Determination and prediction of crack patterns in hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures

This paper presents a comparison between predicted and measured crack patterns developing in hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures during common fracture tests. A digital image correlation (DIC) System was applied to obtain displacement/strain fields and for detecting crack patterns. The resulting cracking behavior was predicted using a displacement discontinuity boundary element method to explicitly model the microstructure of HMA. The predicted fracture initiation and crack propagation patterns are consistent with observed cracking behavior. The results imply that fracture in mixtures can be modeled effectively using a micro-mechanical approach and that crack propagation patterns can be captured using the DIC System.     

Analysis of the flax fibres tensile behaviour and analysis of the tensile stiffness increase

The knowledge of the behaviour of flax fibres is of crucial importance for their use as a reinforcement for composites materials. Flax fibres were tested under tensile loading and in repeated loading–unloading experiments. We have shown that fibre stiffness increases with the strain.This phenomenon is attributed to the orientation of the fibrils with the axis of the fibre when a strain occurs. By using micro-mechanical equations, the Young's modulus of a flax fibre is estimated by taking into account the composition of the fibre and the evolution of the orientation of the fibrils during a tensile test. A good agreement is found between experimental and calculated results. The origin of the large spread observed in the mechanical characteristics is analysed here.     

大气下空气滑膜阻尼对微机械惯性传感器的影响

 设计并制作了一种可在大气下工作的栅结构电容式微机械加速度传感器,并对其空气滑膜阻尼特性进行了研究．测试结果表明该种结构机械品质因子Q值在大气压下能达到504．这种具有高Q值的栅形电容检测结构可以应用到微机械陀螺的检测模式,它无需真空封装,可以在大气环境下工作,且灵敏度提高．对陀螺原型的测试结构表明,其在大气下检测模态的Q值可以达到715。     

Load behaviour prediction under blackout conditions using a fuzzy expert system

This paper proposes a method to forecast load behaviour during restoration of power systems after total or partial blackouts. Load behaviour after blackouts can be anomalous and differ significantly from that during normal operation conditions. A heuristic top-down approach was adopted to develop the forecasting method, using an expert system based on linguistic variables and fuzzy logic rules as its central core. The approach addresses the main aspects of load behaviour during re-energisation and is capable of representing physical phenomena. The proposed methodology was tested with data from real electrical power substations and these test results are presented     

Micro-mechanical finite element analysis of Z-pins under mixed-mode loading

This paper presents a three-dimensional micro-mechanical finite element (FE) modelling strategy for predicting the mixed-mode response of single Z-pins inserted in a composite laminate. The modelling approach is based upon a versatile ply-level mesh, which takes into account the significant micro-mechanical features of Z-pinned laminates. The effect of post-cure cool down is also considered in the approach. The Z-pin/laminate interface is modelled by cohesive elements and frictional contact. The progressive failure of the Z-pin is simulated considering shear-driven internal splitting, accounted for using cohesive elements, and tensile fibre failure, modelled using the Weibull’s criterion. The simulation strategy is calibrated and validated via experimental tests performed on single carbon/BMI Z-pins inserted in quasi-isotropic laminate. The effects of the bonding and friction at the Z-pin/laminate interface and the internal Z-pin splitting are discussed. The primary aim is to develop a robust numerical tool and guidelines for designing Z-pins with optimal bridging behaviour.     

非热弹性马氏体相变的细观本构模型

为了更清楚地认识铁基合金经受非热弹性马氏体相变的本征特性,在细观尺度对非热弹性马氏体相变进行了研究.基于马氏体相变晶体学和内变量本构理论建立了非热弹性马氏体相变的细观本构模型.该模型采用微区相变应变、奥氏体及马氏体的塑性应变表征宏观的非弹性响应,把奥氏体和马氏体变体的等效塑性应变率和体积分数变化率作为内变量描述微观结构变化.模型采用J2流动理论描述微区塑性流动,与采用晶体塑性的描述方法相比模型更简单,且更适用于工程计算.单晶奥氏体单变体简单剪切的模拟结果表明:随着应变的增加,先发生奥氏体塑性变形,进而发生相变,马氏体体积分数与应变呈线性关系;温度较低时易发生马氏体相变并使得材料的强度提高.     

