• Wind and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.203-214
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• 2004

This paper describes a method for developing a multi-degree-of freedom aero-elasto-plastic model of a base-isolated mid-rise building. The horizontal stiffness of isolators is modeled by several tension springs and the vertical support is performed by air pressure from a compressor. A lead damper and a steel damper are modeled by a U-shaped lead line and an aluminum line. With this model, the frequency ratio of torsional vibration to sway vibration, and plastic displacements of isolation materials can be changed easily when needed. The results of isolation material tests and free vibration tests show that this model provides the object performance. The peak displacement factors are about 4.5 regardless of wind speed in wind tunnel tests, but their gust response factor decreases with increment of wind speed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.105-122
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• 2001

A new three-dimensional 13-node hexahedral element with rotational degrees of freedom, which is designated as MR-H13 element, is presented. The proposed element is established by adding five nodes to one of the six faces of basic 8-node hexahedral element. The new element can be effectively used in the connection between the refined mesh and the coarser mesh. The derivation of the current element in this paper is based on the variational principles in which the rotation and skew-symmetric stress are introduced as independent variables. Numerical examples show that the performance of the new element is satisfactory.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.115-131
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• 2012

Paper presents an improved solution algorithm based on Finite Element Method to analyse piled raft foundation. Piles are modelled as beam elements with soil springs. Finite element analysis of raft is based on the classical theory of thick plates resting on Winkler foundation that accounts for the transverse shear deformation of the plate. Four node, isoparametric rectangular elements with three degrees of freedom per node are considered in the development of finite element formulation. Independent bilinear shape functions are assumed for displacement and rotational degrees of freedom. Effect of raft thickness, soil modulus and load pattern on the response is considered. Significant improvement in the settlements and moments in the raft is observed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2004

A high precision shear deformable triangular element has been proposed for bending analysis of triangular plate. The element has twelve nodes at the three sides and four nodes inside the element. Initially the element has thirty-five degrees of freedom, which has been reduced to thirty by eliminating the degrees of freedom of the internal nodes through static condensation. Plates having different boundary conditions, side ratios (b/a) and thickness ratios (h/a = 0.001, 0.1 and 0.2) have been analyzed using the proposed shear locking free element. Concentrated and uniformly distributed transverse loads have been used for the analysis. The formulation is made based on first order shear deformation theory. For validation of the present element and formulation few results of thin triangular plate have been compared with the analytical solutions. Results for thick plate have been presented as new results.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.169-184
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• 2011

We review the current understanding of modularity in biological motor control and its forms, and then relate this modularity to proposed modular control structures for biomimetic robots. We note the features that are different between the robotic and the biological 'designs' with features which have evolved by natural selection, and note those aspects of biology which may be counter-intuitive or unique to the biological controls as we currently understand them. Biological modularity can be divided into kinematic modularity comprised of strokes and cycles: primitives approximating a range of optimization criteria, and execution modularity comprised of kinetic motor primitives: muscle synergies recruited by premotor drives which are most often pulsatile, and which have the biomechanical effect of instantiating a visco-elastic force-field in the limb. The relations of these identified biological elements to kinematic and force-level motor primitives employed in robot control formulations are discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.213-229
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• 2003

A high precision shear deformable triangular element has been proposed for free vibration analysis of composite trapezoidal plates. The element has twelve nodes at the three sides and four nodes inside the element. Initially the element has fifty-five degrees of freedom, which has been reduced to forty-eight by eliminating the degrees of freedom of the internal nodes through static condensation. Plates having different side ratios (b/a), boundary conditions, thickness ratios (h/a=0.01, 0.1 and 0.2), number of layers and fibre angle orientations have been analyzed by the proposed shear locking free element. Trapezoidal laminate with concentrated mass at the centre has also been analyzed. An efficient mass lumping scheme has been recommended, where the effect of rotary inertia has been included. For validation of the present element and formulation few results of isotropic trapezoidal plate and square composite laminate have been compared with those obtained from open literatures. The numerical results for composite trapezoidal laminate have been given as new results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.699-712
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• 2002

In this paper, a new quadrilateral 5-node non-conforming membrane element with drilling degrees of freedom is presented. The main advantage of these elements is the relatively small number of integration points to evaluate a stiffness matrix comparing to the existing transition membrane elements (CLM elements). Moreover, the presented elements pass the patch test by virtue of the Direct Modification Method incorporated into the element formulation. The presented 5-node elements are proved to be very efficient when used in the local mesh refinement for the in-plane structures which have stress concentrations. And some numerical studies also show the good performance of the new element developed in this study.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.261-276
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• 2002

A novel, 6-node, two-dimensional mixed finite element (FE) model has been developed to analyze laminated composite beams by using the minimum potential energy principle. The model has been formulated by considering four degrees of freedom (two displacement components u, w and two transverse stress components ${\sigma}_z$, $\tau_{xz}$) per node. The transverse stress components have been invoked as nodal degrees of freedom by using the fundamental elasticity equations. Thus, the present mixed finite element model not only ensures the continuity of transverse stress and displacement fields through the thickness of the laminated beams but also maintains the fundamental elasticity relationship between the components of stress, strain and displacement fields throughout the elastic continuum. This is an important feature of the present formulation, which has not been observed in various mixed formulations available in the literature. Results obtained from the model have been shown to be in excellent agreement with the elasticity solutions for thin as well as thick laminated composite beams. A few results for a cross-ply beam under fixed support conditions are also presented.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.479-492
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• 2003

Non-conforming membrane elements which have variable number of mid-side nodes with drilling degrees of freedom and which is designated as NMDx have been presented in this paper. The non-conforming elements with variable number of mid-side nodes can be efficiently used in the local mesh refinement for the in-plane structures. To guarantee the developed elements always pass the patch test, the direct modification method is incorporated into the element formulation. Detailed numerical tests in this study show the validity of the variable node NC elements developed in this study and a wide applicability of these elements to practical problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.529-540
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• 1996

The dynamic buckling mechanism of a single-degree-of-freedom dissipative/nondissipative gradient system is thoroughly studied, employing energy criteria. The model is chosen in such a manner, that its corresponding static response is associated with all types of distinct critical points. Under a suddenly applied load of infinite duration, it is found that dynamic buckling, occurring always through a saddle, leads to an escaped motion, which is finally attracted by remote stable equilibrium positions, belonging sometimes also to complementary paths. Moreover, although the existence of initial imperfection changes the static behaviour of the system from limit point instability to bifurcation, it is established that the proposed model is dynamically stable in the large, regardless of the values of all other parameters involved.