Showing papers in "International Journal of Solids and Structures in 2003"

Abstract: The representative volume element (RVE) plays a central role in the mechanics and physics of random heterogeneous materials with a view to predicting their effective properties. A quantitative definition of its size is proposed in this work. A RVE size can be associated with a given precision of the estimation of the wanted overall property and the number of realizations of a given volume V of microstructure that one is able to consider. It is shown to depend on the investigated morphological or physical property, the contrast in the properties of the constituents, and their volume fractions. The methodology is applied to a specific random microstructure, namely a two-phase three-dimensional Voronoi mosaic. Finite element simulations of volumes of different sizes are performed in the case of linear elasticity and thermal conductivity. The volumes are subjected to homogeneous strain, stress or periodic boundary conditions. The effective properties can be determined for large volumes and a small number of realizations. Conversely, smaller volumes can be used providing that a sufficient number of realizations are considered. A bias in the estimation of the effective properties is observed for too small volumes for all types of boundary conditions. The variance of computed apparent properties for each volume size is used to define the precision of the estimation. The key-notion of integral range is introduced to relate this error estimation and the definition of the RVE size. For given wanted precision and number of realizations, one is able to provide a minimal volume size for the computation of effective properties. The results can also be used to predict the minimal number of realizations that must be considered for a given volume size in order to estimate the effective property for a given precision. The RVE sizes found for elastic and thermal properties, but also for a geometrical property like volume fraction, are compared.

Abstract: This paper presents a structural mechanics approach to modeling the deformation of carbon nanotubes. Fundamental to the proposed concept is the notion that a carbon nanotube is a geometrical frame-like structure and the primary bonds between two nearest-neighboring atoms act like load-bearing beam members, whereas an individual atom acts as the joint of the related load-bearing beam members. By establishing a linkage between structural mechanics and molecular mechanics, the sectional property parameters of these beam members are obtained. The accuracy and stability of the present method is verified by its application to graphite. Computations of the elastic deformation of single-walled carbon nanotubes reveal that the Young’s moduli of carbon nanotubes vary with the tube diameter and are affected by their helicity. With increasing tube diameter, the Young’s moduli of both armchair and zigzag carbon nanotubes increase monotonically and approach the Young’s modulus of graphite. These findings are in good agreement with the existing theoretical and experimental results.

Abstract: An explicit unified form of boundary conditions for a periodic representative volume element (RVE) is presented which satisfies the periodicity conditions, and is suitable for any combination of multiaxial loads. Starting from a simple 2-D example, we demonstrate that the “homogeneous boundary conditions” are not only over-constrained but they may also violate the boundary traction periodicity conditions. Subsequently, the proposed method is applied to: (a) the simultaneous prediction of nine elastic constants of a unidirectional laminate by applying multiaxial loads to a cubic unit cell model; (b) the prediction of in-plane elastic moduli for [± θ ] n angle-ply laminates. To facilitate the analysis, a meso/micro rhombohedral RVE model has been developed for the [± θ ] n angle-ply laminates. The results obtained are in good agreement with the available theoretical and experimental results.

Abstract: This work presents a new multi-layer laminated composite structure model to predict the mechanical behaviour of multi-layered laminated composite structures. As a case study, the mechanical behaviour of laminated composite beam (90°/0°/0°/90°) is examined from both a static and dynamic point of view. The results are compared with the model “Sinus” and finite element method studied by Abou Harb. Results show that this new model is more precise than older ones as compared to the results by the finite element method (Abaqus). To introduce continuity on the interfaces of each layer, the kinematics defined by Ossadzow was used. The equilibrium equations and natural boundary conditions are derived by the principle of virtual power. To validate the new proposed model, different cases in bending, buckling and free vibration have been considered.

