• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.684-689
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• 2008

In this study, homogenization method combined with the effective interface model for the characterization of properties of the nanoparticulate composites is developed. In order to characterize particle size effect of nanocomposites, effective interface model has been developed. The application range of analytical micromechanics approach is limited because a simple analytical approach is valid only for simple and uniform geometry of fiber particles. Therefore this study focuses on the analysis of mechanical properties of the effect interface through the continuum homogenization method instead of using analytical micromechanics approach. Using the homogenization method, elastic stiffness properties of the effective interface are numerically evaluated and compared with the analytically obtained micromechanics solutions. The suggested homogenization method is expected to be applied to optimization problems for nanocomposite design.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.295-328
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• 2008

A previously published multiscale model for early-age cement-based materials [Pichler, et al.2007. "A multiscale micromechanics model for the autogenous-shrinkage deformation of early-age cement-based materials." Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 74, 34-58] is extended towards upscaling of viscoelastic properties. The obtained model links macroscopic behavior, i.e., creep compliance of concrete samples, to the composition of concrete at finer scales and the (supposedly) intrinsic material properties of distinct phases at these scales. Whereas finer-scale composition (and its history) is accessible through recently developed hydration models for the main clinker phases in ordinary Portland cement (OPC), viscous properties of the creep active constituent at finer scales, i.e., calcium-silicate-hydrates (CSH) are identified from macroscopic creep tests using the proposed multiscale model. The proposed multiscale model is assessed by different concrete creep tests reported in the open literature. Moreover, the model prediction is compared to a commonly used macroscopic creep model, the so-called B3 model.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.657-678
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• 2012

The mismatch of ply orientations in composite laminates can cause high interlaminar stress concentrations near the free edges. Evaluation of these interlaminar stresses and their role in the progressive damage analysis of laminates is desirable. Recently, the authors developed a new method to relate the physically based micromechanics approach with the meso-scale CDM considering matrix cracking and induced delamination. In this paper, the developed method is applied for the analysis of edge effects in various angle-ply laminates such as $[10/-10]_{2s}$, $[30/-30]_{2s}$ and $[45/-45]_{2s}$ and comparing the results with available traditional CDM and experimental results. It is shown that the obtained stress-strain behaviors of laminates are in good agreement with the available experimental results and even in better agreement than the traditional CDM results. Variations of the stresses and stiffness components through the laminate thickness and near the free edges are also computed and compared with the available CDM results.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.229-265
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• 2012

Hygroexpansion of wood is a known and undesired characteristic in civil engineering. When wood is exposed to changing environmental humidity, it adsorbs or desorbs moisture and warps. The resulting distortions or - at restrained conditions - cracks are a major concern in timber engineering. We herein present a multiscale model for prediction of the macroscopic hygroexpansion behavior of individual pieces of softwood from their microstructure, demonstrated for spruce. By applying poromicromechanics, we establish a link between the swelling pressure, driving the hygroexpansion of wood at the nanoscale, and the resulting macroscopic dimensional changes. The model comprises six homogenization steps, which are performed by means of continuum micromechanics, the unit cell method and laminate theory, all formulated in a poromechanical framework. Model predictions for elastic properties of wood as functions of the moisture content closely approach corresponding experimental data. As for the hygroexpansion behavior, the swelling pressure has to be back-calculated from macroscopic hygroexpansion data. The good reproduction of the anisotropy of wood hygroexpansion, based on only a single scalar calibration parameter, underlines the suitability of the model. The multiscale model constitutes a valuable tool for studying the effect of microstructural features on the macroscopic behavior and for assessing the hygroexpansion behavior at smaller length scales, which are inaccessible to experiments. The model predictions deliver input parameters for the analysis of timber at the structural scale, therewith enabling to optimize the use of timber and to prevent moisture-induced damage or failure.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.343-348
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• 2009

In this study, an efficient sequential bridging method to characterize both the particle size effect and concentration effect on the mechanical properties of nanocomposites at high volume fraction is suggested through a molecular dynamics(MD) simulations and micromechanics of composites materials. The Young's modulus and the shear modulus of the nanocomposites at various particle radius and at 12% volume fraction were obtained from MD simulations and multi-inclusion model was adopted to describe both modulus in continuum model. In order to describe the particle size effect, an additional phase, effective interface, was adopted as characteristic phase and the non-dilute concentration effect which appears at 12% volume fraction was describe via the variation of the elastic modulus of the infinite medium. Both the elastic modulus of the interface and infinite medium were fitted into functions of particle radius for the applicability of the present bridging method at various particle radii. Using the present bridging method the elastic modulus of the nanocomposites was efficiently obtained with accuracy. In addition, the effect of the interface thickness and modulus on the elastic modulus of the nanocomposite was investigated.