• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.619-637
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• 2005

The objective of this research was to determine the Vlasov soil parameters for quadratically varying elasticity modulus $E_s$(z) of the compressible soil continuum and discuss the interaction affect between two close plates. Interaction problem carried on for uniformly distributed load carrying plates. Plate region was simulated by Kirchhoff plate theory based (mixed or displacement type) 2D elements and the foundation continuum was simulated by displacement type 2D elements. At the contact region, plate and foundation elements were geometrically coupled with each other. In this study the necessary formulas for the Vlasov parameters were derived when Young's modulus of the soil continuum was varying as a quadratic function of z-coordinate through the depth of the foundation. In the examples, first the elements and the iterative FE algorithm was verified and later the results of quadratic variation of $E_s$(z) were compared with the previous examples in order to discuss the general behavior. As a final example two plates close to each other resting on elastic foundation were handled to see their interaction influences on the Vlasov foundation parameters. Original examples were solved using both mixed and displacement type plate elements in order to confirm the results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.955-971
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• 2015

In this paper, the influence of the polled direction of piezoelectric materials on the stress distribution is studied under time-harmonic dynamical load (time-harmonic Lamb's problem). The system considered in this study consists of piezoelectric covering layer and piezoelectric half-plane, and the harmonic dynamical load acts on the free face of the covering layer. The investigations are carried out by utilizing the exact equations of motion and relations of the linear theory of electro-elasticity. The plane-strain state is considered. It is assumed that the perfect contact conditions between the covering layer and half-plane are satisfied. The boundary value problems under consideration are solved by employing Fourier exponential transformation techniques with respect to coordinates directed along the interface line. Numerical results on the influence of the polled direction of the piezoelectric materials such as PZT-5A, PZT-5H, PZT-4 and PZT-7A on the normal stresses, shear stresses and electric potential acting on the interface plane are presented and discussed. As a result of the analyses, it is established that the polled directions of the piezoelectric materials play an important role on the values of the studied stresses and electric potential.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.29-48
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• 2011

Under large storm loads sections of a long pipeline on the seabed can be uplifted. Numerically this loss of contact is extremely difficult to simulate, but accounting for uplift and any subsequent recontact behaviour is a critical component in pipeline on-bottom stability analysis. A simple method numerically accounting for this uplift and reattachment, while utilising efficient force-resultant models, is provided in this paper. While force-resultant models use a plasticity framework to directly relate the resultant forces on a segment of pipe to the corresponding displacement, their historical development has concentrated on precisely modelling increasing capacity with penetration. In this paper, the emphasis is placed on the description of loss of penetration during uplifting, modelled by 'strain-softening' of the force-resultant yield surface. The proposed method employs uplift and reattachment criteria to determine the pipe uplift and recontact. The pipe node is allowed to become free, and therefore, the resistance to the applied hydrodynamic loads to be redistributed along the pipeline. Without these criteria, a localised failure will be produced and the numerical program will terminate due to singular stiffness matrix. The proposed approach is verified with geotechnical centrifuge results. To further demonstrate the practicability of the proposed method, a computational example of a 1245 m long pipeline subjected to a large storm in conditions typical of offshore North-West Australia is discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.573-593
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• 2014

Pounding between adjacent buildings is a significant challenge in metropolitan areas because buildings of different heights collide during earthquake excitations due to varying dynamic properties and narrow separation gaps. The seismic responses of adjacent buildings of varying height, coupled through soil subjected to earthquake-induced pounding, are evaluated in this paper. The lumped mass model is used to simulate the buildings and soil, while the linear visco-elastic contact force model is used to simulate pounding forces. The results indicate while the taller building is almost unaffected when the shorter building is very short, it suffers more from pounding with increasing height of the shorter building. The shorter building suffers more from the pounding with decreasing height and when its height differs substantially from that of the taller building. The minimum required separation gap to prevent pounding is increased with increasing height of the shorter building until the buildings become almost in-phase. Considering the soil effect; pounding forces are reduced, displacements and story shears are increased after pounding, and also, minimum separation gap required to prevent pounding is increased.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.365-382
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• 2007

A pilot study has been conducted to guide the development of a finite element modeling formulation for the analysis of architectural glass curtain walls under in-plane lateral load simulating earthquake effects. This pilot study is one aspect of ongoing efforts to develop a general prediction model for glass cracking and glass fallout for architectural glass storefront and curtain wall systems during seismic loading. For this study, the ANSYS finite element analysis program was used to develop a model and obtain the stress distribution within an architectural glass panel after presumed seismic movements cause glass-to-frame contact. The analysis was limited to static loading of a dry-glazed glass curtain wall panel. A mock-up of the glass curtain wall considered in the analysis with strain gages mounted at select locations on the glass and the aluminum framing was subjected to static loading. A comparison is made between the finite element analysis predicted strain and the experimentally measured strain at each strain gage location.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.417-437
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• 2017