Abstract: Split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique has been used widely to measure the dynamic strength enhancement of concrete-like materials at high strain-rate between 101 and 103 s−1. Although SHPB technique has been verified for metallic materials, the validity and accuracy of SHPB results for non-metallic materials have not been thoroughly studied. The present paper examines the application of SHPB to determine the dynamic strength of concrete-like materials whose compressive strength is hydrostatic-stress-dependent. It shows that the apparent dynamic strength enhancement beyond the strain-rate of 102 s−1 is strongly influenced by the hydrostatic stress effect due to the lateral inertia confinement in a SHPB test. This apparent dynamic strength enhancement has been wrongly interpreted as strain-rate effect and has been adopted in both dynamic structural design and concrete-like material models for analytical and numerical simulations, which may lead to over-prediction on the dynamic strength of concrete-like materials. The SHPB test is simulated in the present paper using FE method and Drucker–Prager model to investigate how the hydrostatic stress affects the SHPB test results of concrete-like materials. A rate-insensitive material model is used in order to examine this pseudo-strain-rate sensitive phenomenon. A collection of SHPB test results of concrete-like materials are compared with simulation results, which confirms quantitatively that the apparent dynamic strength enhancement of concrete-like materials in a SHPB test is caused by the lateral inertia confinement instead of the strain-rate sensitivity of the tested material.

Abstract: The extended finite element method (X-FEM) is a numerical method for modeling strong (displacement) as well as weak (strain) discontinuities within a standard finite element framework. In the X-FEM, special functions are added to the finite element approximation using the framework of partition of unity. For crack modeling in isotropic linear elasticity, a discontinuous function and the two-dimensional asymptotic crack-tip displacement fields are used to account for the crack. This enables the domain to be modeled by finite elements without explicitly meshing the crack surfaces, and hence quasi-static crack propagation simulations can be carried out without remeshing. In this paper, we discuss some of the key issues in the X-FEM and describe its implementation within a general-purpose finite element code. The finite element program Dynaflow ™ is considered in this study and the implementation for modeling 2-d cracks in isotropic and bimaterial media is described. In particular, the array-allocation for enriched degrees of freedom, use of geometric-based queries for carrying out nodal enrichment and mesh partitioning, and the assembly procedure for the discrete equations are presented. We place particular emphasis on the design of a computer code to enable the modeling of discontinuous phenomena within a finite element framework.

Abstract: In this paper we propose a formulation of polyconvex anisotropic hyperelasticity at finite strains. The main goal is the representation of the governing constitutive equations within the framework of the invariant theory which automatically fulfill the polyconvexity condition in the sense of Ball in order to guarantee the existence of minimizers. Based on the introduction of additional argument tensors, the so-called structural tensors, the free energies and the anisotropic stress response functions are represented by scalar-valued and tensor-valued isotropic tensor functions, respectively. In order to obtain various free energies to model specific problems which permit the matching of data stemming from experiments, we assume an additive structure. A variety of isotropic and anisotropic functions for transversely isotropic material behaviour are derived, where each individual term fulfills a priori the polyconvexity condition. The tensor generators for the stresses and moduli are evaluated in detail and some representative numerical examples are presented. Furthermore, we propose an extension to orthotropic symmetry.

Abstract: The exact description of the overall behavior of composites with nonlinear dissipative phases requires an infinity of internal variables. Approximate models involving only a finite number of those can be obtained by considering a decomposition of the microscopic anelastic strain field on a finite set of transformation fields. The Transformation Field Analysis of Dvorak [Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A 437 (1992) 311] corresponds to piecewise uniform transformation fields. The present theory considers nonuniform transformation fields. Comparison with numerical simulations shows the accuracy of the proposed model.

