Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness of Grid-Mesh Films Made of Polyaniline: a Numerical Approach

The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of grid-mesh films made of polyaniline was numerically investigated, and the optimal size of the polyaniline grid was determined through numerical analyses. The permittivity of polyaniline was first determined from an inverse analysis based on experimental data. A series of numerical analyses were carried out with 225 polyaniline grid-mesh films of different thickness, spacing, and width, and the shielding effectiveness of every grid was examined. In addition to the numerical analysis, the transparency of the grid-mesh films and the amount of polyaniline material required to manufacture the unit grid area (1mx1m) were calculated. The optimal dimensions of the grid mesh were determined considering the following three factors: shielding effectiveness, transparency, and the required amount of polyaniline material.     

碳系电磁屏蔽高分子复合材料研究进展

碳系电磁屏蔽复合材料是屏蔽材料的重要分支。本文阐述了电磁屏蔽材料的屏蔽原理，主要介绍了碳系复合型电磁屏蔽材料的分类和研究进展，并分析了其未来的改善措施及发展重点。     

ITO防电磁辐射玻璃屏蔽性能研究

采用直流磁控溅射技术在玻璃基板上沉积ITO薄膜,通过调整基板温度、薄膜厚度得到了最低方阻1．4Ω／□,薄膜透光率超过76％。对样品在150KHz到18GHz频段内电磁屏蔽效能采用屏蔽室法进行测试,1G频率点得到的屏蔽效能最好,达到了54dB,在屏蔽困难的低频段,150KHz频率点的屏蔽效能迟到24dB。     

磁屏蔽效能的有限元分析

提出了磁屏蔽效能问题的三维有限元模型的建立方法,应用ANSYS软件得到磁屏蔽效能为28.78,并将结果绘制成曲线,使结果更加一目了然。为了检验计算结果是否符合实际情况,通过一种间接的方法对磁屏蔽效能进行测试。对比分析以上的计算结果和测试结果,可以得出结论:利用有限元法进行磁屏蔽效能计算,对直流传感器的磁屏蔽效能估算具有一定的指导意义。     

Computational prediction of the lifetime of self-healing CMC structures

Self-healing Ceramic-Matrix Composites (CMCs) are good candidates for structural applications at high temperatures in oxidizing environments. These materials generate complex couplings between the thermal and mechanical fields. A multiphysics macroscopic model of both the mechanical behavior and the lifetime of CMC structures was proposed previously and was validated on the material’s level. Here its effectiveness in dealing with structural calculations with heterogeneous fields is analyzed and a nonlocal fracture criterion is proposed for high-gradient cases. All the simulations were carried out using Abaqus/Standard. The main interest of the model is its ability to predict the evolution of each of the material’s mechanisms throughout the structure until final fracture. Another advantage is the ability to predict the fracture zone and the influence of indentations on the lifetime of the structure (damage tolerance analysis), both of which are very important for industrial developments.     

A novel modeling to predict the critical current behavior of Nb3Sn PIT strand under transverse load based on a scaling law and Finite Element Analysis

Superconducting Nb₃Sn Powder-In-Tube (PIT) strands could be used for the superconducting magnets of the next generation Large Hadron Collider. The strands are cabled into the typical flat Rutherford cable configuration. During the assembly of a magnet and its operation the strands experience not only longitudinal but also transverse load due to the pre-compression applied during the assembly and the Lorentz load felt when the magnets are energized. To properly design the magnets and guarantee their safe operation, mechanical load effects on the strand superconducting properties are studied extensively; particularly, many scaling laws based on tensile load experiments have been established to predict the critical current dependence on strain. However, the dependence of the superconducting properties on transverse load has not been extensively studied so far. One of the reasons is that transverse loading experiments are difficult to conduct due to the small diameter of the strand (about 1 mm) and the data currently available do not follow a common measurement standard making the comparison between different data sets difficult. Recently at the University of Geneva, a new device has been developed to characterize the critical current of Nb₃Sn strands under transverse loads. In this work we present a new 2D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to predict the electro-mechanical response of a PIT strand that was tested at the University of Geneva when transverse load is applied. The FEA provides the strain map for the superconducting filaments when the load is applied. Those strain maps are then used to evaluate the critical current behavior of a PIT strand using a recently developed scaling law that correlates the superconducting properties of a wire with the strain invariants due to the load applied on the superconductor. The benefits and limitations of this method are discussed based on the comparison between the critical current simulation results obtained with the filament strain map and the experimental results available for PIT strands.     

