• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.621-652
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• 2016

A new cable-supported bridge model consisting of suspension parts, self-anchored cable-stayed parts and earth-anchored cable-stayed parts is presented. The new bridge model can be used for suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, cable-stayed suspension bridges, and partially earth-anchored cable-stayed bridges by varying parameters. Based on the assumption that each structural member is in either an axial compressive or tensile state, and the stress in each member is equal to the allowable stress of the material, the material quantity for each component is calculated. By introducing the unit cost of each type of material, the estimation formula for the cost of the new bridge model is developed. Numerical examples show that the results from the estimation formula agree well with that from the real projects. The span limit of cable supported bridge depends on the span-to-height ratio and the density-to-strength ratio of cables. Finally, a parametric study is illustrated aiming at the relations between three key geometrical parameters and the cost of the bridge model. The optimization of the new bridge model indicates that the self-anchored cable-stayed part is always the dominant part with the consideration of either the lowest total cost or the lowest unit cost. It is advisable to combine all three mentioned structural parts in super long span cable supported bridges to achieve the most excellent economic performance.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.257-271
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• 2017

There are many plain concrete arch bridges in Iran that have been used as railway bridges for more than seventy years. Owe to the fact that these bridges have not been designed seismically, and even may be loaded under high-speed trains, evaluation of fundamental frequencies of the bridges against earthquake and high-speed train vibrations is necessary for considering dynamics effects. To evaluate complex behavior of these bridges, results of field tests are useful. Since it is not possible to perform field tests for all arch bridges, these structures should be simulated correctly by computers for structural assessment. Several parameters are employed to describe the bridges, such as number of spans, length of spans, geometrical and material properties. In this study, results of field tests are used for modal analysis and adapted for 64 three dimensional finite element models with various physical parameters. Computer simulations show length of spans has important effect on fundamental frequencies of plain concrete arch bridge and modal deformations of bridges is in longitudinal and transverse directions. Also, these results demonstrate that fundamental frequencies of bridges decrease after increasing span length and number of spans. Plus, some relations based in the number of spans (n) and span length (l) are proposed for calculation of fundamental frequencies of plain concrete arch bridge.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.565-578
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• 2018

This research article reported the nonlinear finite solutions of the nonlinear flexural strength and stress behaviour of nano sandwich graded structural shell panel under the combined thermomechanical loading. The nanotube sandwich structural model is derived mathematically using the higher-order displacement polynomial including the full geometrical nonlinear strain-displacement equations via Green-Lagrange relations. The face sheets of the sandwich panel are assumed to be carbon nanotube-reinforced polymer composite with temperature dependent material properties. Additionally, the numerical model included different types of nanotube distribution patterns for the sandwich face sheets for the sake of variable strength. The required equilibrium equation of the graded carbon nanotube sandwich structural panel is derived by minimizing the total potential energy expression. The energy expression is further solved to obtain the deflection values (linear and nonlinear) via the direct iterative method in conjunction with finite element steps. A computer code is prepared (MATLAB environment) based on the current higher-order nonlinear model for the numerical analysis purpose. The stability of the numerical solution and the validity are verified by comparing the published deflection and stress values. Finally, the nonlinear model is utilized to explore the deflection and the stresses of the nanotube-reinforced (volume fraction and distribution patterns of carbon nanotube) sandwich structure (different core to face thickness ratios) for the variable type of structural parameter (thickness ratio, aspect ratio, geometrical configurations, constraints at the edges and curvature ratio) and unlike temperature loading.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.595-605
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• 2017

The present article reported the thermal buckling strength of the sandwich shell panel structure and subsequent improvement of the same by embedding shape memory alloy (SMA) fibre via a general higher-order mathematical model in conjunction with finite element method. The geometrical distortion of the panel structure due to the temperature is included using Green-Lagrange strain-displacement relations. In addition, the material nonlinearity of SMA fibre due to the elevated thermal environment also incorporated in the current analysis through the marching technique. The final form of the equilibrium equation is obtained by minimising the total potential energy functional and solved computationally with the help of an original MATLAB code. The convergence and the accuracy of the developed model are demonstrated by solving similar kind of published numerical examples including the necessary input parameter. After the necessary establishment of the newly developed numerical solution, the model is extended further to examine the effect of the different structural parameters (side-to-thickness ratios, curvature ratios, core-to-face thickness ratios, volume fractions of SMA fibre and end conditions) on the buckling strength of the SMA embedded sandwich composite shell panel including the different geometrical configurations.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.155-181
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• 2016