Structural collapse of a wind turbine blade. Part A: Static test and equivalent single layered models

The overall objective is a top-down approach to structural instability phenomena in wind turbine blades, which is used to identify the physics governing the ultimate strength of a generic wind turbine blade under a flap-wise static test. The work is concerned with the actual testing and the adoption of a phenomenological approach, and a discussion is conducted to assess and evaluate the wind turbine blade response during loading and after collapse by correlating experimental findings with numerical model predictions. The ultimate strength of the blade studied is governed by instability phenomena in the form of delamination and buckling. Interaction between both instability phenomena occurs causing a progressive collapse of the blade structure.     

Model of respiration for fresh produce in closed systems: 1. Evolution of oxygen in the case of tomatoes

A model describing the O₂ consumption by fresh produce in a closed system is proposed. The model uses a matrix representation as a new mathematical interpretation based on a physiological approach, in agreement with the observed phenomena but contrary to current models. This is a prime condition necessary to elaborate a more complete model concerning the behaviour of fresh produce packaged under modified atmospheres. Such a model is under study at this time.     

团块缺陷结构对岩石静动力学特性影响的数值模拟分析

基于颗粒流离散元法和PFC2D程序构建含团块缺陷结构的岩石数值模型试样,指定试样中部1 cm半径范围为团块缺陷,通过0.1倍、1倍和10倍关系改变团块细观力学参数,构建A、B和C三种数值试样类别,分别进行三轴压缩和三轴疲劳试验。通过试样破坏特征、强度特征、团块及周边应力、应变率特征分析缺陷岩石静、动力学特性。试验结果表明,压缩和疲劳荷载下A类试样在团块左右方向应力集中,而上下方向（包括团块内部）为低应力区;C类试样与之相反,B类试样无明显应力集中现象。无论压缩或疲劳荷载,A类试样团块应变率高于四周,C类试样与之相反,B类试样无明显应变率差异化。研究成果揭示:1）岩石内部团块状缺陷结构无论其材料强度高低均劣化岩石抗压强度;2）静动荷载加载过程中含团块缺陷岩石内部表现出应力场不均匀性和应变差异性。     

Mixed mode stable tearing of thin sheet?AI 6061-T6 specimens: experimental measurements and finite element simulations using a modified Mohr-Coulomb fracture criterion

In this investigation, a combined experimental and computational approach with a Modified Mohr Coulomb (MMC) fracture criterion employing post-initiation element softening is used to simulate stable crack propagation under Mode I, Mode III and combined Mode I/III loading conditions. Results from the studies demonstrate that good correlation exists between the measured load-displacement and the numerically predicted response when the stiffness of the specimen fixture is included in the FE model. The numerical results were able to capture most of the experimentally observed features during crack propagation, such as through-thickness slant fracture, necking, tunneling and local specimen twist, thus confirming that the MMC criterion is suitable for predicting in-plane and out-of-plane tearing of sheets. It was found that in order to predict correctly the load-displacement curve as well as the fracture plane, different amount of softening is needed for Mode I and Mode III loading cases. This observation can be justified on the micro-mechanical level, while there is a competition between the mechanisms of dimple and shear fracture.     

Hysteretic effects of dry friction: modelling and experimental studies

In this paper, the phenomena of hysteretic behaviour of friction force observed during experiments are discussed. On the basis of experimental and theoretical analyses, we argue that such behaviour can be considered as a representation of the system dynamics. According to this approach, a classification of friction models, with respect to their sensitivity on the system motion characteristic, is introduced. General friction modelling of the phenomena accompanying dry friction and a simple yet effective approach to capture the hysteretic effect are proposed. Finally, the experimental results are compared with the numerical simulations for the proposed friction model.     

