Showing papers in "Acta Mechanica Sinica in 2016"

A review on the application of modified continuum models in modeling and simulation of nanostructures

Abstract: Analysis of the mechanical behavior of nanostructures has been very challenging. Surface energy and nonlocal elasticity of materials have been incorporated into the traditional continuum analysis to create modified continuum mechanics models. This paper reviews recent advancements in the applications of such modified continuum models in nanostructures such as nanotubes, nanowires, nanobeams, graphenes, and nanoplates. A variety of models for these nanostructures under static and dynamic loadings are mentioned and reviewed. Applications of surface energy and nonlocal elasticity in analysis of piezoelectric nanomaterials are also mentioned. This paper provides a comprehensive introduction of the development of this area and inspires further applications of modified continuum models in modeling nanomaterials and nanostructures.

Modeling rock specimens through 3D printing: Tentative experiments and prospects

Abstract: Current developments in 3D printing (3DP) technology provide the opportunity to produce rock-like specimens and geotechnical models through additive manufacturing, that is, from a file viewed with a computer to a real object. This study investigated the serviceability of 3DP products as substitutes for rock specimens and rock-type materials in experimental analysis of deformation and failure in the laboratory. These experiments were performed on two types of materials as follows: (1) compressive experiments on printed sand-powder specimens in different shapes and structures, including intact cylinders, cylinders with small holes, and cuboids with pre-existing cracks, and (2) compressive and shearing experiments on printed polylactic acid cylinders and molded shearing blocks. These tentative tests for 3DP technology have exposed its advantages in producing complicated specimens with special external forms and internal structures, the mechanical similarity of its product to rock-type material in terms of deformation and failure, and its precision in mapping shapes from the original body to the trial sample (such as a natural rock joint). These experiments and analyses also successfully demonstrate the potential and prospects of 3DP technology to assist in the deformation and failure analysis of rock-type materials, as well as in the simulation of similar material modeling experiments.

An experimental study on fracture mechanical behavior of rock-like materials containing two unparallel fissures under uniaxial compression

Abstract: Strength and deformability characteristics of rock with pre-existing fissures are governed by cracking behavior. To further research the effects of pre-existing fissures on the mechanical properties and crack coalescence process, a series of uniaxial compression tests were carried out for rock-like material with two unparallel fissures. In the present study, cement, quartz sand, and water were used to fabricate a kind of brittle rock-like material cylindrical model specimen. The mechanical properties of rock-like material specimen used in this research were all in good agreement with the brittle rock materials. Two unparallel fissures (a horizontal fissure and an inclined fissure) were created by inserting steel during molding the model specimen. Then all the pre-fissured rock-like specimens were tested under uniaxial compression by a rock mechanics servo-controlled testing system. The peak strength and Young’s modulus of pre-fissured specimen all first decreased and then increased when the fissure angle increased from $$0^{\circ }$$ to $$75^{\circ }$$ . In order to investigate the crack initiation, propagation and coalescence process, photographic monitoring was adopted to capture images during the entire deformation process. Moreover, acoustic emission (AE) monitoring technique was also used to obtain the AE evolution characteristic of pre-fissured specimen. The relationship between axial stress, AE events, and the crack coalescence process was set up: when a new crack was initiated or a crack coalescence occurred, the corresponding axial stress dropped in the axial stress–time curve and a big AE event could be observed simultaneously. Finally, the mechanism of crack propagation under microscopic observation was discussed. These experimental results are expected to increase the understanding of the strength failure behavior and the cracking mechanism of rock containing unparallel fissures. In the present study, two unparallel fissures (a horizontal fissure and an inclined fissure) were created by inserting steel during molding of the model specimens, which were fabricated by cement, sand, and water. All specimens were tested under uniaxial compression. Photographic monitoring was adopted to capture images during the entire deformation to investigate the crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence process. Moreover, the acoustic emission (AE) monitoring technique was also used to obtain the AE evolution characteristics. Finally, the mechanism of crack propagation under microscopic observation was discussed. Fig: AE counts and crack evolution process of rock-like material specimen containing two unparallel fissures for $$\alpha = 30^{\circ }$$

Interval arithmetic operations for uncertainty analysis with correlated interval variables

