Load Application Research Articles

Shear behavior of hollow clay brick masonry wallet coated with short jute fiber reinforced mortar

The objective of this study is to present a new method of reinforcing masonry using layers of mortar reinforced with short jute fibers. Mortars were produced with 0%, 2% and 3% jute fibers with cementitious matrices free of calcium hydroxide. The effectiveness of the reinforced mortar was evaluated through diagonal compression tests of hollow ceramic brick masonry prisms. The prisms were coated on both sides. The experimental results demonstrated that the diagonal resistance of the fiber system increased by 28 to 30% and presented greater resistance to elastic deformation during load application, with deformation coefficients 2 and 3 times greater for 2% and 3% of fibers, respectively. Therefore, jute fibers prove to be a sustainable and efficient alternative for masonry reinforcement applications, with maximum applied loads considerably higher than the unreinforced system, in addition to better crack control.

Shear Behavior Investigation Between Lightweight Metals and Composite Materials

Recently, composites have attracted many researchers, which have advanced favored properties compared to metallic materials, such as high strength with lightweight as well as corrosion and erosion resistance and others. However, these resources are exposed to yield during the working life. For these new products and their employing in different applications, and for the mentioned importance, this study has investigated the mechanical characteristics of these structures to avoid potential failure. An investigation of Arcan (shear [Formula: see text]-notch test) procedure has been conducted for epoxy resin which is used for reimpregnations with Eglass and compared with lightweight metal of Aluminum as a benchmark to show the shear behavior for the composite one under shear load experimentally and numerically. The butterfly-shaped sample was modeled and tested accordingly with Arcan (shear [Formula: see text]-notch test) numerically in order to produce pure shear force by tensile subjection condition using ANSYS software. The test verified that a state of pure shear was present during the testing on each ±45° inclined from the axis of subjection although the changes recorded as G magnitude of shear modulus between Aluminum and the thermoplastic of Epoxy resin is nearby 94%, which may be because of the effect of material nature (i.e. mechanical properties) for the selected materials. The mentioned novel constituent shear behaviors have been investigated and compared expediently. These novel constituents can be adopted in different applications of shear loads.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВНІ РОЗРАХУНКОВІ НАВАНТАЖЕННЯ ДЛЯ МОСТІВ НА АВТОМОБІЛЬНИХ ДОРОГАХ

Introduction. The article deals with the analysis and coverage of statistical data related to the development and application of temporary loads and the relevant norms for the design of bridge structures. Problem Statement. Over the past 5-7 years, the highway bridges of Ukraine have undergone significant changes in the intensity and composition of traffic flows. At the same time, the load, which is established by the current regulations, does not take into account the tendency to increase the weight of cars. At the same time, a significant part of the building's life cycle takes place under conditions of overload, which leads to premature destruction and overspending on repairs. In this regard, it is not always possible to unambiguously assign the type of calculated load, which can cause significant errors in the assessment of the strength and serviceability of bridge structures. Materials and methods. Comparison of estimated vehicle loads of models H-10, H-13, H-18, NK-80, Н-30, NK-100, NG-60, A11, A15, AB-51, AB-74, AB-151 (from 1931 to 2023) with the LM1 model of Eurocode EN 1991-2 shows that there is some balance between the two. The estimated load according to Ukrainian standards is intermediate between the standards of Europe and the USA. However, the level of characteristic loads is almost twice as low as in the Eurocode. This is a significant shortcoming of state building regulations, as it reduces the level of reliability of calculations.

Low-cycle fatigue simulation of ductile materials using elasto-plastic gradient damage approach

This work presents a novel computational strategy based on gradient enhanced damage and cyclic yielding with nonlinear mixed hardening behaviour for simulating low-cycle fatigue of ductile materials. A new yield function is introduced which accommodates the cyclically evolving state variables during mixed hardening and the damage induced during the application of repetitive loads. The resulting constitutive relations are derived in an incremental form. The non-local strains facilitate the computation of incremental damage in the material. A finite element scheme is developed from the governing physics through full coupling between damage and cyclic-elastoplastic deformations. In order to obtain an accurate computational response, a stress-return mapping scheme is formulated for the damage-dependent yield function. The developed numerical strategy is investigated for specimens made of various ductile materials exhibiting elasto-plastic behaviour under low-cycle fatigue loads. The stress-strain hysteresis and cyclic softening computed by the present numerical framework agree well with experimental data available in literature. The low-cycle fatigue crack-growth results are also accurately captured for various fatigue loading conditions.