Electromagnetic interference shielding behavior of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) [PTT]/multiwalled carbon nanotube [MWCNT] composites having varying amounts of MWCNTs were fabricated with an aim to investigate the potential of such composites as an effective light weight electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material in the frequency range of 12.4-18 GHz (Ku-band). PTT/MWCNT composite with shielding effectiveness (SE) of 36-42 dB was obtained at 10% (w/w) MWCNT loading. Shielding mechanism was studied by resolving the total SE into absorption (SE_A) and reflection loss (SE_R). PTT/MWCNT composite showed absorption dominated shielding; thus it can be used as microwave, radar absorbing and stealth material. The effect of MWCNT loadings on electrical conductivity (σ) and dielectric properties of PTT and the correlation among conductivity, tan δ, absorption loss and reflection loss were also studied.     

A progressive fracture model for carbon nanotubes

An atomistic-based progressive fracture model for simulating the mechanical performance of carbon nanotubes by taking into account initial topological and vacancy defects is proposed. The concept of the model is based on the assumption that carbon nanotubes, when loaded, behave like space-frame structures. The finite element method is used to analyze the nanotube structure and the modified Morse interatomic potential to simulate the non-linear force field of the C–C bonds. The model has been applied to defected single-walled zigzag, armchair and chiral nanotubes subjected to axial tension. The defects considered were: 10% weakening of a single bond and one missing atom at the middle of the nanotube. The predicted fracture evolution, failure stresses and failure strains of the nanotubes correlate very well with molecular mechanics simulations from the literature.     

A fast method for the generation of boundary conditions for thermal autoclave simulation

Manufacturing process simulation enables the evaluation and improvement of autoclave mold concepts early in the design phase. To achieve a high part quality at low cycle times, the thermal behavior of the autoclave mold can be investigated by means of simulations. Most challenging for such a simulation is the generation of necessary boundary conditions. Heat-up and temperature distribution in an autoclave mold are governed by flow phenomena, tooling material and shape, position within the autoclave, and the chosen autoclave cycle. This paper identifies and summarizes the most important factors influencing mold heat-up and how they can be introduced into a thermal simulation. Thermal measurements are used to quantify the impact of the various parameters. Finally, the gained knowledge is applied to develop a semi-empirical approach for boundary condition estimation that enables a simple and fast thermal simulation of the autoclave curing process with reasonably high accuracy for tooling optimization.     

An Improved Concrete Damage Model for Impact Analysis of Concrete Structural Components by using Finite Element Method

This paper presents the development of an improved concrete damage model for projectile impact on concrete structural components. The improvement is in terms of reduction of input material parameters for nonlinear transient dynamic impact analysis by employing concrete damage model. The experimental data such as pressure vs volumetric strain, triaxial compression failure and pressure vs stress difference have been used for evaluation of the important parameters of concrete damage model. Various contact algorithms have been outlined briefly to model the interface between the projectile and target. The nonlinear explicit transient dynamic analysis has been carried out by using finite element method to compute the responses. It is observed that the computed penetration depth obtained in the present study is in good agreement with those values of corresponding experimental studies and LS-DYNA.     

Numerical investigation to prevent crack jumping in Double Cantilever Beam tests of multidirectional composite laminates

During the experimental characterization of the mode I interlaminar fracture toughness of multidirectional composite laminates, the crack tends to migrate from the propagation plane (crack jumping) or to grow asymmetrically, invalidating the tests.The aim of this study is to check the feasibility of defining the stacking sequence of Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) specimens so that these undesired effects do not occur, leading to meaningful onset and propagation data from the tests. Accordingly, a finite element model using cohesive elements for interlaminar delamination and an intralaminar ply failure criterion are exploited here to thoroughly investigate the effect of specimen stiffness and thermal residual stresses on crack jumping and asymmetric crack growth occurring in multidirectional DCB specimens.The results show that the higher the arm bending stiffness, the lower the tendency to crack jumping and the better the crack front symmetry. This analysis raises the prospect of defining a test campaign leading to meaningful fracture toughness results (onset and propagation data) in multidirectional laminates.     

