Effects of fermentation conditions and homogenization pressure on the rheological properties of Kefir

In this study, the effects of fermentation conditions (temperature and time) as well as homogenization pressure on the rheology and EPS production in Kefir made from bovine whole milk were investigated. Results showed that the rheological characteristics and EPS production are affected significantly (p < 0.05) by the fermentation temperature but not by the incubation time. Furthermore, the homogenization pressure was found to influence significantly (p < 0.05) the rheology but not the production of EPS in Kefir.     

Rheological and Ultrastructural Properties and Particle Size Distribution of Soymilk as Affected by Processing Methods

Soymilk was prepared from boiled and unboiled comminuted suspensions of dehulled soybean and water using pressurized homogenization (one pass and two pass). Particle size showed significant differences between soymilks homogenized by one pass and two pass. Apparent viscosities and total solid contents showed significant differences between boiled and unboiled treatments. Soymilks exhibited pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior and Arrhenius model was fitted to express temperature dependence of apparent viscosity. Microscopic images showed hydrated, separated, uniformly distributed, and homogeneous particles in boiled two-pass soymilk as they were disrupted easily and it was selected as the best treatment for processing soymilk containing all of the soybean solids.     

Scale Effects in Infinitesimal and Finite Thermoelasticity of Random Composites

A method for homogenization of linear or non-linear (finite strain) thermoelastic random composites is presented. With the help of variational principles, the method leads to hierarchies of scale-dependent bounds on constitutive responses, which are illustrated in several cases through computational mechanics. This, in turn, provides estimates of the minimal size of the Representative Volume Element (RVE). The effects of mismatch between the composite's phases as well as the temperature difference on the minimal size of the RVE are also considered. The results of linear and non-linear thermoelasticity theories are compared.     

A review of homogenization and topology optimization III-topology optimization using optimality criteria

This is the first part of a three-paper review of homogenization and topology optimization, viewed from an engineering standpoint and with the ultimate aim of clarifying the ideas so that interested researchers can easily implement the concepts described. In the first paper we focus on the theory of the homogenization method where we are concerned with the main concepts and derivation of the equations for computation of effective constitutive parameters of complex materials with a periodic micro structure. Such materials are described by the base cell, which is the smallest repetitive unit of material, and the evaluation of the effective constitutive parameters may be carried out by analysing the base cell alone. For simple microstructures this may be achieved analytically, whereas for more complicated systems numerical methods such as the finite element method must be employed. In the second paper, we consider numerical and analytical solutions of the homogenization equations. Topology optimization of structures is a rapidly growing research area, and as opposed to shape optimization allows the introduction of holes in structures, with consequent savings in weight and improved structural characteristics. The homogenization approach, with an emphasis on the optimality criteria method, will be the topic of the third paper in this review.     

Homogenization of material properties in additively manufactured structures

Additive manufacturing transforms material into three-dimensional parts incrementally, layer by layer or path by path. Subject to the build direction and machine resolution, an additively manufactured part deviates from its design model in terms of both geometry and mechanical performance. In particular, the material inside the fabricated part often exhibits spatially varying material distribution (heterogeneity) and direction dependent behavior (anisotropy), indicating that the design model is no longer a suitable surrogate to consistently estimate the mechanical performance of the printed component.We propose a new two-stage approach to modeling and estimating effective elastic properties of parts fabricated by fused deposition modeling (FDM) process. First, we construct an implicit representation of an effective mesoscale geometry–material model of the printed structure that captures the details of the particular process and published material information. This representation of mesoscale geometry and material of the printed structure is then homogenized at macro scale through a solution of an integral equation formulated using Green’s function. We show that the integral equation can be converted into a system of linear equations that is symmetric and positive definite and can be solved efficiently using conjugate gradient method and Fourier transform. The computed homogenized properties are validated by both finite element method and experiment results. The proposed two-stage approach can be used to estimate other effective material properties in a variety of additive manufacturing processes, whenever a similar effective mesoscale geometry–material model can be constructed.     

