Inverse identification of a bearing-stress-interface-slip relationship in mechanically fastened FRP laminates

The use of mechanically-fastened fibre-reinforced polymer (MF-FRP) strips has been recently proposed as a possible alternative solution to the most common externally-bonded (EB) sheets and laminates. Although several applications of MF-FRP strengthening on reinforced concrete (RC) structures are already available, further experimental and theoretical studies are needed for both achieving a thorough knowledge of their mechanical behaviour and formulating sound design rules.     

An experimental investigation of the properties of cross-ply laminate used for manufacturing of small aircraft components

This paper discusses the observations and results from an experimental investigation of cross ply laminates used to construct major structural components of a small aircraft manufactured in Australia. The static and fatigue experimental results are compared with established models in composites analysis and with the available data in composite databases. An analysis was done to statistically quantify any deviation of actual properties from the calculated values and investigate the differences in designed and actual capacities/operational life of the components made using this laminates.     

Computational and experimental crash analysis of the road safety barrier

The paper describes the computational analysis and experimental crash tests of a new road safety barrier. The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate a full-scale computational model of the road safety barrier for use in crash simulations and to further compare the computational results with real crash test data. The impact severity and stiffness of the new design have been evaluated with the dynamic nonlinear elasto-plastic analysis of the three-dimensional road safety barrier within the framework of the finite element method with LS-DYNA code. Comparison of computational and experimental results proved the correctness of the computational model. The tests have also shown that the new safety barrier assures controllable crash energy absorption which in turn increases the safety of vehicle occupants.     

Computational and experimental investigation of delamination in L-shaped laminated composite components

Formation of initial delaminations and growth of existing delaminations in L-shaped laminates made of plies of a unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced epoxy resin is investigated computationally and experimentally. For this purpose an experimental test is designed which allows to realize load states for which delamination is the dominant failure mechanism. Two types of test specimens, with and without initial delaminations, are investigated and good agreement is obtained between the computational predictions and the experimental results concerning delamination emergence, delamination growth, growth stability, the structural response, and the maximum principal strains.     

中柱失效工况下方钢管混凝土柱-组合梁框架抗连续倒塌性能理论与试验研究

为研究中柱失效工况下方钢管混凝土柱-组合梁抗倒塌性能,基于对方钢管混凝土柱-组合梁的抗力机制及抗倒塌性能影响因素的分析,建立了方钢管混凝土柱-组合梁抗倒塌分析模型,该模型考虑了梁端柱的约束作用、正负弯矩作用下组合梁弯曲刚度的差异以及楼板与钢梁之间黏结滑移效应等影响因素,并对模型的抗力-变形计算公式进行了推导;设计了一榀2跨1/3缩尺的方钢管混凝土柱-组合梁框架试件并进行静力加载试验,分析了中柱失效后剩余结构的破坏模式、荷载传递机理以及主要的抗力机制。试验结果表明,倒塌过程中结构的抗力经历了从梁机制到悬链线机制的转化,其中压拱机制和悬链线机制可以有效提高结构的倒塌承载能力。最后基于理论与试验结果的对比分析,提出了理论公式的修正方法。     

An experimental and finite element investigation into the energy absorption characteristics of a steering wheel armature in an impact

Understanding the energy absorption characteristics of automotive components is necessary for the development of safe and crashworthy vehicles. This research experimentally and numerically studies the energy absorption performance of a steering wheel armature in contact with a deformable chestform (bodyform) during a collision. Variations in the location of impact on the armature, armature orientation, and chestform impact velocity are considered to investigate how these factors affect the energy absorption characteristics of the two contacting entities. By implementing standardized testing procedures (under experimental and numerical testing methods) steering wheel armature design can be evaluated and improved on in the design stage of steering wheels. Comparisons between experimental and finite element analysis testing methods were conducted and correlated using load versus displacement profiles over the duration of impact. A good relationship between the two methods was found which allows for investigation into the energy analysis of the armature and the chestform. Experimental methods do not provide a method of determining the energy absorbed by any single entity in this “deformable to deformable” contact. The energy absorbed by both structures can be experimentally determined, however, this does not provide engineers and steering wheel designers with specific information regarding the safe design of just the steering wheel armature. Numerical simulations do provide a means of quantifying the energy absorbed by specific structures in the analysis and do significantly help in isolating the energy absorption characteristics of the steering wheel armature. The results of this research show that the steering wheel armature is responsible for the majority of energy absorbed by the impact. In addition, the percentage of energy absorbed by the armature is not significantly dependent upon the location of impact and the impact velocity.     