A numerical and experimental investigation of AZ31 formability at elevated temperatures using a constant strain rate test

The research activity reported in the present paper aims to evaluate the Forming Limit Curves (FLC) of the Mg alloy AZ31 in warm conditions (200 °C) while keeping the equivalent strain rate constant. Specific tools to carry out such a formability test were designed and created: a flat punch (in line with Marciniak’s test) embedding a heating system was adopted in order to heat the central part of the specimen both rapidly and uniformly, where ruptures were forced due to the presence of a driving sheet between the specimen and the punch. A Digital Image Correlation system was also embedded in the formability equipment in order to acquire major and minor strains continuously and evaluate the moment and location of failures. Finite Element simulations were run in order to define punch speed profiles (which differ according to the geometry of the specimen) that were able to keep a constant equivalent strain rate in the region where ruptures were forced. Experimental tests implementing the punch speed profiles were carried out in order to obtain temperature, load and strain data. FLCs at two different strain rate levels (0.02 s⁻¹ and 0.002 s⁻¹) both confirmed and allowed us to quantify the noticeable strain rate effect of such an alloy on the FLC at a temperature of 200 °C. The proposed approach for FLC evaluation is effective for materials whose properties are strongly influenced by the strain rate. Such FLC data can be usefully implemented in numerical simulations of sheet metal forming processes: while tensile tests can be used to determine variations in mechanical behaviour according to the strain rate, the FLCs evaluated in this work allow us to determine the occurrence of strain path-dependent critical conditions according to the strain rate.     

Three dimensional elasticity solution for static and dynamic analysis of multi-directional functionally graded thick sector plates with general boundary conditions

In this study, the three dimensional static and dynamic behavior of a thick sector plate made of two-directional functionally graded materials (2D-FGMs) is investigated. Material properties are assumed to be graded in both radial and thickness directions according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The governing equations are based on the 3D theory of elasticity. Employing 3D graded finite element method (GFEM) based on the Hamilton’s principle and Rayleigh–Ritz energy method, the equations are solved in space and time domains. In the case of static analysis, the sector plate is subjected to a uniform pressure load and for dynamic analysis is subjected to an impact loading. The effects of material gradient index, boundary condition and thickness to radius ratio of the sector plate on the static and dynamic responses are presented and discussed.     

Blast response of metal composite laminate fuselage structures using finite element modelling

The aircraft fuselage is a complex structure with relatively low margins of safety, operating in a highly demanding dynamic environment. In the present work, the loading scenario of an on board explosion is investigated. The main scope is to assess the damage induced on an operating fuselage by an explosive charge. Finite element models of a typical commercial fuselage were generated for two material configurations, aluminium and GLARE. The simulation was performed in three stages; initialization phase, where the flight loads are applied on the structure, the blast phase and the final phase where the flight loads are applied on the damaged structure. Simulations were performed for different charge locations for both material configurations. The extent and location of damage allowed the generation of a vulnerability index.     

A Micromechanical Approach to Simulate Rubberlike Materials with Damage

A damage approach based on a material model with microstructural evolution is presented. In contrast to phenomenological constitutive laws, the material response is given by mechanisms at the microscale. At first, a micromechanical substructure is chosen, which represents the overall material behaviour. Then the system is described using a micromechanical model. A geometrical modification of the microstructure is allowed to minimize the total energy. Consequently, the global stiffness is reduced. In this context, thermodynamical considerations are based on configurational forces. With the help of the discussed approach, void growth phenomena of materials, which lead to softening behaviour, can be taken into account numerically. In this article, the influence of the microstructure in hyperelastic materials is investigated. Hereby, we discuss evolution methods for small and finite strain problems. Finally, the implementation of this damage approach in an explicit finite element solver is described in detail.     

Adaptive multi-scale modeling of high velocity impact on composite panels

A computationally efficient adaptive multi-scale methodology for modeling composites under high rates of loading is proposed. The physically based model relies on micromechanical properties of the constituents only. The adaptive algorithm switches between two different constitutive laws. Initially, the material response is calculated based on effective linear-elastic, orthotropic material properties at the ply scale which are calculated using the rule of mixtures. A modified Hashin–Rotem criterion is then used to identify the switch to a more accurate micromechanical analysis based on the generalized method of cells (GMC). The methodology is verified by simulating tensile tests on laminates with different stacking sequences. Finally the model validated against experimental data for high-velocity impact on quasi-isotropic composite targets taken from the literature in order to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed methodology.     

Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of RC Structures Incorporating Corrosion Effects

This paper presents the mathematical modeling techniques for nonlinear finite element analysis of RC structure to incorporate uniform corrosion effects. Effect of corrosion has been simulated as reduction in effective cross-sectional area of reinforcing bar, reduction in bonding phenomena and as reduction in material properties of reinforcing bar such as yield strength and elastic modulus. Appropriate constitutive laws for (i) corroded rebar elements and (ii) bond slip with corroded bar have been described. Procedure has been outlined to determine the global damage indicator by secant stiffness based approach. A corroded RC beam has been analysed to validate the proposed model and results have been compared with experimental response. A RC chimney has been analysed by considering the uniform corrosion effects. The result of corroded chimney shows the growth of damage with respect to increase in age of the structure. The results will give an insight for the maintenance and repair measures to be taken during the service life.     

A Computational Approach to Estimating a Lubricating Layer in Concrete Pumping

When concrete is being pumped, a lubricating layer forms at the interface of the inner concrete and the wall of the pipe. The lubricating layer is one of the most dominant factors in determining the pumping capability, yet no study has endeavored to quantitatively estimate the thickness and rheological properties of the layer. Recently, there has been a growing demand for large-scale construction under extreme conditions, such as high-rise buildings and super-long span bridges. This demand has heightened the need for more accurate predictions of pumpability.
A possible mechanism that contributes to the formation of the lubricating layer is shear-induced particle migration. That is, particles of suspension in the shear flow move from a region with a higher shear rate to a region with a lower shear rate. This study uses computational fluid dynamics to analyze the pipe flow of concrete under conditions of shear-induced particle migration. The analysis shows how the particle distribution as well as the plastic viscosity and yield stress vary throughout a particular cross section. The analysis results are used to estimate the thickness and rheological properties of the layer.     

Cyclic Softening Modeling with the Distribution of Non Linear Relaxation (Dnlr) Approach

Being of particular interest in this work, a complicated phenomenon related to cyclic softening of metallic polycrystals is modeled. As in the Waspaloy, this phenomenon can take place when a non-proportional tension-torsion cyclic loading of 90° out-of-phase is followed, after cyclic steady state, by a uniaxial one (tension-compression) with the same maximum equivalent plastic strain. By using the DNLR (Distribution of Non Linear Relaxation) model recently proposed by the authors describing the cyclic plasticity of metals, a new extension is here developed. It is recognized that such an extension can satisfactorily reproduce this softening phenomenon. It is noteworthy that this model describes such a phenomenon with a minimum number of material parameters in comparison with other phenomenological models. After calibration of the model parameters for the Waspaloy, the constitutive equations of the model are then implemented in a commercial finite element code to simulate the model response vis-à-vis a given structure made from the Waspaloy. Finally, it is found that the new extension as well as the finite element predictions give a fairly well accordance with the available experimental results.     

Bio-inspired hierarchical design of composite T-joints with improved structural properties

The biological principle of hierarchical (multi-scale level) design was used at the structural and laminate levels to design a novel carbon/epoxy T-joint with improved structural properties for potential use in light-weight aircraft structures. The bio-inspired structural modification mimics tree branch–trunk joints by embedding the stiffener flange into skin plies. This design concept results in increased fracture toughness due to crack branching and deflection. Simultaneously, bio-inspired ply angle optimisation was used to mimic the tailored arrangement of cellulose micro-fibrils observed in the wood cells contained within tree branch joints. The optimisation procedure minimises the interlaminar stress concentration in the T-joint radius bend and increases strength while maintaining similar global laminate stiffness properties. The hierarchical joint resulted in a significantly improved tensile strength compared to a conventionally designed T-joint. The new design additionally exhibited higher absorbed strain energy to failure load for bending and tension loading. Additionally, the hierarchical T-joint had a significantly reduced critical joint cross-sectional area (weight) due to the embedded design.