• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.369-380
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• 2023

The aim of this paper is to investigate stress analysis of semi-infinite soils consisting of two layers with twin rectangular tunnels under static loads. The region close to the ground surface and tunnel modelled within finite elements. In order to use a more realistic model, the far region is modelled within infinite elements. The material model of the layered soil is considered as elastic and isotropic. In the finite element solution of the problem, two dimensional (2D) plane solid elements are used with sixteen-nodes rectangular finite and eight-nodes infinite shapes. Finite and infinite elements are ordered to be suitable for the tunnel and the soils. The governing equations of the problem are obtained by using the virtual work principle. In the numerical process, the five-point Gauss rule is used for the calculation of the integrations. In order to validate using methods, comparison studies are performed. In the numerical results, the stress distributions of the two layered soils containing twin rectangular tunnels presented. In the presented results, effects of the location of the tunnels on the stress distributions along soil depth are obtained and discussed in detail. The obtained results show that the locations of the tunnels are very effective on the stress distribution on the soils.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.183-197
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• 2023

Scarce research has been published on crack propagation fracture of flywheels manufactured with carbon fiber-reinforced polymers. The present work deals with a calculation method to determine the conditions for which a crack propagates in the axial direction of the flywheel. The assumptions are: flywheels made with just a single thick ply or ply clustering laminates, oriented following the hoop direction; a single crack is analyzed in the plane defined by the hoop and axial directions; the crack starts close to one of the free edges; its axial length is initially large enough so that its tip is far away from that free edge, and the crack expands the entire circumferential perimeter and keeps its concentric position. The developed method provides information for a good design of flywheels. It is concluded that a fracture-based crack propagation criterion generally occurs at a lower speed than a stress-based criterion. Also, that the evolution of failure with thickness using the fracture criterion is exponential, demonstrating that thin flywheels are relatively not sensitive to crack propagation, whereas thick ones are very prone.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2022

For long underground box utility tunnels, post-tensioned precast concrete is often used. Between precast tunnel segments, sealed waterproof flexible joints are often specified. Fault displacement can lead to excessive deformation of the joints, which can lead to reduction in waterproofing due to diminished contact pressure between the sealant strip and the tunnel segment. This paper authenticates utilization of a finite element model for a prefabricated tunnel fault-crossing founded on ABAQUS software. In addition, material parameter selection, contact setting and boundary condition are reviewed. Analyzed under normal fault action are: the influence of fault displacement; buried depth; soil friction coefficient, and angle of crossing at the fault plane. In addition, distribution characteristics of the utility tunnel structure for vertical and longitudinal/horizontal relative displacement at segmented interface for the top and bottom slab are analyzed. It is found that the effect of increase in fault displacement on the splice joint deformation is significant, whereas the effects of changes in burial depth, pipe-soil friction coefficient and fault-crossing angle on the overall tunnel and joint deformations were not so significant.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.36.3-36.3
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• 2019

We present a multiwavelength study of an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) in NGC 5252, which is known as a candidate for an intermediate-mass black hole. The ULX, located 22 arcsec away from the center of NGC 5252, was first discovered with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. In the optical spectra, the strong narrow emission lines are found at the position of the ULX. It reveals that the ULX is likely associated with NGC 5252. The VLBA data of the ULX yields that the black hole mass of the ULX is smaller than 106 solar mass, inferred from the black hole fundamental plane. From the near-infrared imaging data, we find that the stellar mass associated with the ULX is smaller than ~107.9 solar mass, implying that the ULX can be a remnant of a merging dwarf. We also find that K-band luminosity of the ULX is two orders of magnitude smaller than typical active galactic nuclei at a given [OIII] luminosity. It may suggest the ULX lacks the dusty torus possibly due to the disappearance of dusty material during the recoiling process.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.817-828
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• 2022

In this study, considering dissipated energy in fracture process zone (FPZ), a novel criterion based on maximum strain energy release rate (SER) for orthotropic materials is presented. General case of in-plane loading for cracks along the fibers is assumed. According to the experimental observations, crack propagation is supposed along the fibers and the reinforcement isotropic solid (RIS) concept is employed as a superior model for orthotropic materials. SER in crack initiation and propagation phases is investigated. Elastic properties of FPZ are extracted as a function of undamaged matrix media and micro-crack density. This criterion meaningfully links between dissipated energy due to toughening mechanisms of FPZ and the macroscopic fracture by defining stress intensity factors of the damaged zone. These coefficients are used in equations of maximum SER criterion. The effect of crack initiation angle and the damaged zone is considered simultaneously in this criterion and mode II stress intensity factor is extracted in terms of stress intensity factors of damage zone and crack initiation angle. This criterion can evaluate the effects of FPZ on the fracture behavior of orthotropic material. Good agreement between extracted fracture limit curves (FLC's) and available experimental data proves the ability of the new proposed criterion.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.603-617
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• 2022