Abstract: We develop homogenization schemes and numerical algorithms for two-phase elasto-plastic composite materials and structures. A Hill-type incremental formulation enables the simulation of unloading and cyclic loadings. It also allows to handle any rate-independent model for each phase. We study the crucial issue of tangent operators: elasto-plastic (or "continuum") versus algorithmic (or "consistent"), and anisotropic versus isotropic. We apply two methods of extraction of isotropic tangent moduli. We compare mathematically the stiffnesses of various tangent operators. All rate equations are discretized in time using implicit integration. We implemented two homogenization schemes: Mori-Tanaka and a double inclusion model, and two plasticity models: classical J(2) plasticity and Chaboche's model with non-linear kinematic and isotropic hardenings. We consider composites with different properties and present several discriminating numerical simulations. In many cases, the results are validated against finite element (FE) or experimental data. We integrated our homogenization code into the FE program ABAQUS using a user material interface UMAT. A two-scale procedure allows to compute realistic structures made of non-linear composite materials within reasonable CPU time and memory usage; examples are shown. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Based on the classical nonlinear von Karman plate theory, axisymmetric large deflection bending of a functionally graded circular plate is investigated under mechanical, thermal and combined thermal–mechanical loadings, respectively, and axisymmetric thermal post-buckling behavior of a functionally graded circular plate is also investigated. The mechanical and thermal properties of functionally graded material (FGM) are assumed to vary continuously through the thickness of the plate, and obey a simple power law of the volume fraction of the constituents. Governing equations for the problem are derived, and then a shooting method is employed to numerically solve the equations. Effects of material constant n and boundary conditions on the temperature distribution, nonlinear bending, critical buckling temperature and thermal post-buckling behavior of the FGM plate are discussed in details.

Abstract: An analytical solution is presented for three-dimensional thermomechanical deformations of a simply supported functionally graded (FG) rectangular plate subjected to time-dependent thermal loads on its top and/or bottom surfaces. Material properties are taken to be analytical functions of the thickness coordinate. The uncoupled quasi-static linear thermoelasticity theory is adopted in which the change in temperature, if any, due to deformations is neglected. A temperature function that identically satisfies thermal boundary conditions at the edges and the Laplace transformation technique are used to reduce equations governing the transient heat conduction to an ordinary differential equation (ODE) in the thickness coordinate which is solved by the power series method. Next, the elasticity problem for the simply supported plate for each instantaneous temperature distribution is analyzed by using displacement functions that identically satisfy boundary conditions at the edges. The resulting coupled ODEs with variable coefficients are also solved by the power series method. The analytical solution is applicable to a plate of arbitrary thickness. Results are given for two-constituent metal-ceramic FG rectangular plates with a power-law through-the-thickness variation of the volume fraction of the constituents. The effective elastic moduli at a point are determined by either the Mori–Tanaka or the self-consistent scheme. The transient temperature, displacements, and thermal stresses at several critical locations are presented for plates subjected to either time-dependent temperature or heat flux prescribed on the top surface. Results are also given for various volume fractions of the two constituents, volume fraction profiles and the two homogenization schemes. 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: In this article we investigate several models contained in the literature in the case of near-incompressibility based on invariants in terms of polyconvexity and coerciveness inequality, which are sufficient to guarantee the existence of a solution. These models are due to Rivlin and Saunders, namely the generalized polynomial-type elasticity, and Arruda and Boyce. The extension to near-incompressibility is usually carried out by an additive decomposition of the strain energy into a volume-changing and a volume-preserving part, where the volume-changing part depends on the determinant of the deformation gradient and the volume-preserving part on the invariants of the unimodular right Cauchy–Green tensor. It will be shown that the Arruda–Boyce model satisfies the polyconvexity condition, whereas the polynomial-type elasticity does not. Therefore, we propose a new class of strain-energy functions depending on invariants. Moreover, we focus our attention on the structure of further isotropic strain-energy functions.

Abstract: In this paper a simple method for crack identification in beam structures based on wavelet analysis is presented. The fundamental vibration mode of a cracked cantilever beam is analyzed using continuous wavelet transform and both the location and size of the crack are estimated. The position of the crack is located by the sudden change in the spatial variation of the transformed response. To estimate the size of the crack, an intensity factor is defined which relates the size of the crack to the coefficients of the wavelet transform. An intensity factor law is established which allows accurate prediction of crack size. The viability of the proposed method is investigated both analytically and experimentally in case of a cantilever beam containing a transverse surface crack. In the light of the results obtained, the advantages and limitations of the proposed method as well as suggestions for future work are presented and discussed.

