• Advances in materials Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.63-98
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• 2020

The novelty of this paper is the use of a simple higher order shear and normal deformation theory for bending and free vibration analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) beams on two-parameter elastic foundation. To this aim, a new shear strain shape function is considered. Moreover, the proposed theory considers a novel displacement field which includes undetermined integral terms and contains fewer unknowns with taking into account the effects of both transverse shear and thickness stretching. Different patterns of porosity distributions (including even and uneven distribution patterns, and the logarithmic-uneven pattern) are considered. In addition, the effect of different micromechanical models on the bending and free vibration response of these beams is studied. Various micromechanical models are used to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of the FG beams for which properties vary continuously across the thickness according to a simple power law. Hamilton's principle is used to derive the governing equations of motion. Navier type analytical solutions are obtained for the bending and vibration problems. Numerical results are obtained to investigate the effects of power-law index, length-to-thickness ratio, foundation parameter, the volume fraction of porosity and micromechanical models on the displacements, stresses, and frequencies.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2019

Based on the effective stress principle, a new formula for shear strength of unsaturated soil is derived under the general nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) strength criterion to improve the classical strength criterion of unsaturated soil. Meanwhile, the simple irrigation model under steady seepage is adopted to obtain the distribution of the matrix suction or the degree of saturation (DOS) above the groundwater table in the slope. Then, combined with the improved strength criterion of unsaturated soil and the simple irrigation model under steady seepage, the limit equilibrium (LE) solutions for the unsaturated slope stability are established according to the global LE conditions of the entire sliding body with assumption of the stresses on the slip surface. Compared to the classical strength criterion of unsaturated soil, not only the cohesion soil but also the internal friction angle is affected by the matric suction or the DOS in the improved strength criterion. Moreover, the internal friction angle related to the matric suction has the nonlinear characteristics, particularly for a small of the matric suction. Thereafter, the feasibility of the present method is verified by comparison and analysis on some slope examples. Furthermore, stability charts are also drawn to quickly analyze the unsaturated slope stability.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.463-472
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• 2019

Initial thermo-elastic and steady state creep deformation of a rotating functionally graded simple blade is studied using first-order shear deformation theory. A variable thickness model for cantilever beam has been considered. The blade geometry and loading are defined as functions of length so that one can define his own blade profile and loading using any arbitrary function. The blade is subjected to a transverse distributed load, an inertia body force due to rotation and a distributed temperature field due to a thermal gradient between the tip and the root. All mechanical and thermal properties except Poisson's ratio are assumed to be longitudinally variable based on the volume fraction of reinforcement. The creep behaviour is modelled by Norton's law. Considering creep strains in stress strain relation, Prandtl-Reuss relations, Norton' law and effective stress relation differential equation in term of effective creep strain is established. This differential equation is solved numerically. By effective creep strain, steady state stresses and deflections are obtained. It is concluded that reinforcement particle size and form of distribution of reinforcement has significant effect on the steady state creep behavior of the blade.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.339-352
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• 2015

Ancient masonry towers constitute a relevant part of the cultural heritage of humanity. Their earthquake protection is a topic of great concern among researchers due to the strong damage suffered by these brittle and massive structures through the history. The identification of the seismic behavior and failure of towers under seismic loading is complex. This strongly depends on many factors such as soil characteristics, geometry, mechanical properties of masonry and heavy mass, as well as the earthquake frequency content. A deep understanding of these aspects is the key for the correct seismic vulnerability evaluation of towers and to design the most suitable retrofitting measure. Recent tendencies on the seismic retrofitting of historical structures by means of prestressing are related to the use of smart materials. The most famous cases of application of prestressing in towers were discussed. Compared to horizontal prestressing, vertical post-tensioning is aimed at improving the seismic behavior of towers by reducing damage with the application of an overall distribution of compressive stresses at key locations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.283-299
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• 2010

This paper addresses the numerical simulation of fatigue crack growth in arbitrary 2D geometries under constant amplitude loading by the using a new finite element software. The purpose of this software is on the determination of 2D crack paths and surfaces as well as on the evaluation of components Lifetimes as a part of the damage tolerant assessment. Throughout the simulation of fatigue crack propagation an automatic adaptive mesh is carried out in the vicinity of the crack front nodes and in the elements which represent the higher stresses distribution. The fatigue crack direction and the corresponding stress-intensity factors are estimated at each small crack increment by employing the displacement extrapolation technique under facilitation of singular crack tip elements. The propagation is modeled by successive linear extensions, which are determined by the stress intensity factors under linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) assumption. The stress intensity factors range history must be recorded along the small crack increments. Upon completion of the stress intensity factors range history recording, fatigue crack propagation life of the examined specimen is predicted. A consistent transfer algorithm and a crack relaxation method are proposed and implemented for this purpose. Verification of the predicted fatigue life is validated with relevant experimental data and numerical results obtained by other researchers. The comparisons show that the program is capable of demonstrating the fatigue life prediction results as well as the fatigue crack path satisfactorily.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.469-476
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• 2013