Abstract: A new interval arithmetic method is proposed to solve interval functions with correlated intervals through which the overestimation problem existing in interval analysis could be significantly alleviated. The correlation between interval parameters is defined by the multidimensional parallelepiped model which is convenient to describe the correlative and independent interval variables in a unified framework. The original interval variables with correlation are transformed into the standard space without correlation, and then the relationship between the original variables and the standard interval variables is obtained. The expressions of four basic interval arithmetic operations, namely addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, are given in the standard space. Finally, several numerical examples and a two-step bar are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Aerodynamic design on high-speed trains

Abstract: Compared with the traditional train, the operational speed of the high-speed train has largely improved, and the dynamic environment of the train has changed from one of mechanical domination to one of aerodynamic domination. The aerodynamic problem has become the key technological challenge of high-speed trains and significantly affects the economy, environment, safety, and comfort. In this paper, the relationships among the aerodynamic design principle, aerodynamic performance indexes, and design variables are first studied, and the research methods of train aerodynamics are proposed, including numerical simulation, a reduced-scale test, and a full-scale test. Technological schemes of train aerodynamics involve the optimization design of the streamlined head and the smooth design of the body surface. Optimization design of the streamlined head includes conception design, project design, numerical simulation, and a reduced-scale test. Smooth design of the body surface is mainly used for the key parts, such as electric-current collecting system, wheel truck compartment, and windshield. The aerodynamic design method established in this paper has been successfully applied to various high-speed trains (CRH380A, CRH380AM, CRH6, CRH2G, and the Standard electric multiple unit (EMU)) that have met expected design objectives. The research results can provide an effective guideline for the aerodynamic design of high-speed trains.

Nonlocal vibration analysis of circular double-layered graphene sheets resting on an elastic foundation subjected to thermal loading

Abstract: Based on the nonlocal elasticity theory, the vibration behavior of circular double-layered graphene sheets (DLGSs) resting on the Winkler- and Pasternak-type elastic foundations in a thermal environment is investigated. The governing equation is derived on the basis of Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity and the classical plate theory (CLPT). The initial thermal loading is assumed to be due to a uniform temperature rise throughout the thickness direction. Using the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method and periodic differential operators in radial and circumferential directions, respectively, the governing equation is discretized. DLGSs with clamped and simply-supported boundary conditions are studied and the influence of van der Waals (vdW) interaction forces is taken into account. In the numerical results, the effects of various parameters such as elastic medium coefficients, radius-to-thickness ratio, thermal loading and nonlocal parameter are examined on both in-phase and anti-phase natural frequencies. The results show that the thermal load and elastic foundation respectively decreases and increases the fundamental frequencies of DLGSs.

Acoustomechanical constitutive theory for soft materials

Abstract: Acoustic wave propagation from surrounding medium into a soft material can generate acoustic radiation stress due to acoustic momentum transfer inside the medium and material, as well as at the interface between the two. To analyze acoustic-induced deformation of soft materials, we establish an acoustomechanical constitutive theory by combining the acoustic radiation stress theory and the nonlinear elasticity theory for soft materials. The acoustic radiation stress tensor is formulated by time averaging the momentum equation of particle motion, which is then introduced into the nonlinear elasticity constitutive relation to construct the acoustomechanical constitutive theory for soft materials. Considering a specified case of soft material sheet subjected to two counter-propagating acoustic waves, we demonstrate the nonlinear large deformation of the soft material and analyze the interaction between acoustic waves and material deformation under the conditions of total reflection, acoustic transparency, and acoustic mismatch.

Modal parameter identification of flexible spacecraft using the covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification (SSI-COV) method

Abstract: In this paper, the on-orbit identification of modal parameters for a spacecraft is investigated. Firstly, the coupled dynamic equation of the system is established with the Lagrange method and the stochastic state-space model of the system is obtained. Then, the covariance-driven stochastic subspace identification (SSI-COV) algorithm is adopted to identify the modal parameters of the system. In this algorithm, it just needs the covariance of output data of the system under ambient excitation to construct a Toeplitz matrix, thus the system matrices are obtained by the singular value decomposition on the Toeplitz matrix and the modal parameters of the system can be found from the system matrices. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to demonstrate the validity of the SSI-COV algorithm. Simulation results indicate that the SSI-COV algorithm is effective in identifying the modal parameters of the spacecraft only using the output data of the system under ambient excitation.