Abstract: The problems of bending and stability of Bernoulli–Euler beams are solved analytically on the basis of a simple linear theory of gradient elasticity with surface energy The governing equations of equilibrium are obtained by both a combination of the basic equations and a variational statement The additional boundary conditions are obtained by both variational and weighted residual approaches Two boundary value problems (one for bending and one for stability) are solved and the gradient elasticity effect on the beam bending response and its critical (buckling) load is assessed for both cases It is found that beam deflections decrease and buckling load increases for increasing values of the gradient coefficient, while the surface energy effect is small and insignificant for bending and buckling, respectively

Abstract: This paper presents an analysis of the thermomechanical behavior of hollow circular cylinders of functionally graded material (FGM). The solutions are obtained by a novel limiting process that employs the solutions of homogeneous hollow circular cylinders, with no recourse to the basic theory or the equations of non-homogeneous thermoelasticity. Several numerical cases are studied, and conclusions are drawn regarding the general properties of thermal stresses in the FGM cylinder. We conclude that thermal stresses necessarily occur in the FGM cylinder, except in the trivial case of zero temperature. While heat resistance may be improved by sagaciously designing the material composition, careful attention must be paid to the fact that thermal stresses in the FGM cylinder are governed by more factors than are its homogeneous counterparts. The results that are presented here will serve as benchmarks for future related work.

Abstract: In this paper, we examine the postbuckling behavior of functionally graded material FGM rectangular plates that are integrated with surface-bonded piezoelectric actuators and are subjected to the combined action of uniform temperature change, in-plane forces, and constant applied actuator voltage. A Galerkin-differential quadrature iteration algorithm is proposed for solution of the non-linear partial differential governing equations. To account for the transverse shear strains, the Reddy higher-order shear deformation plate theory is employed. The bifurcation-type thermo-mechanical buckling of fully clamped plates, and the postbuckling behavior of plates with more general boundary conditions subject to various thermo-electro-mechanical loads, are discussed in detail. Parametric studies are also undertaken, and show the effects of applied actuator voltage, in-plane forces, volume fraction exponents, temperature change, and the character of boundary conditions on the buckling and postbuckling characteristics of the plates.

Abstract: In this contribution various aspects of an anisotropic damage model coupled to plasticity are considered. The model is formulated within the thermodynamic framework and implements a strong coupling between plasticity and damage. The constitutive equations for the damaged material are written according to the principle of strain energy equivalence between the virgin material and the damaged material. The damaged material is modeled using the constitutive laws of the effective undamaged material in which the nominal stresses are replaced by the effective stresses. The model considers different interaction mechanisms between damage and plasticity defects in such a way that two-isotropic and two-kinematic hardening evolution equations are derived, one of each for the plasticity and the other for the damage. An additive decomposition of the total strain into elastic and inelastic parts is adopted in this work. The elastic part is further decomposed into two portions, one is due to the elastic distortion of the material grains and the other is due to the crack closure and void contraction. The inelastic part is also decomposed into two portions, one is due to nucleation and propagation of dislocations and the other is due to the lack of crack closure and void contraction. Uniaxial tension tests with unloadings have been used to investigate the damage growth in high strength steel. A good agreement between the experimental results and the model is obtained.

Abstract: The performance characteristics of a truss core sandwich panel design based on the 3D Kagome has been measured and compared with earlier simulations. Panels have been fabricated by investment casting and tested in compression, shear and bending. The isotropic nature of this core design has been confirmed. The superior performance relative to truss designs based on the tetrahedron has been demonstrated and attributed to the greater resistance to plastic buckling at the equivalent core density.