In a postulated severe core damage accident in a PHWR, multiple failures of core cooling systems may lead to the collapse of pressure tubes and calandria tubes, which may ultimately relocate inside the calandria vessel forming a terminal debris bed. The debris bed, which may reach high temperatures due to the decay heat, is cooled by the moderator in the calandria. With time, the moderator is evaporated and after some time, a hot dry debris bed is formed. The debris bed transfers heat to the calandria vault water which acts as the ultimate heat sink. However, the questions remain: how long would the vault water be an ultimate heat sink, and what would be the failure mode of the calandria vessel if the heat sink capability of the reactor vault water is lost? In the present study, a numerical analysis is performed to evaluate the thermal loads and the stresses in the calandria vessel following the above accident scenario. The heat transfer from the molten corium pool to the surrounding is assumed to be by a combination of radiation, conduction, and convection from the calandria vessel wall to the vault water. From the temperature distribution in the vessel wall, the transient thermal loads have been evaluated. The strain rate and the vessel failure have been evaluated for the above scenario.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2021

In this research paper, the free vibrational response of laminated composite plates is investigated using a non-polynomial refined shear deformation theory (NP-RSDT). The most interesting feature of this theory is the parabolic distribution of transverse shear deformations while ensuring the conditions of nullity of shear stresses at the free surfaces of the plate without requiring the Shear correction factor "Ks". A fourth-nodded isoparametric element with four degrees of freedom per node is employed for laminated composite plates. The numerical analysis of simply supported square anti-symmetric cross-ply and angle-ply laminated plate is carried out using a special discretization based on four-node finite element method which four degrees of freedom per node. Several numerical results are presented to show the effect of the coupling parameters of the plate such as the modulus ratios, the thickness ratio and the plate layers number on adimensional eigen frequencies. All numerical results presented using the current finite element method (FEM) is presented in 3D curve form.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.53-60
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• 2021

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is especially important for developing countries. This study investigates the determinants of FDI in the case of Indonesia. Most empirical researches in this field used time series data of a single country or panel data of several countries. Although panel data analysis is more comprehensive, however results taken from cross-country analysis cannot be directly applied to any specific country in the dataset and therefore lacks practicality. In this research, panel data analysis of a single country is performed to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings. Five determinants of FDI are tested using panel data of 33 Indonesian provinces over 10-year period of time. Two methodologies are adopted, random/fixed effects model and Granger Causality. The results show that only market size significantly affects FDI when tested using both methodologies. Human capital and financial market development show significant result in one of the two methodologies. While, economic growth and infrastructure did not show any significant results at all. This research stresses the importance of comprehensive single country analysis since only one out of five commonly discussed determinants is applicable in the case of Indonesia. Governments should therefore carefully reconsider the use of cross-country analysis as a basis of their policy formulations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.611-632
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• 2019

In this work, a four-variable refined plate model is applied to study the thermomechanical bending of two kinds of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates. The sandwich core of one kind is isotropic with the FGM face sheets whereas in the second kind, the sandwich core is FGM with the isotropic and homogeneous face sheets. By considering only four unknown variables, the governing equations are written based on the principle of virtual work and then Navier method is employed to solve these equations. Deflections and stresses of two kinds of FGM sandwich structures are analyzed and discussed. The validity and efficiency of the proposed model is checked by comparing it with various available solutions in the literature. The effects of volume fraction distribution, geometric ratio and thermal load on thermomechanical bending properties of FGM sandwich plate are investigated in detail.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.231-241
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• 2019

In this paper, a new higher order shear deformation model is developed for static and free vibration analysis of functionally graded beams with considering porosities that may possibly occur inside the functionally graded materials (FGMs) during their fabrication. Different patterns of porosity distributions (including even and uneven distribution patterns, and the logarithmic-uneven pattern) are considered. In addition, the effect of different micromechanical models on the bending and free vibration response of these beams is studied. Various micromechanical models are used to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of the FG beams whose properties vary continuously across the thickness according to a simple power law. Based on the present higher-order shear deformation model, the equations of motion are derived from Hamilton's principle. Navier type solution method was used to obtain displacement, stresses and frequencies, and the numerical results are compared with those available in the literature. A comprehensive parametric study is carried out to assess the effects of volume fraction index, porosity fraction index, micromechanical models, mode numbers, and geometry on the bending and natural frequencies of imperfect FG beams.