Structural design, in general, is developed through trial and error technique which is guided by standards criteria and based on the intuition and experience of the engineer, a context that leads to structural over-dimensioning, with uneconomic solutions. Aiming to find the optimal design, structural optimization methods have been developed to find a balance between cost, structural safety, and material performance. These methods have become a great opportunity in the steel structural engineering domain since they have as their main purpose is weight minimization, a factor directly correlated to the real cost of the structure. Assuming an objective function of minimum weight with stress and displacement constraints provided by Brazilian standards, the present research proposes the sizing optimization and combined approach of sizing and shape optimization, through a software developed to implement the Simulated Annealing metaheuristic algorithm. Therefore, two steel plane frame layouts, each admitting four typical truss geometries, were proposed in order to expose the difference between the optimal solutions. The assessment of the optimal solutions indicates a notable weight reduction, especially in sizing and shape optimization combination, in which the quantity of design variables is increased along with the search space, improving the efficiency of the optimal solutions achieved.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.501-511
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• 2022

In this study, a two-dimensional model of the contact problem has been examined using the finite element method (FEM) based software ANSYS and based on the multilayer perceptron (MLP), an artificial neural network (ANN). For this purpose, a functionally graded (FG) half-infinite layer (HIL) with a crack pressed by means of two rigid blocks has been solved using FEM. Mass forces and friction are neglected in the solution. Since the problem is analyzed for the plane state, the thickness along the z-axis direction is taken as a unit. To check the accuracy of the contact problem model the results are compared with a study in the literature. In addition, ANSYS and MLP results are compared using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2), and good agreement is found. Numerical solutions are made by considering different values of external load, the width of blocks, crack depth, and material properties. The stresses on the contact surfaces between the blocks and the FG HIL are examined for these values, and the results are presented. Consequently, it is concluded that the considered non-dimensional quantities have a noteworthy influence on the contact stress distributions, and also, FEM and ANN can be efficient alternative methods to time-consuming analytical solutions if used correctly.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.281-302
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• 2023

In this paper, bending analysis of exponentially varying functionally graded (FG) plate is presented using trigonometric shear deformation theory (TSDT) considering both transverse shear and normal deformation effects. The in-plane displacement field consists of sinusoidal functions in thickness direction to include transverse shear strains and transverse displacement include the effect of transverse normal strain using the cosine function in thickness coordinate. The governing equations and boundary conditions of the theory are derived using the virtual work principle. System of governing equations, for simply supported conditions, Navier's solution technique is used to obtain results. Plate material properties vary across thickness direction according to exponential distribution law. In the current theory, transverse shear stresses are distributed accurately through the plate thickness, hence obviates the need for a shear correction factor. TSDT results are compared with those from other theories to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the present theory. The current theory is in excellent agreement with the semi-analytical theory.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.112-120
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• 2023

Herein, we propose a facile water-processible method to develop an eggshell membrane (ESM)-embedded waterborne polyurethane (WPU)-based bio-degradable and bio-compatible coating material that exhibits attractive tactile properties. Virgin ESM is not dispersible in water. Hence, to develop the ESM-based WPU composite, soluble ESM (S-ESM) was first extracted by de-crosslinking the ESM. The extracted S-ESM at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 wt %) was mixed with WPU. Compared to virgin WPU, the viscosity of S-ESM/WPU dispersion and the in-plane coefficient of friction (COF) of the composite film surfaces decreased with an increase in the S-ESM content. In addition, an increase in the S-ESM content improved the tribo-positive characteristics of the film. Different good touch-feeling biomaterials, such as fur, feather, and human skin exhibit tribo-positivity. Thus, the enhanced tribo-positive characteristics of the S-ESM/WPU and the decrease in their COF owing to an increase in the S-ESM content imply the enhancement of its touch-feeling performance. The S-ESM embedded WPU composites have potential applications as coating materials in various fields, including automobile interiors and artificial leather.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.3
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• pp.265-281
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• 2024

The sound radiation responses of multi-layer composite plates subjected to harmonic mechanical excitation in hygrothermal environment is numerically investigated. A homogenized micromechanical finite element (FE) based on the higher-order mid-plane kinematics replicating quadratic function as well as the through the thickness stretching effect together with the indirect boundary element (IBE) scheme has been first time employed. The isoparametric Lagrangian element (ten degrees of freedom per node) is used for discretization to attain the hygro-thermo-elastic natural frequencies and the modes of the plate via Hamilton's principle. The effective material properties under combined hygrothermal loading are considered via a micromechanical model. An IBE method is then implemented to attain structure-surrounding coupling and the Helmholtz wave equation is solved to compute the sound radiation responses. The effectiveness of the model is tested by converging it with the similar analytical/numerical results as well as the experimentally acquired data. The present scheme is further hold out for solving diverse numerical illustrations. The results revealed the relevance of the current higher-order FE-IBE micromechanical model in realistic estimation of hygro-thermo-acoustic responses. The geometrical parameters, volume fraction of fiber, layup, and support conditions alongside the hygrothermal load is found to have significant influence on the vibroacoustic characteristics.