Abstract: An exact three-dimensional analysis is presented for a functionally gradient piezoelectric material rectangular plate that is simply supported and grounded along its four edges. The state equations of the functionally gradient piezoelectric material are developed based on the state space approach. Assuming that the mechanical and electric properties of the material have the same exponent-law dependence on the thickness-coordinate, we obtain an exact three-dimensional solution of the coupling electroelastic fields in the plate under mechanical, and electric loading on the upper and lower surfaces of the plate. The influences of the different functionally gradient material properties on the structural response of the plate to the mechanical and electric stimuli are then studied through examples.

Abstract: This paper develops an analytical model for the ballistic impact response of fibrous materials of interest in body armor applications. It focuses on an un-tensioned 2D membrane impacted transversely by a blunt-nosed projectile, a problem that has remained unsolved for a half a century. Membrane properties are assumed characteristic of the best current body armor materials (Kevlar®, Spectra®, Zylon®, S2 glass), which have very high stiffness and strength per unit weight, and low strain-to-failure. Successful comparisons will be made with extensive experimental data on such material systems as reported by Cunniff [Decoupled response of textile body armor. Proc. 18th Int. Symp. of Ballistics, San Antonio, Texas, 1999a, pp. 814–821; Vs–Vr relationships in textile system impact. Proc. 18th Int. Symp. of Ballistics, San Antonio, Texas, 1999b; Dimensional parameters for optimization of textile-based body armor systems, Proc. 18th Int. Symp. of Ballistics, San Antonio, Texas, 1999c, pp. 1303–1310]. Our mathematical formulation draws on the seminal work of Rakhmatulin and Dem’yanov [Strength Under High Transient Loads, 1961, pp. 94–152]. Under constant projectile velocity we first develop self-similar solution forms for the tensile ‘implosion’ wave and the curved cone wave that develops in its wake. Through matching boundary conditions at the cone wave front, we obtain an accurate approximate solution for the membrane response including cone wave speed and strain distribution. We then consider projectile deceleration due to membrane reactive forces, and obtain results on cone velocity, displacement and strain concentration versus time. Other results obtained are the membrane ballistic limit, or V50 velocity, and the residual velocity when penetrated above this limit. We then derive an exact functional representation of a V50 ‘master curve’ found empirically by Cunniff [ibid] to reduce data for a wide variety of fabric systems impacted by blunt cylindrical projectiles. This curve is given in terms two dimensionless parameters based only on fiber mechanical properties and the ratio of the fabric areal density to the projectile mass divided by its area of fabric contact. Our functional representation has no fitting parameters beyond one reflecting uncertainty in the effective diameter of the impact zone relative to the projectile diameter, and even then the values are consistent across several experimental systems. The extremely successful comparison of our analytical model to experimental results in the literature raises fundamental questions about many long-held views on fabric system impact behavior and parameters thought to be important.

Abstract: Modern aerospace shuttles and craft are subjected to super high temperatures, that have variation in two or three directions, which need to introduce new materials that can stand with such applications. Therefore, in the present work a two-dimensional functionally graded materials, 2D-FGM, are introduced to withstand super high temperatures and to give more reduction in thermal stresses. The suitable functions that can represent volume fractions of the introduced 2D-FGM are proposed. Then the rules of mixture of the 2D-FGM are derived based on the volume fractions of the 2D-FGM and the rules of mixture of the conventional FGM. The introduced volume fractions and rules of mixture for 2D-FGM were used to calculate the thermal stresses in 2D-FGM plate. Comparison between 2D-FGM and conventional FGM was carried out and showed that 2D-FGM has high capability to reduce thermal stresses than the conventional FGM.

