This work is an overview of available theories and finite elements that have been developed for multilayered, anisotropic, composite plate and shell structures. Although a comprehensive description of several techniques and approaches is given, most of this paper has been devoted to the so called axiomatic theories and related finite element implementations. Most of the theories and finite elements that have been proposed over the last thirty years are in fact based on these types of approaches. The paper has been divided into three parts. Part I, has been devoted to the description of possible approaches to plate and shell structures: 3D approaches, continuum based methods, axiomatic and asymptotic two-dimensional theories, classical and mixed formulations, equivalent single layer and layer wise variable descriptions are considered (the number of the unknown variables is considered to be independent of the number of the constitutive layers in the equivalent single layer case). Complicating effects that have been introduced by anisotropic behavior and layered constructions, such as high transverse deformability, zig-zag effects and interlaminar continuity, have been discussed and summarized by the acronimC
 -Requirements. Two-dimensional theories have been dealt with in Part II. Contributions based on axiomatic, asymtotic and continuum based approaches have been overviewed. Classical theories and their refinements are first considered. Both case of equivalent single-layer and layer-wise variables descriptions are discussed. The so-called zig-zag theories are then discussed. A complete and detailed overview has been conducted for this type of theory which relies on an approach that is entirely originated and devoted to layered constructions. Formulas and contributions related to the three possible zig-zag approaches, i.e. Lekhnitskii-Ren, Ambartsumian-Whitney-Rath-Das, Reissner-Murakami-Carrera ones have been presented and overviewed, taking into account the findings of a recent historical note provided by the author. Finite Element FE implementations are examined in Part III. The possible developments of finite elements for layered plates and shells are first outlined. FEs based on the theories considered in Part II are discussed along with those approaches which consist of a specific application of finite element techniques, such as hybrid methods and so-called global/local techniques. The extension of finite elements that were originally developed for isotropic one layered structures to multilayerd plates and shells are first discussed. Works based on classical and refined theories as well as on equivalent single layer and layer-wise descriptions have been overviewed. Development of available zig-zag finite elements has been considered for the three cases of zig-zag theories. Finite elements based on other approches are also discussed. Among these, FEs based on asymtotic theories, degenerate continuum approaches, stress resultant methods, asymtotic methods, hierarchy-p,_-s global/local techniques as well as mixed and hybrid formulations have been overviewed.

Theories and Finite Elements for Multilayered, Anisotropic, Composite Plates and Shells

This review article concerns a methodology for solving numerically, for engineering purposes, boundary and initial-boundary value problems by a peculiar approach characterized by the following features: the continuous formulation is centered on integral equations based on the combined use of single-layer and double-layer sources, so that the integral operator turns out to be symmetric with respect to a suitable bilinear form. The discretization is performed either on a variational basis or by a Galerkin weighted residual procedure, the interpolation and weight functions being chosen so that the variables in the approximate formulation are generalized variables in Prager’s sense. As main consequences of the above provisions, symmetry is exhibited by matrices with a key role in the algebraized versions; some quadratic forms have a clear energy meaning; variational properties characterize the solutions and other results, invalid in traditional boundary element methods enrich the theory underlying the computational applications. The present survey outlines recent theoretical and computational developments of the title methodology with particular reference to linear elasticity, elastoplasticity, fracture mechanics, time-dependent problems, variational approaches, singular integrals, approximation issues, sensitivity analysis, coupling of boundary and finite elements, and computer implementations. Areas and aspects which at present require further research are identified, and comparative assessments are attempted with respect to traditional boundary integral-elements. This article includes 176 references.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00111259/document

Symmetric Galerkin Boundary Element Methods

Vital signs such as pulse rate and breathing rate are currently measured using contact probes. But, non-contact methods for measuring vital signs are desirable both in hospital settings (e.g. in NICU) and for ubiquitous in-situ health tracking (e.g. on mobile phone and computers with webcams). Recently, camera-based non-contact vital sign monitoring have been shown to be feasible. However, camera-based vital sign monitoring is challenging for people with darker skin tone, under low lighting conditions, and/or during movement of an individual in front of the camera. In this paper, we propose distancePPG, a new camera-based vital sign estimation algorithm which addresses these challenges. DistancePPG proposes a new method of combining skin-color change signals from different tracked regions of the face using a weighted average, where the weights depend on the blood perfusion and incident light intensity in the region, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of camera-based estimate. One of our key contributions is a new automatic method for determining the weights based only on the video recording of the subject. The gains in SNR of camera-based PPG estimated using distancePPG translate into reduction of the error in vital sign estimation, and thus expand the scope of camera-based vital sign monitoring to potentially challenging scenarios. Further, a dataset will be released, comprising of synchronized video recordings of face and pulse oximeter based ground truth recordings from the earlobe for people with different skin tones, under different lighting conditions and for various motion scenarios.