Structural subgrid-scale modeling for large-eddy simulation: A review

Abstract: Accurately modeling nonlinear interactions in turbulence is one of the key challenges for large-eddy simulation (LES) of turbulence. In this article, we review recent studies on structural subgrid scale modeling, focusing on evaluating how well these models predict the effects of small scales. The article discusses a priori and a posteriori test results. Other nonlinear models are briefly discussed, and future prospects are noted.

Self-propulsion of flapping bodies in viscous fluids: Recent advances and perspectives

Abstract: Flapping-powered propulsion is used by many animals to locomote through air or water. Here we review recent experimental and numerical studies on self-propelled mechanical systems powered by a flapping motion. These studies improve our understanding of the mutual interaction between actively flapping bodies and surrounding fluids. The results obtained in these works provide not only new insights into biolocomotion but also useful information for the biomimetic design of artificial flyers and swimmers.

Comparative assessment of SAS and DES turbulence modeling for massively separated flows

Abstract: Numerical studies of the flow past a circular cylinder at Reynolds number $$1.4\times 10^{5}$$ and NACA0021 airfoil at the angle of attack $$60^{\circ }$$ have been carried out by scale-adaptive simulation (SAS) and detached eddy simulation (DES), in comparison with the existing experimental data. The new version of the model developed by Egorov and Menter is assessed, and advantages and disadvantages of the SAS simulation are analyzed in detail to provide guidance for industrial application in the future. Moreover, the mechanism of the scale-adaptive characteristics in separated regions is discussed, which is obscure in previous analyses. It is concluded that: the mean flow properties satisfactorily agree with the experimental results for the SAS simulation, although the prediction of the second order turbulent statistics in the near wake region is just reasonable. The SAS model can produce a larger magnitude of the turbulent kinetic energy in the recirculation bubble, and, consequently, a smaller recirculation region and a more rapid recovery of the mean velocity outside the recirculation region than the DES approach with the same grid resolution. The vortex shedding is slightly less irregular with the SAS model than with the DES approach, probably due to the higher dissipation of the SAS simulation under the condition of the coarse mesh.

Measurement of residual stress in a multi-layer semiconductor heterostructure by micro-Raman spectroscopy

Abstract: Si-based multilayer structures are widely used in current microelectronics. During their preparation, some inhomogeneous residual stress is induced, resulting in competition between interface mismatching and surface energy and even leading to structure failure. This work presents a methodological study on the measurement of residual stress in a multi-layer semiconductor heterostructure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to measure the geometric parameters of the multilayer structure. The relationship between the Raman spectrum and the stress/strain on the [100] and [110] crystal orientations was determined to enable surface and cross-section residual stress analyses, respectively. Based on the Raman mapping results, the distribution of residual stress along the depth of the multi-layer heterostructure was successfully obtained.

Vibration analysis of hard-coated composite beam considering the strain dependent characteristic of coating material

Abstract: The strain dependent characteristics of hard coatings make the vibration analysis of hard-coated composite structure become a challenging task. In this study, the modeling and the analysis method of a hard-coated composite beam was developed considering the strain dependent characteristics of coating material. Firstly, based on analyzing the properties of hard-coating material, a high order polynomial was adopted to characterize the strain dependent characteristics of coating materials. Then, the analytical model of a hard-coated composite beam was created by the energy method. Next, using the numerical method to solve the vibration response and the resonance frequencies of the composite beam, a specific calculation flow was also proposed. Finally, a cantilever beam coated with MgO + Al $$_{2}$$ O $$_{3}$$ hard coating was chosen as the study case; under different excitation levels, the resonance region responses and the resonance frequencies of the composite beam were calculated using the proposed method. The calculation results were compared with the experiment and the linear calculation, and the correctness of the created model was verified. The study shows that compared with the general linear calculation, the proposed method can still maintain an acceptable precision when the excitation level is larger.

Influences of affiliated components and train length on the train wind

Abstract: The induced airflow from passing trains, which is recognized as train wind, usually has adverse impacts on people in the surroundings, i.e., the aerodynamic forces generated by a high-speed train’s wind may act on the human body and endanger the safety of pedestrians or roadside workers. In this paper, an improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) method is used to study train wind. The effects of the affiliated components and train length on train wind are analyzed. The results indicate that the affiliated components and train length have no effect on train wind in the area in front of the leading nose. In the downstream and wake regions, the longitudinal train wind becomes stronger as the length of the train increases, while the transverse train wind is not affected. The presence of affiliated components strengthens the train wind in the near field of the train because of strong flow solid interactions but has limited effects on train wind in the far field.