Comparative analysis of mechanical conditions in bone union following first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis with varied locking plate positions: A finite element analysis.

First metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis is a typical medical treatment performed in cases of arthritis or joint deformity. The gold standard for this procedure is arthrodesis stabilisation with the dorsally positioned plate. However, according to the authors' previous studies, medially positioned plate provides greater bending stiffness. It is worth to compare the mechanical conditions for bone formation in the fracture callus for both placements of the locking plate. Two finite element models of the first metatarsophalangeal joint with the dorsally and medially positioned plate were defined in the Abaqus software to simulate differentiation of the fracture callus. A simplified load application, i.e. one single step per each day and the diffusion of the mesenchymal stem cells into the fracture region were assumed in an iterative hardening process. The changes of the mesenchymal stem cells into different phenotypes during the callus stiffening were governed by the octahedral shear strain and interstitial fluid velocity according to Prendergast mechanoregulation theory. Basing on the obtained results the progress of the cartilage and bone tissues formation and their distribution within the callus were compared between two models. The obtained results suggest that after 6 weeks of simulation the healing progress is in general comparable for both plates. However, earlier closing of external callus was observed for the medially positioned plate which had greater vertical bending stiffness. This process enables faster internal callus hardening and promotes symmetrical bridging.

A Full-Scale Tidal Blade Fatigue Test using the FastBlade Facility

Fatigue testing of tidal turbine blades requires the application of cyclic loads without the ability to match the natural frequency of the blade due to their high stiffness and the associated thermal issues of testing composite materials at those frequencies (i.e., 18–20 Hz). To solve this, loading the blades with an auxiliary system is necessary; in most cases, a conventional hydraulic system tends to be highly energy-demanding and inefficient. A regenerative digital displacement hydraulic pump system was employed in the FastBlade fatigue testing facility, which saved up to 75 % compared to a standard hydraulic system. A series of equivalent target loads were defined using Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) simulations (based on on-site collected water velocity data) and utilised in FastBlade to demonstrate an efficient way to perform fatigue testing. During the test, a series of measurements were performed on the blade response and the Fastblade test structure itself, providing novel insights into the mechanical behaviour of a blade, and enabling improved testing practice for FastBlade. Without catastrophic failure, the blade withstood the principal tidal loading for 20 years (equivalent). This test data will enable FastBlade to identify improvements to the testing procedures, i.e., control strategies, load introduction, instrumentation layout, instrument calibration, and test design.

Design and Performance Investigation of a Series Compensated Inductive Wireless Power Transfer System for Supplying a Low Power DC Load

In this study, a series compensated WPT system is presented for low power DC load applications. Series LC resonant circuits are applied for both transmitter and receiver sides of WPT system to reduce the impedance at a specified operation frequency, and thus, ensure low power losses. The operation frequency is chosen as 109 kHz for the series compensated WPT system. Then, the series resonant LC filter is designed according to the operation frequency and WPT rating values. In addition, the power electronics systems with their controller and operation principle are demonstrated in depth. To investigate the performance of the proposed system, a 100 W series compensated WPT model is designed and constructed in Matlab/Simulink enviroment. Different simulation results are provided to illustrate the performance of the proposed WPT model. The simulation results show the stable operation of the proposed system under the designed system parameters.

Stretch-forming characteristics of austenitic material stainless steel 304 at hot working temperatures

Abstract The need for sheet metal forming using highly resistant materials such as titanium alloys and stainless steel has increased recently. These materials possess elevated mean flow stress values, which make them difficult to draw at room temperature. To achieve a homogeneous distribution of strain in the stretched component, reduce the load required for plastic deformation, and greatly improve material formability, hot forming is helpful. The goal of the current study is to conduct stretch-forming experiments to investigate the forming characteristics of Austenitic material Stainless Steel (ASS) 304 at Hot working temperatures. Stretch forming experiments have been conducted on the Servo electrical sheet press test machine at 650 and 800°C. The formability has been estimated by constructing a Fracture forming diagram (FFLD), limiting the height of the dome (LDH) and the distribution of the strain of stretched cups. It has been discovered that the limit of forming bounds rises with the temperature reaching 800°C, while the DSA effect causes the necking region – the area between the safe and fracture limits ‒ to decrease with additional temperature rise from 800 to 900°C. Within the experimental limitations, it has been considered that the Hot forming of ASS 304 at 650°C gives the highest strain forming limits with a uniform strain distribution in the stretched cups. From the Formability limit diagram, dome height, and strain distribution, it can be observed that ASS 304 has good limiting strain up to 800°C with lower load application.

