• International Journal of Ocean System Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.142-146
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• 2013

In this study, the effect of Carbon/PEEK composites on the tribological properties has been investigated. Also, its validity has been tested in the capacity of alternative materials of the Ti-based materials used for artificial hip joint. Moreover, this work evaluated the mechanical properties according to the fiber ply orientation, along with the fractured surfaces of the carbon/PEEK composites. The composites with a unidirectional orientation had higher tribological properties than those with a multidirectional orientation. This was caused by the debonding between the carbon fiber and the PEEK, which was proportional to the contact area between the sliding surface and the carbon fiber. The friction test results showed that there were no significant differences in relation to the fiber ply orientation. However, the friction properties of the carbon/PEEK composites were higher than those of the carbon/epoxy composites. In addition, the results showed that a composite that slid in a direction normal to the prepreg lay-up direction had a smaller friction coefficient than one that slid in a direction parallel to the prepreg lay-up direction.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.179-191
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• 2019

Based on the effective stress principle, a new formula for shear strength of unsaturated soil is derived under the general nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) strength criterion to improve the classical strength criterion of unsaturated soil. Meanwhile, the simple irrigation model under steady seepage is adopted to obtain the distribution of the matrix suction or the degree of saturation (DOS) above the groundwater table in the slope. Then, combined with the improved strength criterion of unsaturated soil and the simple irrigation model under steady seepage, the limit equilibrium (LE) solutions for the unsaturated slope stability are established according to the global LE conditions of the entire sliding body with assumption of the stresses on the slip surface. Compared to the classical strength criterion of unsaturated soil, not only the cohesion soil but also the internal friction angle is affected by the matric suction or the DOS in the improved strength criterion. Moreover, the internal friction angle related to the matric suction has the nonlinear characteristics, particularly for a small of the matric suction. Thereafter, the feasibility of the present method is verified by comparison and analysis on some slope examples. Furthermore, stability charts are also drawn to quickly analyze the unsaturated slope stability.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.77-80
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the effect of the spring constant on frictional behavior at a nanoscale through molecular dynamics simulation. A small cube-shaped tip was modeled and placed on a flat substrate. We did not apply the normal force to the tip but applied adhesive force between the tip and the substrate. The tip was horizontally pulled by a virtual spring to generate relative motion against the substrate. The controlled spring constant of the virtual spring ranged from 0.3 to 70 N/m to reveal its effect on frictional behavior. During the sliding simulation, we monitored the frictional force and the position of the tip. As the spring constant decreased from 70 to 0.3 N/m, the frictional force increased from 0.1 to 0.25 nN. A logarithmic relationship between the frictional force and spring constant was established. The stick-slip instability and potential energy slope increased with a decreasing spring constant. Based on the results, an increase in the spring constant reduces the probability of trapping in the local minima on the potential energy surface. Thus, the energy loss of escaping the potential well is minimized as the spring constant increases.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.181-194
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• 2019

Due to the seepage of groundwater, the resisting force of slopes decreases and the sliding force increases, resulting in significantly reduced slope stability. The instability of most natural slopes is closely related to the influence of groundwater. Therefore, it is important to study slope stability under groundwater seepage conditions. Thus, using a simplified seepage model of groundwater combined with the analysis of stresses on the slip surface, the limit equilibrium (LE) analytical solutions for two- and three-dimensional slope stability under groundwater seepage are deduced in this work. Meanwhile, the general nonlinear Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) strength criterion is adopted to describe the shear failure of a slope. By comparing the results with the traditional LE methods on slope examples, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified. In contrast to traditional LE methods, the proposed method is more suitable for analyzing slope stability under complex conditions. In addition, to facilitate the optimization of drainage design in the slope, stability charts are drawn for slopes with different groundwater tables. Furthermore, the study concluded that: (1) when the hydraulic gradient of groundwater is small, the effect on slope stability is also small for a change in the groundwater table; and (2) compared with a slope without a groundwater table, a slope with a groundwater table has a larger failure range under groundwater seepage.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.918-927
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• 2020

Flows induced by hybrid CRP pod propulsion systems (CRP-POD) are fundamentally characterized by unsteadiness. This work presents a numerical study on the unsteady flow of a CRP-POD at behind-hull condition based on CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Unsteady RANS method is adopted, coupled with SST k-u turbulence model and sliding mesh method. The propeller thrusts and torques obtained by CFD is validated by model tests and acceptable agreements are obtained. The time histories of shingle-blade loads and pressures near the hull surface are recorded for the analysis of unsteady flow features. The cases of forward propeller alone and aft propeller alone are also computed to distinguish the hull-propeller interaction and propeller-propeller interaction. The results show the blade loads of both forward and aft propellers strongly fluctuate with phase angles. For the forward propeller, the blade load fluctuation is mainly governed by the hull-propeller interaction, while the aft blade load is remarkably affected by the propeller-propeller interaction in terms of the load average and fluctuation pattern. The fields of pressure, vorticity and velocity are also analyzed to reveal the unsteady flow features.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.517-526
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• 2022