On the response of thin-walled CFRP composite tubular components subjected to static and dynamic axial compressive loading: experimental

In this work the crushing response and crashworthiness characteristics of thin-wall square FRP (fibre reinforced plastic) tubes that were impact tested at high compressive strain rate are compared to the response of the same tubes in static axial compressive loading. The material combination of the tested specimens was carbon fibres in the form of reinforcing woven fabric in epoxy resin, and the tested tubes were constructed trying three different laminate stacking sequences and fibre volume contents on approximately the same square cross-section. Comparison of the static and dynamic crushing characteristics is made by examining the collapse modes, the shape of the load–displacement curves, the peak and average compressive load and the absorbed amount of crushing energy in both loading cases. In addition, the influence of the tube geometry (axial length, aspect ratio and wall thickness), the laminate material properties-such as the fibre volume content and stacking sequence-and the compressive strain rate on the compressive response, the collapse modes, the size of the peak load and the energy absorbing capability of the thin-wall tubes is extensively analysed.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of mixed‐mode fracture parameters on silicon nitride using the Brazilian disc test

Engineering applications of ceramics can often involve mixed‐mode conditions involving both tensile and shear loading. Mixed‐mode fracture toughness parameters are evaluated for applicability to ceramics using the Brazilian disc test on silicon nitride. Semi‐elliptical centrally located surface flaws are induced on the disc specimens using Vickers indentation and compression loaded to fracture with varying levels of mode mixity. The disc specimens are modelled via 3D finite element analysis and all three modes of stress intensity factors computed along the crack front, at failure load. We present a numerical and experimental investigation of four widely used mixed‐mode fracture criteria and conclude that the critical strain energy release rate criterion is simple to implement and effective for silicon nitride under mixed‐mode conditions.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of the strength of corrugated board packages

The buckling behaviour of corrugated paper packages was studied by means of an experimental and theoretical analysis. Mechanical behaviour of paperboard was first evaluated experimentally, then a local geometry FEM model, able to reproduce with a very good accuracy buckling loads obtained experimentally in the standard edge compression test, was developed. In order to investigate the buckling of a complete package, a finite element ‘corrugated board’ was introduced by means of a dedicated homogenization procedure. The FEM model of the package, assembled with this new element, can accurately predict the experimental data of incipient buckling observed during the standard box compression test, despite the few degrees of freedom and the minimal computational effort. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the relation between the mode I fracture toughness of a composite laminate and that of a 0° ply: Analytical model and experimental validation

This paper proposes a simple model to predict the fracture toughness of multidirectional carbon–epoxy composite laminates using the fracture toughness of the 0° ply. The model is based on a combination of Linear-Elastic Fracture Mechanics and lamination theory, and uses as material properties the ply elastic properties and the fracture toughness of the 0° ply measured in compact tension test specimens. A good correlation is obtained by comparing the model predictions and experimental data obtained in center-cracked specimens manufactured using different lay-ups and materials.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of the effect of temperature on mixed‐mode fracture behaviour of AM60 Mg alloy

The aim of present paper is to experimentally investigate mixed‐mode fracture behaviour of AM60 Mg alloy at low and elevated temperatures. For this purpose, mode I, 45° mixed‐mode, and mode II tests were conducted using a modified version of Arcan device at three different temperatures. An elastic‐plastic finite element model was used to extract necessary geometric parameters. Crack resistance curves (J‐R) and critical J‐integral of the material were extracted. The results indicated that, for all loading modes, maximum critical J‐integral value was observed at ambient temperature and decreased by either increasing or decreasing the temperature. It was observed that effect of temperature on fracture behaviour is much larger at temperatures above 0°C rather than sub‐zero temperatures. By changing the loading angle to go from mode I to mode II, a decreasing trend was observed in the values of critical fracture parameters at all temperatures. Finally, the surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Estimating the spatial distribution of power outages during hurricanes in the Gulf coast region

