• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제9권3호
• /
• pp.239-253
• /
• 2009

This paper reviews the concept of tensegrity structures and proposes a new type of dismountable steel tensegrity grids for possible deployment as light-weight roof structures. It covers the fabrication of the prototype structures followed by their instrumentation, destructive testing and numerical analysis. First, a single module, measuring $1m{\times}1m$ in size, is fabricated based on half-cuboctahedron configuration using galvanised iron (GI) pipes as struts and high tensile stranded cables as tensile elements. Detailed instrumentation of the structure is carried out right at the fabrication stage. The structure is thereafter subjected to destructive test during which the strain and the displacement responses are carefully monitored. The structure is modelled and analyzed using finite element method (FEM) and the model generated is updated with the experimental results. The investigations are then extended to a $2{\times}2$ grid, measuring $2m{\times}2m$ in size, fabricated uniquely by the cohesive integration of four single tensegrity modules. After updating and validating on the $2{\times}2$ grid, the finite element model is extended to a $8{\times}8$ grid (consisting of 64 units and measuring $8m{\times}8m$) whose behaviour is studied in detail for various load combinations expected to act on the structure. The results demonstrate that the proposed tensegrity grid structures are not only dismountable but also exhibit satisfactory behaviour from strength and serviceability point of view.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제71권5호
• /
• pp.485-502
• /
• 2019

In this research, the nonlinear static, buckling and vibration analysis of viscoelastic micro-composite beam reinforced by various distributions of boron nitrid nanotube (BNNT) with initial geometrical imperfection by modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) using finite element method (FEM) are presented. The various distributions of BNNT are considered as UD, FG-V and FG-X and also, the extended rule of mixture is used to estimate the properties of micro-composite beam. The components of stress are dependent to mechanical, electrical and thermal terms and calculated using piezoelasticity theory. Then, the kinematic equations of micro-composite beam using the displacement fields are obtained. The governing equations of motion are derived using energy method and Hamilton's principle based on MSGT. Then, using FEM, these equations are solved. Finally the effects of different parameters such as initial geometrical imperfection, various distributions of nanotube, damping coefficient, piezoelectric constant, slenderness ratio, Winkler spring constant, Pasternak shear constant, various boundary conditions and three material length scale parameters on the behavior of nonlinear static, buckling and vibration of micro-composite beam are investigated. The results indicate that with an increase in the geometrical imperfection parameter, the stiffness of micro-composite beam increases and thus the non-dimensional nonlinear frequency of the micro structure reduces gradually.

• 한국전산구조공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국전산구조공학회 2004년도 봄 학술발표회 논문집
• /
• pp.341-348
• /
• 2004

This paper presents a modeling technique of cracks by combined extended and superposed finite element method (XSFEM) which is a combination of the extended finite element method (XFEM) and the mesh superposition method (sversion FEM). In the proposed method, the near-tip field is modeled by a superimposed patch consisting of quarter point elements and the rest of the discontinuity is treated by the XFEM. The actual crack opening in this method is measured by the sum of the crack openings of XFEM and SFEM in transition region. This method retains the strong point of the XFEM so it can avoid remeshing in crack evolution and trace the crack growth by translation or rotation of the overlaid mesh and the update of the nodes to be enriched by step functions. Moreover, the quadrature of the Galerkin weak form becomes simpler. Numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제25권3호
• /
• pp.195-205
• /
• 2021

Time effect on the deformation and strength characteristics of geogrid reinforced sand retaining wall has become an important issue in geotechnical and transportation engineering. Three physical model tests on geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls performed under various loading conditions were simulated to study their rate-dependent behaviors, using the presented nonlinear finite element method (FEM) analysis procedure. This FEM was based on the dynamic relaxation method and return mapping scheme, in which the combined effects of the rate-dependent behaviors of both the backfill soil and the geosynthetic reinforcement have been included. The rate-dependent behaviors of sands and geogrids should be attributed to the viscous property of materials, which can be described by the unified three-component elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model. By comparing the FEM simulations and the test results, it can be found that the present FEM was able to be successfully extended to the boundary value problems of geosynthetic reinforced soil retaining walls. The deformation and strength characteristics of the geogrid reinforced sand retaining walls can be well reproduced. Loading rate effect, the trends of jump in footing pressure upon the step-changes in the loading rate, occurred not only on sands and geogrids but also on geogrid reinforced sands retaining walls. The lateral earth pressure distributions against the back of retaining wall, the local tensile force in the geogrid arranged in the retaining wall and the local stresses beneath the footing under various loading conditions can also be predicted well in the FEM simulations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제49권1호
• /
• pp.23-40
• /
• 2014