Flapping dynamics of a flexible propulsor near ground

Abstract: The flapping motion of a flexible propulsor near the ground was simulated using the immersed boundary method. The hydrodynamic benefits of the propulsor near the ground were explored by varying the heaving frequency (St) of the leading edge of the flexible propulsor. Propulsion near the ground had some advantages in generating thrust and propelling faster than propulsion away from the ground. The mode analysis and flapping amplitude along the Lagrangian coordinate were examined to analyze the kinematics as a function of the ground proximity (d) and St. The trailing edge amplitude ( $$a_\mathrm{tail}$$ ) and the net thrust ( $$\overline{{F}}_x$$ ) were influenced by St of the flexible propulsor. The vortical structures in the wake were analyzed for different flapping conditions.

Large-eddy simulation of circular cylinder flow at subcritical Reynolds number: Turbulent wake and sound radiation

Abstract: The flows past a circular cylinder at Reynolds number 3900 are simulated using large-eddy simulation (LES) and the far-field sound is calculated from the LES results. A low dissipation energy-conserving finite volume scheme is used to discretize the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. The dynamic global coefficient version of the Vreman’s subgrid scale (SGS) model is used to compute the sub-grid stresses. Curle’s integral of Lighthill’s acoustic analogy is used to extract the sound radiated from the cylinder. The profiles of mean velocity and turbulent fluctuations obtained are consistent with the previous experimental and computational results. The sound radiation at far field exhibits the characteristic of a dipole and directivity. The sound spectra display the $$-5/3$$ power law. It is shown that Vreman’s SGS model in company with dynamic procedure is suitable for LES of turbulence generated noise.

Analysis of the geometrical dependence of auxetic behavior in reentrant structures by finite elements

Abstract: Materials with a negative Poisson’s ratio (PR) are called auxetics; they are characterized by expansion/contraction when tensioned/compressed. Given this counterintuitive behavior, they present very particular characteristics and mechanical behavior. Geometrical models have been developed to justify and artificially reproduce such materials’ auxetic behavior. The focus of this study is the exploration of a reentrant model by analyzing the variation in the PR of reentrant structures as a function of geometrical and base material parameters. It is shown that, even in the presence of protruding ribs, there may not be auxetic behavior, and this depends on the geometry of each reentrant structure. Values determined for these parameters can be helpful as approximate reference data in the design and fabrication of auxetic lattices using reentrant geometries. .

A cavitation model for computations of unsteady cavitating flows

Abstract: A local vortical cavitation (LVC) model for the computation of unsteady cavitation is proposed. The model is derived from the Rayleigh–Plesset equations, and takes into account the relations between the cavitation bubble radius and local vortical effects. Calculations of unsteady cloud cavitating flows around a Clark-Y hydrofoil are performed to assess the predictive capability of the LVC model using well-documented experimental data. Compared with the conventional Zwart’s model, better agreement is observed between the predictions of the LVC model and experimental data, including measurements of time-averaged flow structures, instantaneous cavity shapes and the frequency of the cloud cavity shedding process. Based on the predictions of the LVC model, it is demonstrated that the evaporation process largely concentrates in the core region of the leading edge vorticity in accordance with the growth in the attached cavity, and the condensation process concentrates in the core region of the trailing edge vorticity, which corresponds to the spread of the rear component of the attached cavity. When the attached cavity breaks up and moves downstream, the condensation area fully transports to the wake region, which is in accordance with the dissipation of the detached cavity. Furthermore, using vorticity transport equations, we also find that the periodic formation, breakup, and shedding of the sheet/cloud cavities, along with the associated baroclinic torque, are important mechanisms for vorticity production and modification. When the attached cavity grows, the liquid–vapour interface that moves towards the trailing edge enhances the vorticity in the attached cavity closure region. As the re-entrant jet moves upstream, the wavy/bubbly cavity interface enhances the vorticity near the trailing edge. At the end of the cycle, the break-up of the stable attached cavity is the main reason for the vorticity enhancement near the suction surface. A local vortical cavitation (LVC) model for the computation of unsteady cavitation is proposed. The model is derived from the Rayleigh–Plesset equations, and takes into account the relations between the cavitation bubble radius and local vortical effects. Compared with the conventional Zwart’s model, better agreement is observed between the predictions of the LVC model and experimental data, including measurements of time-averaged flow structures, instantaneous cavity shapes, and the frequency of the cloud cavity shedding process.