Previous studies have shown that pile-soil interactions have significant influences on the isolation efficiency of an isolated structure. However, most of the existing tests were carried out using a 1-g shaking table, which cannot reproduce the soil stresses resulting in distortion of the simulated pile-soil interactions. In this study, a centrifuge shaking table modelling of the seismic responses of a friction pendulum bearing isolated structure with a pile foundation under earthquakes were conducted. The pile foundation structure was designed and constructed with a scale factor of 1:100. Two layers of the foundation soil, i.e., the bottom layer was made of plaster and the upper layer was normal soil, were carefully prepared to meet the similitude requirement. Seismic responses, including strains, displacement, acceleration, and soil pressure were collected. The settlement of the soil, sliding of the isolator, dynamic amplification factor and bending moment of the piles were analysed to reveal the influence of the soil structure interaction on the seismic performance of the structure. It is found that the soil rotates significantly under earthquake motions and the peak rotation is about 0.021 degree under 24.0 g motions. The isolator cannot return to the initial position after the tests because of the unrecoverable deformation of the soil and the friction between the curved surface of the slider and the concave plate.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.591-606
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• 2022

When the friction pendulum system and shear keys work together to resist the ground motion, which inclined inputs (non 45°) to the bridge structure, the shear keys in XY direction will be sheared asynchronously, endowed the friction pendulum system with a violent curvilinear motion on the sliding surface during earthquakes. In view of this situation, firstly, this paper abandons the equivalent linearization model of friction and constructs a Spring-Coulomb friction plane isolation system with XY shear keys, and then makes a detailed mechanical analysis of the movement process of friction pendulum system, next, this paper establishes the mathematical model of structural time history response calculation by using the step-by-step integration method, finally, it compiles the corresponding computer program to realize the numerical calculation. The results show that the calculation method in this paper takes advantage of the characteristic that the friction force is always µmg, and creatively uses the "circle making method" to express the change process of the friction force and resultant force of the friction pendulum system in any calculation time step, which can effectively solve the temporal nonlinear action of the plane friction; Compared with the response obtained by the calculation method in this paper, the peak values of acceleration response and displacement response calculated by the unidirectional calculation model, which used in the traditional research of the friction pendulum system, are smaller, so the unidirectional calculation model is not safe.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.87-104
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• 2024

In practical engineering, the design process for most retaining walls necessitates careful consideration of seismic resistance. The prevention of retaining wall overturning is of paramount importance, especially in cases where the foundation's bearing capacity is limited. To research the seismic active earth pressure (ES) of a relieving retaining wall rotating around base (RB), the shear dissipation graphs across various operating conditions are analyzed by using Optum software, and the earth pressure in each region was derived by the inclined strip method combined with the limit equilibrium method. By observing shear dissipation graphs across various operating conditions, the distribution law of each sliding surface is summarized, and three typical failure modes are obtained. The corresponding calculation model was established. Then the resultant force and its action point were obtained. By comparing the theoretical and numerical solutions with the previous studies, the correctness of the derived formula is proved. The variation of earth pressure distribution and resultant force under seismic acceleration are studied. The unloading plate's position, the wall heel's length, and seismic acceleration will weaken the unloading effect. On the contrary, the length of the unloading plate and the friction angle of the filling will strengthen the unloading effect. The derived formula proposed in this study demonstrates a remarkable level of accuracy under both static and seismic loading conditions. Additionally, it serves as a valuable design reference for the prevention of overturning in relieving retaining walls.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.361-373
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• 2023

Suspended monorail trains (SMTs) are sensitive to crosswinds, and instantaneous aerodynamic characteristics of two SMTs passing each other under crosswinds are particularly complicated. In this study, a pressure measurement test is carried out on stationary train-bridge models arranged in several critical positions. In addition, a validated moving CFD model is developed with the dynamic and sliding mesh method to explore the realistic train movement effects. The time-varying aerodynamic forces and surface pressure distribution on, as well as the flow field around running trains and bridges during trains passing each other, are computed in detail to illustrate the shielding effect of the upstream train. The results reveal that when two trains begin to pass each other, the side force coefficient of the downstream train reduces significantly to negative values due to the wind shielding effect of the upstream train. The moving model successfully captures that airflow is separated on the middle line of the head car for the suspended monorail train, and the surrounding bluff double-beams can significantly affect the flow structures around the train. The wind shielding effect of the upstream train on the downstream train will weaken as the relative yaw angle decreases.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2006

The beneficial effects of graduated compression stockings (GCS) in prophylaxis and treatment of venous disorders of human lower extremity have been recognized. However, their pressure functional performances are variable and unstable in practical applications, and the exact mechanisms of action remain controversial. Direct surface pressure measurements and indirect material properties testing are not enough for fully understanding the interaction between stocking and leg. A three dimensional (3D) biomechanical mathematical model for numerically simulating the interaction between leg and GCS in dynamic wear was developed based on the actual geometry of the female leg obtained from 3D reconstruction of MR images and the real size and mechanical properties of the compression stocking prototype. The biomechanical solid leg model consists of bones and soft tissues, and an orthotropic shell model is built for the stocking hose. The dynamic putting-on process is simulated by defining the contact of finite relative sliding between the two objects. The surface pressure magnitude and distribution along the different height levels of the leg and stress profiles of stockings were simulated. As well, their dynamic alterations with time processing were quantitatively analyzed. Through validation, the simulated results showed a reasonable agreement with the experimental measurements, and the simulated pressure gradient distribution from the ankle to the thigh (100:67:30) accorded with the advised criterion by the European committee for standardization. The developed model can be used to predict and visualize the dynamic pressure and stress performances exerted by compression stocking in wear, and to optimize the material mechanical properties in stocking design, thus, helping us understand mechanisms of compression action and improving medical functions of GCS.