In this article, using finite element method of analysis (FEM), behavior of the endplate moment connection subjected to axial force and bending moment is investigated. In the FEM model, all the nonlinear characteristics such as material, geometry, as well as contact have been included. First, in order to verify the numerical model of the connection, an analysis of the endplate moment connection conducted without the application of the axial force. Results obtained from FEM indicating a close and good correlation with the experimental results. Then to investigate the influence of the axial forces, the connections subjected to axial forces as well as the bending moment are analyzed. To observe the overall effect of these actions, the momentaxial force interaction diagrams are drawn. It is observed that the presence of axial force even in a small value can change the behavior of the connection significantly. It is also shown that the axial forces can alter the failure mode of the connection; and therefore it could result in a different than the predicted moment capacity of the connection.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제48권1호
• /
• pp.125-150
• /
• 2013

This paper intends to present an application of isogeometric analysis in crack problems. An isogeometric formula is developed based on NURBS basis functions - enriched and adopted via X-FEM enrichment functions. The proposed method which is represented by the combination of the two above-mentioned methods, first by using NURBS functions models the geometry exactly and then by defining level set function on domain, identifies available discontinuity in elements. Additional DOFs are allocated to elements containing the crack and X-FEM enrichment functions enrich approximate solution. Moreover, a subelement refinement technique is used to improve the accuracy of integration by the Gauss quadrature rule. Finally, several numerical examples are illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness, robustness and accuracy of the proposed method during calculation of crack parameters.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국정밀공학회 2004년도 추계학술대회 논문집
• /
• pp.343-346
• /
• 2004

In recent years, various forms of indentation testing have been increasingly used to determine the material properties of specimens. This technique, particularly the nano-indentation method , has been extended to the testing of coating systems in order to calculate the individual properties of the thin coatings and the substrates. However, the interpretation of the test data to achieve this is complex and continues to be a widely studied subject. Based on the finite element method of coated surfaces indented by a Berkovich diamond tip, this paper describes methods for combining FEM and experimental indentation testing to determine coating modulus and hardness independent of substrate effects. Using this proposed methodology, testing and FEM to measure coefficients of friction of sheet steel for outer panel were studied.

• 한국시뮬레이션학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국시뮬레이션학회 2001년도 The Seoul International Simulation Conference
• /
• pp.209-214
• /
• 2001

Acoustic field in steady-state is characterized by a Helmholtz equation. The transmission characteristics of acoustic wave devices is however influenced by the presence of the mean flow in the medium. The effect of the mean How introduces additional terms in the equation. In the present paper, two approaches are considered. One is that the equation is directly discretized by FEM for one-dimensional and the axisymmetric case. Another is that the equation is first transformed into the standard Helmholtz equation which is solved by BEM. The numerical demonstrations are made for the axisymmetric FEM and the three-dimensional BEM modeling. The numerical examination for a straight circular duct is first considered. The solutions are compared wish the analytical ones. The examination is then extended to the case when the mean How is locally present in a muser with expansion chamber.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
• /
• 제17권12호
• /
• pp.2004-2009
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study is to define how wrist motion is affected by different postures and supporting devices and to discover functional range of wrist motion for keyboard typing. The range of wrist motion (ROM) needed for fourteen experienced typists to type on a computer keyboard was measured by flexible and biaxial electrogoniometers. The most frequent wrist motion during typing was in extended and ulnarly deviated positions in both wrists. Range of wrist motion was similar in both wrists. The average ROM for keyboard typing with the typists' own posture was about 39 in flexion/extension (FEM) and 29 in radial/ulnar deviation (RUD) in both wrists. The range of wrist motion was significantly reduced to 30 in FEM and 27 in RUD with use of either wrist or forearm supporting devices, which suggests that these devices might help to relieve fatigue, discomfort, or pain during and/or after typing. Results of this study will be of interest to clinicians and helpful to those who are professionally or non-professionally involved in typing.

• 항공우주시스템공학회지
• /
• 제15권6호
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2021

In this study, a new design of an extension-type actuator (ExACT) is proposed based on a chevron structure with displacement amplification mechanisms by local heating. ExACT comprises diamond-shaped displacement amplification structures (DASs) containing axially oriented V-shaped chevron beams, a support bar that restricts lateral heat deformation, and a loading slot for thin-film heaters. On heating the thin film heater, the diamond-shaped DASs undergo thermal expansion. However, lateral expansion is restricted by the support bar, leading to displacement amplification in the axial direction. The performance parameters of ExACT such as temperature distribution and extended displacement is calculated using thermo-mechanical analysis methods with the finite element method (FEM) tool. Subsequently, the ExACTs are fabricated using a polymer-based 3D printer capable of reproducing complex structures, and the performance of ExACTs is evaluated under various temperature conditions. Finally, the performance evaluation results were compared with those of the FEM analysis.