Steady-state responses of a belt-drive dynamical system under dual excitations

Abstract: The stable steady-state periodic responses of a belt-drive system with a one-way clutch are studied. For the first time, the dynamical system is investigated under dual excitations. The system is simultaneously excited by the firing pulsations of the engine and the harmonic motion of the foundation. Nonlinear discrete–continuous equations are derived for coupling the transverse vibration of the belt spans and the rotations of the driving and driven pulleys and the accessory pulley. The nonlinear dynamics is studied under equal and multiple relations between the frequency of the firing pulsations and the frequency of the foundation motion. Furthermore, translating belt spans are modeled as axially moving strings. A set of nonlinear piecewise ordinary differential equations is achieved by using the Galerkin truncation. Under various relations between the excitation frequencies, the time histories of the dynamical system are numerically simulated based on the time discretization method. Furthermore, the stable steady-state periodic response curves are calculated based on the frequency sweep. Moreover, the convergence of the Galerkin truncation is examined. Numerical results demonstrate that the one-way clutch reduces the resonance amplitude of the rotations of the driven pulley and the accessory pulley. On the other hand, numerical examples prove that the resonance areas of the belt spans are decreased by eliminating the torque-transmitting in the opposite direction. With the increasing amplitude of the foundation excitation, the damping effect of the one-way clutch will be reduced. Furthermore, as the amplitude of the firing pulsations of the engine increases, the jumping phenomena in steady-state response curves of the belt-drive system with or without a one-way clutch both occur.

Energy corrugation in atomic-scale friction on graphite revisited by molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract: Although atomic stick–slip friction has been extensively studied since its first demonstration on graphite, the physical understanding of this dissipation-dominated phenomenon is still very limited. In this work, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the frictional behavior of a diamond tip sliding over a graphite surface. In contrast to the common wisdom, our MD results suggest that the energy barrier associated lateral sliding (known as energy corrugation) comes not only from interaction between the tip and the top layer of graphite but also from interactions among the deformed atomic layers of graphite. Due to the competition of these two subentries, friction on graphite can be tuned by controlling the relative adhesion of different interfaces. For relatively low tip-graphite adhesion, friction behaves normally and increases with increasing normal load. However, for relatively high tip-graphite adhesion, friction increases unusually with decreasing normal load leading to an effectively negative coefficient of friction, which is consistent with the recent experimental observations on chemically modified graphite. Our results provide a new insight into the physical origins of energy corrugation in atomic scale friction.

Lagrangian-based investigation of the transient flow structures around a pitching hydrofoil

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to address the transient flow structures around a pitching hydrofoil by combining physical and numerical studies. In order to predict the dynamic behavior of the flow structure effectively, the Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) defined by the ridges of the finite-time Lyapunov exponent (FTLE) are utilized under the framework of Navier–Stokes flow computations. In the numerical simulations, the $$k\hbox {-}\omega $$ shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model, coupled with a two-equation $$\gamma {-Re}_\theta $$ transition model, is used for the turbulence closure. Results are presented for a NACA66 hydrofoil undergoing slowly and rapidly pitching motions from $$0^{\circ }$$ to $$15^{\circ }$$ then back to $$0^{\circ }$$ at a moderate Reynolds number $$Re=7.5\times 10^{5}$$ . The results reveal that the transient flow structures can be observed by the LCS method. For the slowly pitching case, it consists of five stages: quasi-steady and laminar, transition from laminar to turbulent, vortex development, large-scale vortex shedding, and reverting to laminar. The observation of LCS and Lagrangian particle tracers elucidates that the trailing edge vortex is nearly attached and stable during the vortex development stage and the interaction between the leading and trailing edge vortex caused by the adverse pressure gradient forces the vortexes to shed downstream during the large-scale vortex shedding stage, which corresponds to obvious fluctuations of the hydrodynamic response. For the rapidly pitching case, the inflection is hardly to be observed and the stall is delayed. The vortex formation, interaction, and shedding occurred once instead of being repeated three times, which is responsible for just one fluctuation in the hydrodynamic characteristics. The numerical results also show that the FTLE field has the potential to identify the transient flows, and the LCS can represent the divergence extent of infinite neighboring particles and capture the interface of the vortex region. In this paper, the transient flow structures around a pitching hydrofoil are studied with the FTLE and the LCS. The observation of LCS and Lagrangian particle tracers elucidates the vortex development and interactions. The numerical results also show that the FTLE field has the potential to identify the transient flows, and the ridges of FTLE, LCS, can represent the divergence extent of infinite neighboring particles and capture the interface of the vortex region.