Abstract: This paper develops a continuum theory for the elastic–viscoplastic deformation of amorphous solids such as polymeric and metallic glasses. Introducing an internal-state variable that represents the local free-volume associated with certain metastable states, we are able to capture the highly non-linear stress–strain behavior that precedes the yield-peak and gives rise to post-yield strain softening. Our theory explicitly accounts for the dependence of the Helmholtz free energy on the plastic deformation in a thermodynamically consistent manner. This dependence leads directly to a backstress in the underlying flow rule, and allows us to model the rapid strain-hardening response after the initial yield-drop in monotonic deformations, as well as the Bauschinger-type reverse-yielding phenomena typically observed in amorphous polymeric solids upon unloading after large plastic deformations. We have implemented a special set of constitutive equations resulting from the general theory in a finite-element computer program. Using this finite-element program, we apply the specialized equations to model the large-deformation response of the amorphous polymeric solid polycarbonate, at ambient temperature and pressure. We show numerical results to some representative problems, and compare them against corresponding results from physical experiments.

Abstract: Now by combining the finite element analysis and interval mathematics, a new, non-probabilistic, set-theoretical models, that is interval analysis method is being developed in scientific and engineering communities to predict the variability or uncertainty resulting from the unavoidable scatter in structural parameters and the external excitations as an alternative to the classical probabilistic approaches. Interval analysis methods of uncertainty were developed for modeling uncertain parameters of structures, in which bounds on the magnitude of uncertain parameters are only required, not necessarily knowing the probabilistic distribution densities. Instead of conventional optimization studies, where the minimum possible response is sought, here an uncertainty modeling is developed as an anti-optimization problem of finding the least favorable response and the most favorable response under the constraints within the set-theoretical description. In this study, we presented the non-probabilistic interval analysis method for the dynamical response of structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters. Under the condition of the interval vector, which contains the uncertain-but-bounded parameters, determined from probabilistic statistical information or stochastic sample test, through comparing between the non-probabilistic interval analysis method and the probabilistic approach in the mathematical proof and the numerical examples, we can see that the region of the dynamical response of structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters obtained by the interval analysis method contains that produced by the probabilistic approach. In other words, the width of the maximum or upper and minimum or lower bounds on the dynamical responses yielded by the probabilistic approach is tighter than those produced by the interval analysis method. This kind of results is coincident with the meaning of the probabilistic theory and interval mathematics.

Abstract: A phenomenological material model to represent the multiaxial material behaviour of shape memory alloys is proposed. The material model is able to represent the main effects of shape memory alloys: the one-way shape memory effect, the two-way shape memory effect due to external loads, the pseudoelastic and pseudoplastic behaviour as well as the transition range between pseudoelasticity and pseudoplasticity. The material model is based on a free energy function and evolution equations for internal variables. By means of the free energy function, the energy storage during thermomechanical processes is described. Evolution equations for internal variables, e.g. the inelastic strain tensor or the fraction of martensite are formulated to represent the dissipative material behaviour. In order to distinguish between different deformation mechanisms, case distinctions are introduced into the evolution equations. Thermomechanical consistency is ensured in the sense that the constitutive model satisfies the Clausius–Duhem inequality. Finally, some numerical solutions of the constitutive equations for isothermal and non-isothermal strain and stress processes demonstrate that the various phenomena of the material behaviour are well represented. This applies for uniaxial processes and for non-proportional loadings as well.

Abstract: This paper deals with the detection of open cracks in beam structures that undergo transverse vibrations. The investigation is aimed at detecting the location of open cracks in damaged beams by minimizing measurement data and baseline information of the structure. The study is carried out by using the continuous wavelet transform (CWT). The application of this recent, but advanced, mathematical tool is initially presented through a theoretical background, which is believed to be valuable for bridging the gap between the CWT and previous existing techniques. It is shown how the possibility to efficiently identify localized damages by CWT comes up from the intrinsic capability of the wavelets to collect several mathematical tools in only one mathematical aspect: derivatives, convolution and appropriate smoothing of data are translated into the CWT. Simulations show how the redundancy of the CWT in the functional space is able to efficiently identify locations of open cracks in the presence of noisy or clean data. Indeed, the possibility to approach the problem by using different families of wavelets, for several available scales, allows a successful application of the characteristic microscopy of the wavelets. The technique may be promisingly applied to discrete vibrational data.

