Crashworthiness design of density-graded cellular metals

Crashworthiness of cellular metals with a linear density gradient was analyzed by using cell-based finite element models and shock models. Mechanisms of energy absorption and deformation of graded cellular metals were explored by shock wave propagation analysis. Results show that a positive density gradient is a good choice for protecting the impacting object because it can meet the crashworthiness requirements of high energy absorption, stable impact resistance and low peak stress.

Strain-rate effect on initial crush stress of irregular honeycomb under dynamic loading and its deformation mechanism

The seemingly contradictory understandings of the initial crush stress of cellular materials under dynamic loadings exist in the literature, and a comprehensive analysis of this issue is carried out with using direct information of local stress and strain. Local stress/strain calculation methods are applied to determine the initial crush stresses and the strain rates at initial crush from a cell-based finite element model of irregular honeycomb under dynamic loadings. The initial crush stress under constant-velocity compression is identical to the quasi-static one, but less than the one under direct impact, i.e. the initial crush stresses under different dynamic loadings could be very different even though there is no strain-rate effect of matrix material. A power-law relation between the initial crush stress and the strain rate is explored to describe the strain-rate effect on the initial crush stress of irregular honeycomb when the local strain rate exceeds a critical value, below which there is no strain-rate effect of irregular honeycomb. Deformation mechanisms of the initial crush behavior under dynamic loadings are also explored.The deformation modes of the initial crush region in the front of plastic compaction wave are different under different dynamic loadings.

Dynamic crushingof cellular materials: a particle velocity-based analytical method and its application

Cellular material under high-velocity impacthas a typical feature oflayer-wise collapse.A cell-based finite element model is employed to simulate the direct impact of closed-cell foam, and one-dimensional velocity field distributionsareobtained to characterize thecrushing bandpropagating through a cellular material. An explicit expression of continuous velocity distribution is derivedbased on the features of velocity gradient distribution. The velocity distribution function is adopted to determine the dynamic stress-strain statesof cellular materials under dynamic loading.The local stress-strain history distribution reveals that sectional cells experience a process from the precursor of elastic behavior to the shock stress state, through the dynamic initial crushing state. A power-law relation between the dynamic initial crushing stress andthe strainrate isestablished, which confirms the strain-rate effect of cellular materials. By extracting the critical points immediately before the unloading stage on the local dynamic stress-strain history curves, the dynamic stress-strain statesof cellular materials are determined. They exhibit loading rate-dependence but are independent of the initial impact velocity.Furthermore, with the increase of relative density, the dynamic hardening behaviorof cellular specimen is enhanced and the crushing process event is advanced. The particle velocity-based analytical method is appliedto analyze the dynamic responses of cellular materials.This method is better than continuum-based shock models, since itdoes not require a pre-assumed constitutive relation.Therefore,the particle velocity-based analytical method proposed in this study may provide new ideas to carry out dynamic experimental measurement, which is especially applicable toinhomogeneous materials.

Dynamic simulation and safety evaluation of high-speed trains meeting in open air

Dynamic responses of a carriage under excitation with the German high-speed low-interference track spectrum together with the air pressure pulse generated as high-speed trains passing each other are investigated with a multi-body dynamics method.The variations of degrees of freedom（DOFs：horizontal movement,roll angle,and yaw angle）,the lateral wheel-rail force,the derailment coefficient and the rate of wheel load reduction with time when two carriages meet in open air are obtained and compared with the results of a single train travelling at specifie speeds.Results show that the rate of wheel load reduction increases with the increase of train speed and meets some safety standard at a certain speed,but exceeding the value of the rate of wheel load reduction does not necessarily mean derailment.The evaluation standard of the rate of wheel load reduction is somewhat conservative and may be loosened.The pressure pulse has significan effects on the train DOFs,and the evaluations of these safety indexes are strongly suggested in practice.The pressure pulse has a limited effect on the derailment coefficien and the lateral wheel-rail force,and,thus,their further evaluations may be not necessary.

On the stress–strain states of cellular materials under high loading rates

A virtual Taylor impact of cellular materials is analyzed with a wave propagation technique, i.e. the Lagrangian analysis method, of which the main advantage is that no pre-assumed constitutive relationship is required. Time histories of particle velocity, local strain, and stress profiles are calculated to present the local stress-strain history curves, from which the dynamic stress-strain states are obtained. The present results reveal that the dynamic-rigid-plastic hardening （D-R-PH） material model introduced in a previous study of our group is in good agreement with the dynamic stress-strain states under high loading rates obtained by the Lagrangian analysis method. It directly reflects the effectiveness and feasibility of the D-R-PH material model for the cellular materials under high loading rates.

椭圆柱壳链的波形弥散特性研究

椭圆柱壳链可以引起波形弥散,从而可以调控应力波的传播.本文通过3D打印、冲击测试、细观有限元模拟和理论分析,研究了在质量块冲击加载下,单胞纵横比、冲击质量和速度对椭圆柱壳链中弹性波传播弥散行为的影响.结果表明,冲击过程中,椭圆柱壳链结构中的速度峰值随着波传播逐渐减小,纵横比越大或冲击质量越小,速度峰值衰减越剧烈,而冲击速度对椭圆柱壳链的波形弥散行为几乎无影响.相关研究对新型波形控制器的设计和精确有效地调控弹性波传播具有重要意义.

Anomalies in mid-high-temperature linear thermal expansion coefficient of the closed-cell aluminum foam

Low-density closed-cell aluminum foam is promising to be used as load-bearing and thermal insulation components. It is necessary to systematically study its thermal expansion performance. In this work, linear thermal expansion coefficient(LTEC) of the closed-cell aluminum foam of different density was measured in the temperature range of 100–500 °C. X-ray fluorescence was used to analyze elemental composition of the cell wall material. Phase transition characteristics were analyzed with X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. LTEC of the closed-cell aluminum foam was found to be dominated by its cell wall property and independent of its density. Particularly, two anomalies were found and experimentally analyzed. Due to the release of the residual tensile stress, the LTEC declined and even exhibited negative values. After several thermal cycles, the residual stress vanished. With temperature higher than 300 °C,instantaneous LTEC showed hysteresis, which should result from the redistribution of some residual hydrogen in the Ti2Al20 Ca lattice.