Hurricanes have caused severe damage to the electric power system throughout the Gulf coast region of the US, and electric power is critical to post-hurricane disaster response as well as to long-term recovery for impacted areas. Managing power outage risk and preparing for post-storm recovery efforts requires accurate methods for estimating the number and location of power outages. This paper builds on past work on statistical power outage estimation models to develop, test, and demonstrate a statistical power outage risk estimation model for the Gulf Coast region of the US. Previous work used binary hurricane-indicator variables representing particular hurricanes in order to achieve a good fit to the past data. To use these models for predicting power outages during future hurricanes, one must implicitly assume that an approaching hurricane is similar to the average of the past hurricanes. The model developed in this paper replaces these indicator variables with physically measurable variables, enabling future predictions to be based on only well-understood characteristics of hurricanes. The models were developed using data about power outages during nine hurricanes in three states served by a large, investor-owned utility company in the Gulf Coast region.     

Investigation the effects of different heat inputs supplied to the generator on the energy performance in diffusion absorption refrigeration systems

This study aims to investigate experimentally the effects of three different heat inputs supplied to generator on the energy performance of the diffusion absorption refrigeration system. To achieve this goal, a conventional diffusion absorption refrigeration system, in which electrical resistance as heat input is employed, is taken a model, which is experimentally scrutinized under different heat inputs, 62, 80 and 115 W, but at the same ambient temperatures and the same filling rate of three-component working fluid. In the analyses, the energy losses rejected to ambient from rectifier, condenser, absorber, solution heat exchanger as well as other components such as solution tank and pipes, the energy gain by evaporator and also energy performance is investigated. While the highest energy performance is calculated for DAR-62 W system as 0.36, the lowest energy performance is calculated for DAR-115 W system as 0.30.     

An investigation on the impact fatigue characteristics of valve leaves for small hermetic reciprocating compressors in a new automated test system

This paper presents an investigation on the impact fatigue characteristics of valve leaves that are prevalently used in hermetic reciprocating compressors especially for the household type refrigerators. A unique automated impact fatigue test system has been designed and produced, which enables to carry out impact fatigue tests of the compressor valve leaves under the desired impact velocities. The test system incorporates a noncontact actuation, a data acquisition system and an acoustic‐based damage detection technique, which continuously monitors the health of the structure. The damage detection system allows parametrical investigation on the impact fatigue life by detecting any possible damage and automatically terminating the test. The investigation relates the impact fatigue lifetime of the valve leaves with the impact velocity, asymmetrical impact, operation temperature, material type (carbon strip steel, stainless strip steel and new stainless strip steel grade) and tumbling operation duration. The observations show that the cracks have initiated from the edges of the valve leaf where is in contact with the valve plate. Subsequently, the cracks initially have propagated in the radial direction inwards the center of the impact area. Various failure cases have been resulted in by either a single crack or inter‐related multiple cracks. Microscopic and metallographic observations have been performed on the specimens to enhance the understanding of the damage mechanisms. The investigation and introduced test system guide the design optimization of the valve leaves in terms of compressor performance due to the energy consumption and lifetime of the valve leaf.     

On the estimation of the size of a subgroup in industrial production: The test gate method

Even in high quality manufacturing, some units may exhibit deviations. Although such units are not actually nonconforming to usage requirements when sent to the field, the deviations may lead to a reduced lifetime. It is therefore imperative to estimate the number of units bearing such deviations for risk assessment. Standard sampling methods are inefficient for this purpose. As an efficient alternative, we suggest the test gate method. The method is demonstrated on two practical examples and we provide an empirical model with stochastic extensions. We discuss the test gate method and customary alternatives, in particular control sampling.