Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Micro-bridge resonator with dielectric elastomer that is sandwiched between two electrodes is studied here with geometric and material nonlinearity. Geometric nonlinearity is introduced with Von-Karman strain-displacement relationship. For material nonlinearity that is modeled rarely in articles, two hyper-elastic models are used here. Governing equation of motion for Neo-Hookean and Yeoh models are derived through Hamilton's principle. These equations show that Neo-Hookean is not a suitable model for this case because of inadequate terms, but the Yeoh one is. Governing equation in Yeoh model is solved by analytical Lindstedt-Poincare method. Time history of micro-beam is presented in different modes and it is shown good agreement with numerical method. It is seen that increasing of mode number leads to increasing of frequency. In addition, the influence of different parameters on nonlinear normalized frequency is illustrated.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Strand tension control is essential in suspension bridge safety. However, few quantitative studies have examined the bending rigidity and boundary condition behavior of strands in the anchor span of suspension bridges because of their special structure and complex configuration. In this paper, a new calculation method for strand tension is explored by using dynamic balance theory to determine the effect of bending rigidity and boundary conditions. The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method are tested and confirmed with verification examples and application on Nanxi Yangtze Suspension Bridge in China. The results indicated that only low-order frequency calculation could be used to calculate the strand tension without considering the effect of bending rigidity to ensure control accuracy. The influence of bending rigidity on the control precision is related to the tension and the length of the strands, which is significantly determined by the specific value between the stress rigidity and the bending rigidity. The uncertain boundary conditions of the anchor span cable, which are fixed between consolidated and hinged, also have a major effect on the control accuracy. To improve the accuracy of strand tension control, the least squares method is proposed during the tension construction control of the anchor span. This approach can significantly improve the accuracy of the tension control of the main cable strand. Some recommendations for future bridge analysis are provided based on the results of this study.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of shade and material type and shape in dental polymer composites on the hardness and shrinkage stress of bulk and two-layered restoration systems. For this purpose, some bulk and layered specimens from three different shades of dental materials were prepared and light-cured. The experiments were carried out on three types of materials: conventional restorative composite, nanohybrid composite and nanocomposite. Micro-indentation experiment was performed on the bulk and also on each layer of layered restoration specimens using a Vicker's indenter. The interface between the two layers was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed significant differences between the values of hardness for different shades in the conventional composite and also in the nanohybrid composite. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the hardness values for different shades in the nanocomposite samples. The layered restoration specimens of different restorative materials exhibited lower hardness values with respect to their bulk specimens. The reduction in the hardness value of the layered conventional composite samples was higher than those of the nanocomposite and nanohybrid composite specimens indicating more shrinkage stresses generated in the conventional composite restorations. According to the SEM images, a gap was observed between the two layers in the layered restorations.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract This study analyzes the fourth-order nonlinear free vibration of a Timoshenko beam. We discretize the governing differential equation by Galerkin's procedure and then apply the homotopy analysis method (HAM) to the obtained ordinary differential equation of the generalized coordinate. We derive novel analytical solutions for the nonlinear natural frequency and displacement to investigate the effects of rotary inertia, shear deformation, pre-tensile loads and slenderness ratios on the beam. In comparison to results achieved by perturbation techniques, this study demonstrates that a first-order approximation of HAM leads to highly accurate solutions, valid for a wide range of amplitude vibrations, of a high-order strongly nonlinear problem.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The present paper is concerned with the analysis of the effect of the loading rate in a particular class of single lap joints used in the oil industry. The adhesive/adherend system consists of ASTM A36 steel plates bonded with an epoxy/ceramic composite. The loading rate sensitivity is analysed considering two different situations: (i) strain controlled quasi-static rupture tests and (ii) applications in which the joint may oscillate like a spring. This second situation is motivated by a specific application: the transport of an ethanol reservoir by a crane using a special truss lifting system attached to the tank through bonded joints. Quasi-static tensile tests allow observing a rate-dependent behaviour of the joint with higher strengths for higher cross-head velocities. An algebraic equation is proposed to predict the dependence of the rupture force on the elongation rate in tensile tests and the model predictions are in good agreement with experimental results. However, in the case of the transport of a tank with mass M (situation (ii)), the lifting system cannot be only designed to resist the static load (the weight). Fast loading may induce vibration. Like in a spring-mass system, even a very small oscillation of the joint induces a dynamic load that is higher than the static load. A simple analysis allows proposing conditions for a safe operation in this case.