DistancePPG: Robust non-contact vital signs monitoring using a camera

This paper deals with the formulation of finite plate elements for an accurate description of stress and strain fields in multilayered, thick plates subjected to static loadings in the linear, elastic cases. The so-called zig-zag form and interlaminar continuity are addressed in the considered formulations. Two variational statements, the principle of virtual displacements (PVD) and the Reissner mixed variational theorem (RMVT) are employed to derive finite element matrices. Transverse stress assumptions are made in the framework of RMVT and the resulting finite elements describe a priori interlaminar continuous transverse shear and normal stresses. Both modellings which preserve the number of variables independent of the number of layers (equivalent single-layer models, ESLM) and layer-wise models (LWM) in which the same variables are independent in each layer, have been treated. The order N of the expansions assumed for both displacement and transverse stress fields in the plate thickness direction z as well as the number of element nodes Nn have been taken as free parameters of the considered formulations. By varying N, Nn, variable treatment (LW or ESL) as well as variational statements (PVD and RMVT), a large number of newly finite elements have been presented. Finite elements that are based on PVD and RMVT have been called classical and advanced, respectively.

In order to write the matrices related to the considered plate elements in a concise form and to implement them in a computer code (see Part 2), extensive indicial notations have been set out. As a result, all the finite element matrices have been built from only five arrays that were called fundamental nuclei (four are related to RMVT applications and one to PVD cases). These arrays have 3×3 dimensions and are therefore constituted of only nine terms each. The different formulations are then obtained by expanding the indices that were introduced for the N-order expansion, for the number of nodes Nn and for the constitutive layers Nl. Compliances and/or stiffness are accumulated from layer to multilayered level according to the corresponding variable treatment (ESLM or LWM). The numerical evaluations and assessment for the presented plate elements have been provided in the companion paper (Part 2), where it has been concluded that it is convenient to refer to RMVT as a variational tool to formulate multilayered plate elements that are able to give a quasi-three-dimensional description of stress/strain fields in multilayered thick structures. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

/pdf/classical-and-advanced-multilayered-plate-elements-based-3ql3nv6vh8.pdf

Classical and advanced multilayered plate elements based upon PVD and RMVT. Part 1: Derivation of finite element matrices

Piezoelectric sensors are increasingly being used in active structural health monitoring, due to their durability, light weight and low power consumption. In the present work damage detection and characterization methodologies based on Lamb waves have been evaluated for aircraft panels. The applicability of various proposed delay-and-sum algorithms on isotropic and composite stiffened panels have been investigated, both numerically and experimentally. A numerical model for ultrasonic wave propagation in composite laminates is proposed and compared to signals recorded from experiments. A modified delay-and-sum algorithm is then proposed for detecting impact damage in composite plates with and without a stiffener which is shown to capture and localize damage with only four transducers.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0964-1726/23/7/075007/pdf

Assessment of delay-and-sum algorithms for damage detection in aluminium and composite plates

Analysis of composite laminates with imperfect bonding conditions

An explicit unsteady pressure Kutta condition is discribed that was directly and efficiently implemented in a time domain high-order potential panel method so as to ensure the pressure equality on the upper and lower surfaces at the trailing edge of the airfoil at each time step.

Explicit Kutta Condition for Unsteady Two-Dimensional High-Order Potential Boundary Element Method

The workload evaluation is of great importance for human error avoidance training, particularly in the use of complex systems that requires different and concurrent activities. The excessive workload harms human performance even with adverse outcomes. In the aviation field, certain flight maneuvers, such as take-off and landing, are characterized by great attention and workload demand to the pilot. Thus, a system capable of measuring pilots’ workload levels during flight could be beneficial to increase pilots’ performance. This work aims to study the initial feasibility of a device called Cockpit Pilot Warning System that monitors the pilot workload level during flight. With this aim, an experimental campaign using a Level-D business aircraft flight simulator is conducted. Two sensors are used to acquire biological signals: a thermographic camera is used to obtain pilots’ Face Temperature Variation (FTV) while a Heart sensor is used to acquire their Heart Rate (HR). The nervous system modifies FTV and HR in response to stressing or high workload events and can thus be used to monitor pilots’ workload that affects their performance. The workload measurement with the thermographic camera is an indirect measurement, particularly indicated in aviation, since it is contactless. It does not interfere with the concentration and leaves pilots’ freedom of movement, thus not affecting their working functions.

An Aircraft Pilot Workload Sensing System

Mixed finite elements for nonlocal elastic multilayered composite plate refined theories

A Rayleigh-Ritz approach for the analysis of buckling and post-buckling behavior of cracked composite stiffened plates is presented. The structure is modeled as the assembly of plate elements modeled by the first order shear deformation theory and taking geometric nonlinearities into account through the von Karman’s theory assumptions. Continuity along the plate elements connected edges and the enforcement of rigid and elastic restraints of the plate boundaries are obtained by using penalty techniques, which also allow to straightforwardly implement efficient crack modeling strategies. General symmetric and unsymmetric stacking sequences are considered and numerical procedures have been developed and used to validate the present solution by comparison with FEA results. Original results are presented for post-buckling solution of multilayered stiffened plates with through-the-thickness cracks, showing the effects of large displacements on the cracked plate post-buckling behavior.

Alberto Milazzo

Papers

Analysis of composite laminates with imperfect bonding conditions

Explicit Kutta Condition for Unsteady Two-Dimensional High-Order Potential Boundary Element Method

An Aircraft Pilot Workload Sensing System

Mixed finite elements for nonlocal elastic multilayered composite plate refined theories

Post-Buckling Analysis of Damaged Multilayered Composite Stiffened Plates by Rayleigh-Ritz Method