Experiments and mesoscopic modelling of dynamic testing of concrete

Due to their large aggregates size and their heterogeneous microstructure, concretes are difficult materials to test at high strain-rates. Direct tensile tests, spalling tests and edge-on impact experiments have been especially developed and performed on a standard concrete (max grain size of 8 mm). The influence of free water on the high strain rate behaviour has been carefully evaluated. Numerical simulations of dynamic testing have been also performed using a mesoscopic approach in which the matrix and the aggregates are differentiated. Numerical and analytical homogenization methods have been employed to define a model-concrete which fits experimental data of simple and œdometric compression tests. Then, the numerical simulations with several random distributions of aggregates were conducted to validate the processing methods applied to the experimental data of the dynamic tests. Moreover an anisotropic damage model coupled to the mesoscopic approach has been used to simulate the dynamic behaviour of concrete under impact. It allows predicting the increase of strength and cracking density with strain-rate and the free water influence on the dynamic behaviour of concrete.     

Computational evaluation of strain-rate-dependent deformation behavior of rubber and carbon-black-filled rubber under monotonic and cyclic straining

The molecular chain network model for elastic deformation behavior and the reptation theory for viscoelastic deformation behavior are used to derive a constitutive equation for rubber. The new eight-chain-like model contains eight standard models consisting of Langevin springs and dashpot to account for the interaction of chains with their surroundings. Monotonic and cyclic deformation behavior of rubber with relaxation under different strain rates have been examined. The results reveal the roles of the individual springs and dashpot, and the strain rate dependence of materials in the monotonic and cyclic deformation behaviors, particularly softening and hysteresis loss, that is, the Mullins effect, occurring in stress-stretch curves under cyclic deformation processes. The validity of the results is checked through comparison with experimental results. The deformation behaviors of a plane strain rubber unit cell containing carbon-black (CB) under monotonic and cyclic straining are investigated by computational simulation using the proposed constitutive equation and homogenization method. The results reveal the substantial enhancement of the resistance of CB-filled rubber to macroscopic deformation, which is caused by the marked orientation hardening due to the highly localized deformation of rubber. The role of strain rate sensitivity on such characteristic deformation behaviors as increases in the resistance to deformation, hysteresis loss, and the effects of the distribution morphology and the volume fraction of CB on the deformation behavior is clarified. The increases in the volume fraction and in the aggregation of the distribution of CB substantially raise the resistance to deformation and hysteresis loss.     

Homogenization heat treatment of 2099 Al–Li alloy

The microstructure evolution and composition distribution of as-cast and homogenized 2099 aluminum– lithium(Al–Li) alloy were studied by optical microscopy(OM), differential thermal analysis(DTA), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry(EDS), area and line scanning, X-ray diffraction(XRD), and Vickers microhardness test methods. The results show that severe dendrite exists in the as-cast alloy. Cu, Zn, Mn, and Mg distribute unevenly from the grain boundary to inside. The low-melting point nonequilibrium eutectic phases dissolve into the matrix during the first-step homogenization, whereas the melting point of residual eutectic phases is elevated. After the second-step homogenization, most of the remaining eutectic phases dissolve into the matrix, except a small amount of Al–Cu–Fe phases. An optimized homogenization process of the 2099 Al–Li alloy is developed(515 °C 9 18 h ? 525 °C 9 16 h), which shows a good agreement with the homogenization kinetic analysis results.     

Computational micro- and macroscopic models of contact and friction: formulation, approach and applications

This paper is dedicated to new asperity-based constitutive models of contact interfaces. These models have been obtained through a combination of finite element analysis of surface asperities and statistical homogenization techniques, to predict macroscopic, phenomenological behavior of the interface. This new approach has generalized the existing asperity-based models of contact and friction by considering realistic, complex shapes and mechanical properties of surface asperities, as opposed to previous simplified analytical solutions. This has been achieved by application, at the stage of asperity modeling, of the finite element method, which takes into account arbitrary shapes of asperities, non-linear material properties, molecular-range adhesion forces, and sliding resistance on the contact surface. The h–p adaptive mesh refinement techniques, adaptive timestepping and other adaptive methods are used to assure high accuracy of the solution. The result of this development is a new family of constitutive interface models, consistent with surface micromechanics and applicable to studies of static and dynamic friction phenomena. They are also extendible to calculation of thermal or electrical resistances, wear modeling, and other applications. This paper presents the theoretical formulation, numerical methodology and sample models of contact, adhesion and friction obtained through these homogenization techniques.