Microcracking in On-Chip Interconnect Stacks: FEM Simulation and Concept for Fatigue Test

The semiconductor industry is continuing the scaling down of both device and on-chip interconnect features, for performance and economic reasons. This trend has implications for the design of guard ring structures, i.e. metallic non-functional structures in the back-end-of-line (BEoL) stack designed to be efficient to stop microcracks. In this work, we present a sample design for an in situ experiment to study mechanical degradation and failure mechanisms of crack stop structures in the BEoL stack, to ensure the mechanical robustness of microchips for future technology nodes. Additional finite element method (FEM) simulations provide supplementary understanding of the crack kinetics. To examine the effects of mechanical loading on crack stop elements of the BEoL stack, a novel sample geometry for an in situ fatigue experiment using x-ray microscopy was developed. The x-ray microscope (ZEISS Xradia 800 Ultra) enables high-resolution imaging of the 3D-patterned sample structures and defects such as microcracks. The tailored sample geometry allows the application of a tensile load to a BEoL specimen by a lever mechanism. The feasibility of the sample design is shown by mode-I loading of a pure interconnect sample. Post-mortem analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirming planar microcrack propagation from the notch through the dielectric layer with small deflections of the crack path near cone shaped copper vias. FEM simulations focusing on the stress-strain fields around a crack tip indicate the beginning of copper plasticity as major mechanism starting the redirection of cracks due to resulting material compression in front of the obstacle.

IIR filter-based compensator with modified feedback repetitive control scheme of voltage source inverter for nonlinear load applications

IIR filter-based compensator with modified feedback repetitive control scheme of voltage source inverter for nonlinear load applications

Finite Element Analysis of New Modified Three-dimensional Strut Miniplate versus Conventional Plating in Mandibular Symphysis and Angle Fractures - An In vitro Study.

Mandibular fractures are common injuries during maxillofacial trauma, and currently, open reduction and internal fixation are considered gold-standard treatments. There is a wide discussion about which plates give the best outcomes. Hence, we are conducting a biomechanical comparison of two plates for mandibular symphysis and angle fracture with finite element analysis (FEA). The aim of this study was to do a comparative study of FEA between the conventional and our new modified three-dimensional (3D) strut miniplate in mandibular fractures at symphysis and angle regions. Finite element models of symphyseal and angle fractures of the mandible were developed. Each fracture model was then realigned and fixed by the conventional method 2.0 mm system, and our modified 3D strut plating method 2.0 mm system followed by the analysis of various stresses developed in plates and mandibular fracture area after application of load was observed in the study. The modified 3D strut plating system with 2.0 mm miniplates is significantly better in preventing displacement of fracture segments by better distribution of forces compared to the conventional plating system. Rest of the parameters were within the permitted limits. Modified 3D strut plating method was reasonably effective and superior in managing force-displacement compared to the conventional method of fixation for comminuted and unfavourable mandibular symphyseal fracture and angle fracture.

Fabrication and Characterization of AA7050 Nano Composites by Enhancing Directional Properties for High Impact Load Applications

Fabrication and Characterization of AA7050 Nano Composites by Enhancing Directional Properties for High Impact Load Applications

Proposal of Magnetic-Force-Assisted Polishing Method

To reduce the size of the polisher, especially the polishing head, a novel method for applying the polishing load using magnetic force is proposed. As the fabrication of next-generation power device substrates advances, such as diamond, ultra-precise planarization via chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) becomes crucial for transforming these substrates into functional devices. Achieving CMP necessitates the application of an optimal polishing load to the substrate. Deadweight and air pressure methods are the traditional mechanisms for delivering this load. However, they tend to increase the size and complexity of the polishing head mechanism, hindering its miniaturization. This study proposes leveraging the magnetic force for the application of polishing load. Such an approach not only promises the miniaturization of the polishing head but also paves the way for smaller polishers. We constructed a prototype polisher with a straightforward mechanism and conducted several tests. The removal rate measurements from these tests, when compared with those of the traditional deadweight method in prior research, validated our approach. Additionally, by adjusting the magnet spacing (which adjusts magnetic force) and the rotational speed, we found that the removal rate adheres to Preston’s law even when employing the magnetic force for polishing.

