性是基体Q235的2～16倍。当磨损载荷低于80 N时,主要发生磨粒磨损;当磨损载荷为100 N时,主要发生粘着磨损和磨粒磨损,其中S5的磨损机制为疲劳磨损和磨粒磨损。结论加入碳化铬,随着碳化铬含量增加,复合涂层的耐磨性不断提高,并且随着磨损载荷的增大,涂层磨损机制发生转变。     

A new direct version of the Cook-Mayne method for wind pressure probabilities in temperate storms

The original Cook-Mayne (CM) method for obtaining a wind pressure or load of a prescribed probability is reviewed. A new direct calculation method is introduced. This does not require either Monte Carlo simulations or the assumption that extreme pressures conform to the ultimate Fisher-Tippett Type I asymptote. The required value is calculated directly with no intermediate stages. The new method still relies on the original assumptions that both the pressure coefficient and the wind dynamic head have extremes which conform to the ultimate FT1 asymptote.Violation of these two assumptions is studied in some cases where calculations based on these assumptions are compared with exact results. The direct CM method is found to retain accuracy in spite of departures from the assumptions and therefore can provide a robust design tool.