A new technique to characterize the fiber/matrix interphase properties under high strain rates

Dynamic interphase-loading apparatus (DILA) has been developed to directly characterize the fiber/matrix interphase properties of composites under high loading rates. This apparatus uses a micro-mechanical method (micro-indentation) that is based on the debonding of a fiber from the matrix at the interphase region. Displacement rates up to 3000 μm/s that cause deformation of the interphase under high shear strain rates were obtained using the fast expansion capability of piezoelectric actuators (PZT). Transient force and fiber displacement for a specific displacement rate is measured during the test. The data are reduced to apparent average interphase shear strength and energy absorbed during debonding and frictional sliding during the micro-debonding process. An E-glass-fiber/epoxy-amine interphase was tested under various loading rates to demonstrate the capability of the test apparatus. Test results showed that the strength and energy-absorbing capability of the E-glass/epoxy-amine interphase are sensitive to loading rate.     

Three-dimensional computational micro-mechanical model for woven fabric composites

This work presents a computational material model for plain-woven fabric composite for use in finite element analysis. The material model utilizes the micro-mechanical approach and the homogenization technique. The micro-mechanical model consists of four sub-cells, however, because of the existing anti-symmetry only two sub-cells have to be homogenized for prediction of the elastic material properties. This makes the model computationally very efficient and suitable for large-scale finite element analysis. The model allows the warp and fill yarns not to be orthogonal in the plane of the composite ply. This gives the opportunity to model complex-shaped composite structures with different braid angles. General homogenization procedure is employed with two levels of property homogenization. The model is programmed in MATLAB software and the predicted material properties of different composite materials are compared and presented. The material model shows good capability to predict elastic material properties of composites and very good computational efficiency.     

Prediction of local hygroscopic stresses for composite structures – Analytical and numerical micro-mechanical approaches

The aim of this article is to propose an analytical micro-mechanical self-consistent approach dedicated to mechanical states prediction in both the fiber and the matrix of composite structures submitted to a transient hygroscopic load. The time and space dependent macroscopic stresses, at ply scale, are determined by using continuum mechanics formalism. The reliability of the new approach is checked, for carbon–epoxy composites, through a comparison between the local stress states calculated in both the resin and fiber according to the new closed-form solutions and the equivalent numerical model.     

Micro-mechanical properties of calcium sulfoaluminate cement and the correlation with microstructures

To investigate the micro-mechanical properties of calcium sulfoaluminate cement and the correlation with the microstructures, we apply a variety of advanced techniques of microstructural and micro-mechanical characterization, including scanning electron microscopy with backscattered electron and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy detectors, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and nanoindentation. For the first time, the micro-mechanical properties of material microstructures present in a calcium sulfoaluminate cement are estimated. In the calcium sulfoaluminate cement used in this research, two type of hydration product microstructures with the differentiable microstructural morphologies, compositions and micro-mechanical properties are identified and investigated. The correlation of the micro-mechanical properties with the microstructures shows that the hydration product microstructure containing more ettringite has lower indentation modulus and hardness than that containing more aluminum hydroxide.     

Assessment of interfacial bonding between polymer threads and epoxy resin by transverse fibre bundle (TFB) tests

Two experimental approaches were employed to assess the fibre/matrix adhesion between polymer threads and epoxy resin by transverse fibre bundle (TFB) tests. The first approach was to measure interfacial bonding strength of the fibre/matrix interface in dog-bone-shaped tensile specimens by applying normal stress until failure, simulating the Mode I failure mode. The second approach was to determine the fibre/epoxy interfacial bonding strength in shear (simulating the Mode II failure mode) by means of a V-notched beam shear testing method, i.e. a modified Iosipescu test. In both methods, polymer threads were transversely incorporated in the middle section of the specimens. It was found that both methods were simple, reliable, and sensitive to changes in the fibre/matrix adhesion conditions, though interpretation of the test results was somewhat complex. The two experimental approaches were able to produce consistent results and can thus be adopted as alternative methods for determining the interfacial bonding properties between fibres and matrix in composite systems where conventional micro-mechanical or macro-mechanical testing methods cannot be used.     