FACTS Devices as a Solution to Power Industries Problems: A Review

With an ever-increasing demand for power and establishment of new industries with high load demand, the need to for constant upgrade of powers system network is high. Such transmission networks are prone to external disturbances from loads, environment and other sources which leads to low power quality. Sudden application or removal of large loads. Large loads are known to draw more reactive power than the generated reactive power which lead to reactive power imbalance which can lead to total system collapse. In this paper, a critical review of how Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) devices are used to mitigate such issues to ensure power quality is done. Previous work on the integration of different FACTS devices were review to establish the advantage of FACTS devices over conventional solutions to power transmission problems.

Subgrade soil response to rail loading: Instability mechanisms, causative factors, and preventive measures

The demand for more efficient heavy-haul rail networks over soft subgrades poses significant geotechnical challenges and requires a comprehensive understanding of stress conditions as well as the failure potential of subgrade soil under moving wheel loads and increasing rail speeds. Unfavourable stress conditions in the subgrade can result in various types of failures, three of which are identified in this article: (i) excessive plastic settlement, (ii) progressive shear failure, and (iii) subgrade fluidisation (mud pumping). Through a series of advanced testing schemes using cyclic triaxial, hollow cylinder, and an in-house dynamic filtration apparatus, critical stress conditions and soil characteristics prone to subgrade instability are discussed. The results demonstrate that under adverse combinations of loading frequency (f) and cyclic stress ratio (CSR) the continuous application of cyclic loads can lead to an unstable state of soil where excess pore pressure and axial strain increase rapidly. This study also reveals that low to medium plasticity soils (PI < 22) are more vulnerable to subgrade fluidisation, where the rapid internal migration of pore water transforms the upper soil to a fluid-like state with substantial loss in soil stiffness. The layered response of soil through dynamic filtration tests showed larger hydrodynamic forces induced by differential hydraulic gradients in the top layer during cyclic loading causes moisture to move upwards. Various factors that can influence soil instability such as the degree of compaction degree, clay content, soil fabric and stress rotation are also addressed in this paper. Finally, novel solutions for stabilising subgrade such as a vertical drain-composite system and the use of eco-friendly biopolymers are presented.

Fracture toughness and slow crack growth behaviour of metal-proton conducting ceramic composites

The fracture toughness and slow crack growth behaviour of two load-bearing metal ceramic components adopted in negatrode-supported electrochemical devices, namely Ni-BCZY27 and Ni-BCZY442, are investigated via double torsion technique.The investigation showed that the two metal-ceramic composites are considerably less sensitive to slow crack growth when compared to oxide ceramics such as stabilized zirconia and alumina, with KI0/KIC equal to approximately 0.8. On the other hand, they also showed lower fracture toughness than Ni-3YSZ, with Ni-BCZY442 and Ni-BCZY27 having a fracture toughness of respectively 1.74 and 3.04 MPa*m1/2 for porosities equal to 25.8% and 19.1% respectively, compared to Ni-3YSZ reported in previous work with similar Ni content and porosity of approximately 30% having a fracture toughness equal to 3.4 MPa*m1/2. Furthermore, the analysis of samples presenting extensive barium depletion indicated fast fracture propagation upon application of loads significantly lower than the critical fracture load.