In the present paper we discuss the stability and the post-buckling behaviour of thin piezoelastic plates. The first part of the paper is concerned with the modelling of such plates. We discuss the constitutive modelling, starting with the three-dimensional constitutive relations within Voigt's linearized theory of piezoelasticity. Assuming a plane state of stress and a linear distribution of the strains with respect to the thickness of the thin plate, two-dimensional constitutive relations are obtained. The specific form of the linear thickness distribution of the strain is first derived within a fully geometrically nonlinear formulation, for which a Finite Element implementation is introduced. Then, a simplified theory based on the von Karman and Tsien kinematic assumption and the Berger approximation is introduced for simply supported plates with polygonal planform. The governing equations of this theory are solved using a Galerkin procedure and cast into a non-dimensional formulation. In the second part of the paper we discuss the stability and the post-buckling behaviour for single term and multi term solutions of the non-dimensional equations. Finally, numerical results are presented using the Finite Element implementation for the fully geometrically nonlinear theory. The results from the simplified von Karman and Tsien theory are then verified by a comparison with the numerical solutions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.529-542
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• 2023

Wave propagation with high transverse deflection could affect the stability of the ball in its trajectory. For low stiffness balls similar to soccer and volleyball balls, the waves are more noticeable in comparison to other balls like ping-pong ball. On the other hand, the soccer balls are under heavy impact loads from shoots and contacting different objects in the field. The maximum recorded speed of a soccer ball after kicking is the 211 km/hr and the average maximum speed is around 112 km/hr. Therefore, in such speeds the aerodynamic forces become important which are directly related to geometrical shape of the ball. In this regard, the wave propagation in soccer ball is examined in the current study using large deformation shear deformable formulations. Classical relations of stress-strain components are taken into consideration along with minimum total energy principle. The final derived relations were solved by using harmonic differential quadrature method. The results are generally presented ion term of phase velocity as function of different influencing parameters of the materials, geometry and mass of the ball.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.323-349
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• 2014

In this paper, linear buckling analysis of a curved sandwich beam with a flexible core is investigated. Derivation of equations for face sheets is accomplished via the classical theory of curved beam, whereas for the flexible core, the elasticity equations in polar coordinates are implemented. Employing the von-Karman type geometrical non-linearity in strain-displacement relations, nonlinear governing equations are resulted. Linear pre-buckling analysis is performed neglecting the rotation effects in pre-buckling state. Stability equations are concluded based on the adjacent equilibrium criterion. Considering the movable simply supported type of boundary conditions, suitable trigonometric solutions are adopted which satisfy the assumed edge conditions. The critical uniform load of the beam is obtained as a closed-form expression. Numerical results cover the effects of various parameters on the critical buckling load of the curved beam. It is shown that, face thickness, core thickness, core module, fiber angle of faces, stacking sequence of faces and openin angle of the beam all affect greatly on the buckling pressure of the beam and its buckled shape.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.12-16
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• 2016

Friction stir welding(FSW) was studied using commercial tool, FLOW-3D. The purpose of this study is to suggest a method to apply frictional heat in Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) analysis. Cylindrical tool shape was used, and the interface cells between tool surface and workpiece were tracked by its geometrical relations in order to consider the frictional heat in FSW. After tracking the interface cells, average area concept was used to calculate the frictional heat, which is related to interface area. Also three-dimensional heat source and visco-plastic flow were modeled. The frictional heat generation rate calculated numerically from the suggested algorithm was validated with the analytical solution. The numerical solution was well matched with the analytical solution, and the maximum percentage of error was around 3%.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.3
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• pp.357-367
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• 2020

The objective of this article is investigation of dynamic response of thick multilayer functionally graded (FG) beam under generalized dynamic forces. The plane stress problem is exploited to describe the constitutive equation of thick FG beam to get realistic and accurate response. Applied dynamic forces are assumed to be sinusoidal harmonic, sinusoidal pulse or triangle in time domain and point load. Equations of motion of deep FG beam are derived based on the Hamilton principle from kinematic relations and constitutive equations of plane stress problem. The numerical finite element procedure is adopted to discretize the space domain of structure and transform partial differential equations of motion to ordinary differential equations in time domain. Numerical time integration method is used to solve the system of equations in time domain and find the time responses. Numerical parametric studies are performed to illustrate effects of force type, graduation parameter, geometrical and stacking sequence of layers on the time response of deep multilayer FG beams.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.129-141
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• 2016

Due to the structural complexity, the response of a flexible riser under axisymmetric loads is quite difficult to determine. Based on equilibrium conditions, geometrical relations and constitutive equations, an analytical model that can accurately predict the axisymmetric behavior of flexible risers is deduced in this paper. Since the mutual exclusion between the contact pressure and interlayer gap is considered in this model, the influence of the load direction on the structural behavior can be analyzed. Meanwhile, a detailed finite element analysis for unbonded flexible risers is conducted. Based on the analytical and numerical models, the structural response of a typical flexible riser under tension, torsion, internal and outer pressure has been studied in detail. The results are compared with experimental data obtained from the literature, and good agreement is found. Studies have shown that the proposed analytical and numerical models can provide an insightful reference for analysis and design of flexible risers.