Abstract: The finite element method has been used to simulate the properties of panels with Kagome and tetragonal cores under compressive and shear loading. The simulation has been performed for two different materials: a Cu-alloy with extensive strain hardening and an Al-alloy with minimal hardening. It is shown that the Kagome core is more resistant to plastic buckling than the tetragonal core under both compression and shear. One consequence is that the Kagome structure has the greater load capacity and a deferred susceptibility to softening. Another is that the Kagome core is isotropic in shear: contrasting with the soft orientations exhibited by the tetragonal core.

Abstract: A theory is developed and experiments designed to study the concept of using shape memory alloy (SMA) wires to effect the snap-through of unsymmetric composite laminates. The concept is presented in the context of structural morphing, that is, a structure changing shape to adjust to changing conditions or to change operating characteristics. While the specific problem studied is a simplification, the overall concept is to potentially take advantage of structures which have multiple equilibrium configurations and expend power only to change the structure from one configuration to another rather than to continuously expend power to hold the structure in the changed configuration. The unsymmetric laminate could be the structure itself, or simply part of a structure. Specifically, a theory is presented which allows for the prediction of the moment levels needed to effect the snap-through event. The moment is generated by a force and support arrangement attached to the laminate. A heated SMA wire attached to the supports provides the force. The necessary SMA constitutive behavior and laminate mechanics are presented. To avoid dealing with the heat transfer aspects of the SMA wire, the theory is used to predict snap-through as a function of SMA wire temperature, which can be measured directly. The geometry and force level considerations of the experiment are discussed, and the results of testing four unsymmetric laminates are compared with predictions. Laminate strain levels vs. temperature and the snap-through temperatures are measured for the these laminates. Repeatability of the experimental results is generally good, and the predictions are in reasonable agreement with the measurements.

Abstract: Stresses can cause anisotropic and inhomogeneous distribution of the refractive index. Their effects on the performance of optical waveguides have been observed in photoelectric devices. In this paper, the photo-elastic relation and wave equations for inhomogeneous and anisotropic waveguides are reviewed. The effective refractive indexes and mode shapes of planar waveguides under different stress states are obtained analytically. It is found that stress can affect the optical performance; different stress states play different roles: high stress value can change the cutoff thickness, which may induce multimode; in-plane stress causes birefringence, which may induce polarization shift and polarization dependent loss; stress concentration can change the mode shape, which may induced large transition loss; and pure shear stress has little effects on the effective refractive index.

Abstract: In this paper we present a strategy for tensegrity structures deployment. The main idea is to use a certain set of equilibria to which the undeployed and deployed configurations belong. In the state space this set is represented by an equilibrium manifold. The deployment is conducted such that the deployment trajectory is close to this equilibrium manifold.

Abstract: In this paper, spectral finite element method is employed to analyse the wave propagation behavior in a functionally graded (FG) beam subjected to high frequency impulse loading, which can be either thermal or mechanical. A new spectrally formulated element that has three degrees of freedom per node (based upon the first order shear deformation theory) is developed, which has an exact dynamic stiffness matrix, obtained by exactly solving the homogeneous part of the governing equations in the frequency domain. The element takes into account the variation of thermal and mechanical properties along its depth, which can be modeled either by explicit distribution law like the power law and the exponential law or by rule of mixture as used in composite. Ability of the element in capturing the essential wave propagation behavior other than predicting the propagating shear mode (which appears only at high frequency and is present only in higher order beam theories), is demonstrated. Propagation of stress wave and smoothing of depthwise stress distribution with time is presented. Dependence of cut-off frequency and maximum stress gradient on material properties and FG material (FGM) content is studied. The results are compared with the 2D plane stress FE and 1D Beam FE formulation. The versatility of the method is further demonstrated through the response of FG beam due to short duration highly transient temperature loading.