This paper shows a comparative study for design of reinforced concrete boundary combined footings of trapezoidal and rectangular forms supporting two columns and each column transmits an axial load and a moment around of the axis X (transverse axis of the footing) and other moment around of the axis Y (longitudinal axis of the footing) to foundation to obtain the most economical combined footing. The real soil pressure acting on the contact surface of the footings is assumed as a linear variation. Methodology used to obtain the dimensions of the footings for the two models consider that the axis X of the footing is located in the same position of the resultant, i.e., the dimensions is obtained from the position of the resultant. The main part of this research is to present the differences between the two models. Results show that the trapezoidal combined footing is more economical compared to the rectangular combined footing. Therefore, the new model for the design of trapezoidal combined footings should be used, and complies with real conditions.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.289-309
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• 2020

The paper studies the fluid flow profile contained between the orthotropic plate and rigid wall under the action of the moving load on the plate and main attention is focused on the fluid velocity profile in the load moving direction. It is assumed that the plate material is orthotropic one and the fluid is viscous and barotropic compressible. The plane-strain state in the plate and the plane flow of the fluid is considered. The motion of the plate is described by utilizing the exact equations of elastodynamics for anisotropic bodies, however, the flow of the fluid by utilizing the linearized Navier-Stokes equations. For the solution of the corresponding boundary value problem, the moving coordinate system associated with the moving load is introduced, after which the exponential Fourier transformation is employed with respect to the coordinate which indicates the distance of the material points from the moving load. The exact analytical expressions for the Fourier transforms of the sought values are obtained, the originals of which are determined numerically. Presented numerical results and their analyses are focused on the question of how the moving load acting on the face plane of the plate which is not in the contact with the fluid can cause the fluid flow and what type profile has this flow along the thickness direction of the strip filled by the fluid and, finally, how this profile changes ahead and behind with the distance of the moving load.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.91-111
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• 2008

This paper outlines the development of a computational model in order to analyze the dynamic behaviour of coupled fluid-structure systems such as a) liquid containers, b) a set of parallel or radial plates. In this work a hybrid fluid-solid element is developed, capable of simulating both membrane and bending effects of the plate. The structural mass and stiffness matrices are determined using exact integration of governing equations which are derived using a combination of classical plate theory and a finite element approach. The Bernoulli equation and velocity potential function are used to describe the liquid pressure applied on the solid-fluid element. An impermeability condition assures a permanent contact at the fluid-structure interface. Applications of this model are presented for both parallel and radial plates as well as fluid-filled rectangular reservoir. The effect of physical parameters on the dynamic behaviour of a coupled fluid-structure system is investigated. The results obtained using the presented approach for dynamic characteristics such as natural frequency are in agreement to those calculated using other theories and experiments.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.378-383
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• 2014

This study predicts the of the hysteretic friction of a rubber block sliding on an SMA asphalt road. The friction of filled rubber on a rough surface is primarily determined by two elements:the viscoelasticity of the rubber and the multi-scale perspective asperities of the road. The surface asperities of the substrate exert osillating forces on the rubber surface leading to energy dissipation via the internal friction of the rubber when rubber slides on a hard and rough substrate. This study defines the power spectra at different length scales by using a high-resolution surface profilometer, and uses rubber and road surface samples to conduct friction tests. I consider in detail the case when the substrate surface has a self affine fractal structure. The theory developed by Persson is applied to describe these tests through comparison with the hysteretic friction coefficient relevant to the energy dissipation of the viscoelastic rubber attributable to cyclic deformation. The results showed differences in the absolute values of predicted and measured friction, but with high correlation between these values. Hence, the friction prediction model is an appropriate tool for separating the effects of each factor. Therefore, this model will contribute to clearer understanding of the fundamental principles of rubber friction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1027-1044
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• 2017

Membrane penetration is the most important factor influencing the measurement of volume change for triaxial consolidated-drained shear test for coarse-grained soil. The effective pressure p, average particle size $d_{50}$, thickness $t_m$ and elastic modulus $E_m$ of membrane, contact area between membrane and soil $A_m$ as well as the initial void ratio e are the major factors influencing membrane penetration. According to the membrane deformation model given by Kramer and Sivaneswaran, an analytical solution of the membrane penetration considering the initial void ratio is deduced using the energy conservation law. The basic equations from theory of plates and shells and the elastic mechanics are employed during the derivation. To verify the presented solution, isotropic consolidation tests of a coarse-grained soil are performed by using the method of embedding different diameter of iron rods in the triaxial samples, and volume changes due to membrane penetration are obtained. The predictions from presented solution and previous analytical solutions are compared with the test results. It is found that the prediction from presented analytical solution agrees well with the test results.