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract In recent years, the studies on the enhancement of the prediction capability of the sheet metal forming simulations have increased remarkably. Among the used models in the finite element simulations, the yield criteria and hardening models have a great importance for the prediction of the formability and springback. The required model parameters are determined by using the several test results, i.e. tensile, compression, biaxial stretching tests (bulge test) and cyclic tests (tension-compression). In this study, the Yoshida-Uemori (combined isotropic and kinematic) hardening model is used to determine the performance of the springback prediction. The model parameters are determined by the optimization processes of the cyclic test by finite element simulations. However, in the study besides the cyclic tests, the model parameters are also evaluated by the optimization process of both cyclic and V-die bending simulations. The springback angle predictions with the model parameters obtained by the optimization of both cyclic and V-die bending simulations are found to mimic the experimental results in a better way than those obtained from only cyclic tests. However, the cyclic simulation results are found to be close enough to the experimental results.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Perforated steel thin plates are commonly used in structural engineering. Due to their geometric characteristics, these panels can suffer the undesired buckling phenomenon. In this context, the present work associates the computational modeling and the constructal design method to evaluate the influence of the geometric configuration in the plate buckling behavior, using the exhaustive search method to determine which geometries conduct to superior mechanical behavior. To do so, numerical models are employed to solve elastic and elasto-plastic buckling of plates having a centered perforation. Different hole types (longitudinal oblong, transversal oblong, elliptical, rectangular, diamond, longitudinal hexagonal, or transversal hexagonal) with different shapes (variation of characteristics dimensions of each hole type) are analyzed. Limit curves to avoid buckling were obtained, as well as the definition of the geometries that can improve up to 107% the plate performance.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Fiber-matrix interface performance has a great influence on the mechanical properties of fiber reinforced composite. This influence is mainly presented during fiber pullout from the matrix. As fiber pullout process consists of fiber debonding stage and pullout stage which involve complex contact problem, numerical modeling is a best way to investigate the interface influence. Although many numerical research works have been conducted, practical and effective technique suitable for continuous modeling of fiber pullout process is still scarce. The reason is in that numerical divergence frequently happens, leading to the modeling interruption. By interacting the popular finite element program ANSYS with the MATLAB, we proposed continuous modeling technique and realized modeling of fiber pullout from cement matrix with desired interface mechanical performance. For debonding process, we used interface elements with cohesive surface traction and exponential failure behavior. For pullout process, we switched interface elements to spring elements with variable stiffness, which is related to the interface shear stress as a function of the interface slip displacement. For both processes, the results obtained are very good in comparison with other numerical or analytical models and experimental tests. We suggest using the present technique to model toughening achieved by randomly distributed fibers.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The theoretical analysis for the Brazilian test is a classical plane stress problem of elasticity theory, where a vertical force is applied to a horizontal plane, the boundary of a semi-infinite medium. Hypothesizing a normal radial stress field, the results of that model are correct. Nevertheless, the superposition of three stress fields, with two being based on prior results and the third based on a hydrostatic stress field, is incorrect. Indeed, this work shows that the Cauchy vectors (tractions) are non-vanishing in the parallel planes in which the two opposing vertical forces are applied. The aim of this work is to detail the process used in the construction of the theoretical model for the three stress fields used, with the objective being to demonstrate the inconsistency often stated in the literature.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract For realistic applications, design and control engineers have limited modelling options in dealing with some vibration problems that hold many nonlinearity such as non-uniform geometry, variable velocity loadings, indefinite damping cases, etc. For these reasons numerous time consuming experimental studies at high costs must be done for determining the actual behaviour such nonlinear systems. However, using advantages of multiple computational methods like Finite Element Method (FEM) together with an Artificial Intelligence (ANN), many complicated engineering problems can be handled and solved to some extent. This study, proposes a new collective method to deal with the nonlinear vibrations of the barrels in order to fulfil accurate shooting expectancy. Using known analytical methods, in practical, to determine dynamic behaviour of the barrel beam is not possible for all conditions of firing that include numerous varieties of ammunition for different purposes, and each projectile of different ammunition has different mass and exit velocity. In order to cover all cases this study proposes a new method that combines a precise FEM with ANN, and can be used for determining the exact dynamic behaviour of a barrel for some cases and then for precisely predicting the behaviour for all other possible cases of firing. In this study, the whole nonlinear behaviour of an antiaircraft barrel were obtained with 3.5% accuracy errors by ANN trained by FEM using calculated analysis results of ammunitions for a particular range. The proposed FEM-ANN combined method can be very useful for design and control engineers in design and control of barrels in order to compensate the effect of nonlinear vibrations of a barrel for achieving a higher shooting accuracy; and can reduce high-cost experimental works.