Analytical and finite-element study of optimal strain distribution in various beam shapes for energy harvesting applications

Abstract: Owing to the increasing demand for harvesting energy from environmental vibration for use in self-powered electronic applications, cantilever-based vibration energy harvesting has attracted considerable interest from various parties and has become one of the most common approaches to converting redundant mechanical energy into electrical energy. As the output voltage produced from a piezoelectric material depends largely on the geometric shape and the size of the beam, there is a need to model and compare the performance of cantilever beams of differing geometries. This paper presents the study of strain distribution in various shapes of cantilever beams, including a convex and concave edge profile elliptical beam that have not yet been discussed in any prior literature. Both analytical and finite-element models are derived and the resultant strain distributions in the beam are computed based on a MATLAB solver and ANSYS finite-element analysis tools. An optimum geometry for a vibration-based energy harvesting system is verified. Finally, experimental results comparing the power density for triangular and rectangular piezoelectric beams are also presented to validate the findings of the study, and the claim, as suggested in the literature, is verified.

Biomimetic flexible plate actuators are faster and more efficient with a passive attachment

Abstract: Using three-dimensional computer simulations, we probe biomimetic free swimming of an internally actuated flexible plate in the regime near the first natural frequency. The plate is driven by an oscillating internal moment approximating the actuation mechanism of a piezoelectric macro fiber composite (MFC) bimorph. We show in our simulations that the addition of a passive attachment increases both swimming velocity and efficiency. Specifically, if the active and passive sections are of similar size, the overall performance is the best. We determine that this optimum is a result of two competing factors. If the passive section is too large, then the actuated portion is unable to generate substantial deflection to create sufficient thrust. On the other hand, a large actuated section leads to a bending pattern that is inefficient at generating thrust especially at higher frequencies.

Effect of crystalline grain structures on the mechanical properties of twinning-induced plasticity steel

Abstract: In order to improve the mechanical properties of twinning-induced plasticity steel, the grain morphology was tailored by different solidification technologies combined with deformation and heat treatment processing routes. Three typical grain morphologies, i.e., equiaxed, columnar as well as equiaxed/columnar grains were formed, and their mechanical behaviors were comparatively studied. Among the three materials, the equiaxed grain material exhibited the highest strength but the lowest plasticity. Depending on the grain size, the smaller the grain size, the higher the strength, but the lower the elongation. The columnar grain material possessed the most excellent plasticity but the weakest strength. These properties presented a non-monotonic dependence on the dendrite spacing, and the moderate spacing resulted in the optimum combination of strength and plasticity. The equiaxed/columnar grain coexisted material showed interesting properties, i.e., the strength and plasticity were just between those of single grain-shaped materials. The three materials also presented different strain hardening behaviors particularly in the uniform deformation stage. The equiaxed grain material showed a constant strain hardening rate, while the columnar grain and equiaxed/columnar grain materials showed a progressively increasing rate with increasing the true strain. The introduction of equiaxed grains into the columnar grain material obviously enhances the strength but weakens the plasticity of the material. However, it seems that an appropriate amount of equiaxed grains will provide the material an optimum combination of strength and plasticity.

Nonlinear integral resonant controller for vibration reduction in nonlinear systems

Abstract: A new nonlinear integral resonant controller (NIRC) is introduced in this paper to suppress vibration in nonlinear oscillatory smart structures. The NIRC consists of a first-order resonant integrator that provides additional damping in a closed-loop system response to reduce high-amplitude nonlinear vibration around the fundamental resonance frequency. The method of multiple scales is used to obtain an approximate solution for the closed-loop system. Then closed-loop system stability is investigated using the resulting modulation equation. Finally, the effects of different control system parameters are illustrated and an approximate solution response is verified via numerical simulation results. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed controller are presented and extensively discussed in the results. The controlled system via the NIRC shows no high-amplitude peaks in the neighboring frequencies of the resonant mode, unlike conventional second-order compensation methods. This makes the NIRC controlled system robust to excitation frequency variations.