Numerical modeling of the stress-strain behavior of a viscoelastic material in a 2D model by FEM

Numerical modeling of behavior plays an important role in knowing the changes to be made and in optimizing simulation results. Currently, modeling occupies a very necessary place in modern industry for the life study of any problem. This paper deals numerically with the variation and relationship between stress and strain for a model of tensile behavior. In addition, the study is based on the one hand on the number of holes in a plate, and on the other hand by the increase in the tensile load 10, 20 and 30N. The FEM finite element method was used. Additionally, the viscoelastic material was applied. In addition, the parametric mesh has square elements of type (CPS4) bilinear plane stress quadrilaterals, with 4 nodes were used. However, can contribute to a better understanding of the problem of guiding by different numbers of holes concerning viscoelastic behavior for an epoxy material. In addition, this study allows us to know which model is the most resistant during tightening. The results of the final element method (FEM) numerical model were compared, after application of different loadings, to determine the deformation and stress resulting from these loadings, particularly at the holes. On the other hand, the study showed that there is a relationship between viscosity and stress, and a relationship between deformation and stress according to Hooke's law. The variation and the relationship between the stress-strain is then modeled using the finite element calculation code ABAQUS. In addition, the results obtained concerning the numerical simulation were compared and discussed between the different case studies. A good correspondence was obtained between the different comparison results in all the modeling cases of our work.

Augmenting Material Characterisation via Numerical Analysis to Improve Robustness in Mechanical Property Evaluation

Experimental evaluation of mechanical properties of materials is often standardised by pre-defining the test specimen in terms of its geometrical features and random errors if any need to be screened out during experimentation. However, eliminating the systematic biases is a formidable task. This study presents the efforts taken to address three important systematic biases possible in the case of mechanical property evaluation of materials. For a simple tensile strength characterization, misalignment of the specimen with respect to the axis of loading, turning effect in the load application system and geometrical imperfection are considered in the test specimen. These concepts are illustrated using numerical analysis for SAE 1045 steel material. Sheet specimens as per the ASTM standards are modelled and the stress-strain behaviour of the material is bench marked with experimental results. Subsequently, pre-defined cases of (a) specimen misalignment, (b) twisting and (c) geometric imperfections are introduced to study the variations in stress-strain behaviour. It is observed that an inadvertent twisting force coupled with an axial load increases the Von-Mises stress at the mid-section of the specimen increased by about 33% and reduces its fatigue life by 96%. The study clearly brings out the implications of such inadvertent systematic biases occurring in a typical experimental or usage scenario on the component life. It also shows how the numerical computations can offer a robust methodology to assess the bounds of possible deviations.

Anisotropy and compaction gradient assessment on rammed earth specimens through sonic tomography approach

Rammed earth is a traditional construction technique that has recently gained attention because of its benefits from an ecological perspective. The conservation of the existing valuable cultural heritage sites and the quality control of new constructions built with this material require the development and application of practical inspection techniques. This paper explores the application of sonic tests and sonic tomography as practical tools for monitoring the state of conservation of existing structures and the identification of heterogeneities or damaged areas. Two groups of 6 rammed earth specimens were manufactured and tested. The manufacturing process of each group allowed the application of compression loads and the identification of the Sonic Wave Propagation Velocities along directions parallel and perpendicular to the compaction forces during manufacturing. The SWPV were identified for the different paths between 9 measuring points located at two opposite sides of the specimens, leading to up to 6 different planes for each specimen. The SWPV are identified by identifying the Time-of-Flight of the elastic wave between each pair of excitation and receiver points. A discretized coloured map of the SWPV distribution for each plane defined by the measurement points array is obtained by the application of an algorithm already developed by the authors to obtain tomographic images for other materials and applications. The SWPV are identified after 2 different increasing values of a uniform compressive load is applied to each specimen. The results show that the analysis of the SWPV and tomographic images is sensitive to heterogeneities, such as compaction gradients from the manufacturing process, and also to the accumulated damage in the solid. The paper demonstrates that the proposed technique can be potentially used for a qualitative inspection of the state of conservation of specific rammed earth constructions.

Beam modeling in a floating frame of reference for torsion dynamics of helicopter rotor blades

AbstractIn the ongoing development of DLR’s Versatile Aeromechanics Simulation Tool, an elastic-beam model is integrated into the multibody system based on the floating frame-of-reference formulation. Although the application of this formulation for one-dimensional beam models has already been addressed in the literature, the challenge remains to properly model the torsion dynamics of rotor blades – especially under high centrifugal loads. To this aim, this work suggests the consideration of rotational shape functions in the inertia shape integrals and in the application of gravitational, inertial, and external loads. This modified approach is validated based on the structural analysis of a rotor blade with complex geometrical properties.