Damage effects of adhesives in modern glass façades: a micro-mechanically motivated volumetric damage model for poro-hyperelastic materials

This paper presents a micro-mechanically motivated volumetric damage model accounting for cavitation effects in modern glass connections, e.g. laminated glass connections. The volumetric part of an arbitrary Helmholtz free energy function is equipped with an isotropic damage formulation. To develop a micro-mechanical damage model, the porous micro-structure of a transparent structural silicone adhesive is analyzed numerically applying hydrostatic loading conditions. Based on the structural responses of different types of cubic representative volume elements incorporating an initial void fraction, three damage parameters are fitted utilizing the Levenberg–Marquard algorithm. The present volumetric damage model is implemented into ANSYS FE Code using a UserMat subroutine, where the algorithmic setting is described in detail in the present paper. To compare the structural responses of cubic equivalent homogeneous materials with representative volume elements, benchmark tests under hydrostatic loading are performed. The results indicate that the novel damage model accounts adequately for volumetric damage due to the cavitation effect. A special form of the pancake test is described briefly. The test allows for visualizing the cavitation effect during experimental testing. The experimental results of the pancake test are compared with numerical results, where the pancake test is simulated incorporating the micro-mechanical damage model. The micro-mechanically motivated scalar, internal damage variable is equipped with the obtained damage parameters from the structural response of the representative volume elements. The results show an adequate approximation of the experiment through the simulation. However, to optimize the results of the simulation, an optimization study on the damage parameters is conducted utilizing the Downhill-Simplex algorithm. Using the optimized damage parameters, the simulation of the pancake tests is further improved. Hence, it is shown that the novel micro-mechanically motivated volumetric damage model is excellently suited to represent the cavitation effect in poro-hyperelastic materials.     

Effects of model scale and particle size on micro-mechanical properties and failure processes of rocks—A particle mechanics approach

A numerical procedure to determine the equivalent micro-mechanical properties of intact rocks is presented using a stochastic representative elementary volume (REV) concept and a particle mechanics approach. More than 200 models were generated in square regions with side lengths varying from 1 to 10 cm, using the Monte Carlo simulation technique. Generated particle models were then used for the calculation of equivalent micro-mechanical properties. Results with a core sample of diorite from Äspö, Sweden, show that the variance of the calculated values of mechanical properties decrease significantly as the side lengths of particle models increase, reaching a REV side length about 5 cm with an acceptable variation of 5%, which is equal to the minimum diameter of rock specimen for uniaxial compressive tests suggested by ISRM. The complete stress–strain curve of the diorite rock sample was predicted under uniaxial compression, as the basis for evaluating the damage and failure processes. The unique contribution of this paper is its study on impacts of sample size and particle size distributions on mechanical behaviour of rocks when particle mechanics approaches are used.     

Micro-Mechanical Parameters in Short Fibre Composite

The aim of this paper is to analyse the contribution of micro-mechanical parameters, on the macroscopic behaviour of a short fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites (SFRTC). By developing an algorithm to provide a representative random micro-structure, a comparative analysis of different micro-mechanical parameters, such as aspect ratio (AR) and fibre orientation (FO), was conducted and compared with the existing analytical models. A study of different aspect ratios and different fibre orientations has been carried out in order to examine their effect on the linear elastic properties of SFRTC. Aspect ratios from one to ten have been analysed for the cases of fully oriented 0° fibres, miss-oriented fibres and randomly oriented fibres. A representative volume element (RVE) was used to investigate the effect of the representative size. Results were analysed statistically through X ² test, and the subsequent representative realisations were compared with the theoretical predictions.