Nanoscale strain engineering of graphene and graphene-based devices

Abstract: Structural distortions in nano-materials can induce dramatic changes in their electronic properties. This situation is well manifested in graphene, a two-dimensional honeycomb structure of carbon atoms with only one atomic layer thickness. In particular, strained graphene can result in both charging effects and pseudo-magnetic fields, so that controlled strain on a perfect graphene lattice can be tailored to yield desirable electronic properties. Here, we describe the theoretical foundation for strain-engineering of the electronic properties of graphene, and then provide experimental evidence for strain-induced pseudo-magnetic fields and charging effects in monolayer graphene. We further demonstrate the feasibility of nano-scale strain engineering for graphene-based devices by means of theoretical simulations and nano-fabrication technology.

Structure dependent elastic properties of supergraphene

Abstract: Complete replacement of aromatic carbon bonds in graphene by carbyne chains gives rise to supergraphene whose mechanical properties are expected to depend on its structure. However, this dependence is to date unclear. In this paper, explicit expressions for the in-plane stiffness and Poisson’s ratio of supergraphene are obtained using a molecular mechanics model. The theoretical results show that the in-plane stiffness of supergraphene is drastically (at least one order) smaller than that of graphene, whereas its Poisson’s ratio is higher than 0.5. As the index number increases (i.e., the length of carbyne chains increases and the bond density decreases), the in-plane stiffness of supergraphene decreases while the Poisson’s ratio increases. By analyzing the relation among the layer modulus, in-plane stiffness and Poisson’s ratio, it is revealed that the mechanism of the faster decrease in the in-plane stiffness than the bond density is due to the increase of Poisson’s ratio. These findings are useful for future applications of supergraphene in nanomechanical systems.

Acoustic emission assessment of interface cracking in thermal barrier coatings

Abstract: In this paper, acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation methods were applied to monitor interface cracking in thermal barrier coatings under compression. The interface failure process can be identified via its AE features, including buckling, delamination incubation and spallation. According to the Fourier transformation of AE signals, there are four different failure modes: surface vertical cracks, opening and sliding interface cracks, and substrate deformation. The characteristic frequency of AE signals from surface vertical cracks is 0.21 MHz, whilst that of the two types of interface cracks are 0.43 and 0.29 MHz, respectively. The energy released of the two types of interface cracks are 0.43 and 0.29 MHz, respectively. Based on the energy released from cracking and the AE signals, a relationship is established between the interface crack length and AE parameters, which is in good agreement with experimental results.

Correcting the initialization of models with fractional derivatives via history-dependent conditions

Abstract: Fractional differential equations are more and more used in modeling memory (history-dependent, non-local, or hereditary) phenomena. Conventional initial values of fractional differential equations are defined at a point, while recent works define initial conditions over histories. We prove that the conventional initialization of fractional differential equations with a Riemann–Liouville derivative is wrong with a simple counter-example. The initial values were assumed to be arbitrarily given for a typical fractional differential equation, but we find one of these values can only be zero. We show that fractional differential equations are of infinite dimensions, and the initial conditions, initial histories, are defined as functions over intervals. We obtain the equivalent integral equation for Caputo case. With a simple fractional model of materials, we illustrate that the recovery behavior is correct with the initial creep history, but is wrong with initial values at the starting point of the recovery. We demonstrate the application of initial history by solving a forced fractional Lorenz system numerically.

Plate/shell topological optimization subjected to linear buckling constraints by adopting composite exponential filtering function

Abstract: In this paper, a model of topology optimization with linear buckling constraints is established based on an independent and continuous mapping method to minimize the plate/shell structure weight. A composite exponential function (CEF) is selected as filtering functions for element weight, the element stiffness matrix and the element geometric stiffness matrix, which recognize the design variables, and to implement the changing process of design variables from “discrete” to “continuous” and back to “discrete”. The buckling constraints are approximated as explicit formulations based on the Taylor expansion and the filtering function. The optimization model is transformed to dual programming and solved by the dual sequence quadratic programming algorithm. Finally, three numerical examples with power function and CEF as filter function are analyzed and discussed to demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed method.