STACKING SEQUENCE OPTIMIZA-TION OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE CYLINDER SHELL FOR MAXIMAL BUCKLING LOAD

A new optimization method for the optimization of stacking of composite glass fiber laminates is developed. The fiber orientation and angle of the layers of the cylindrical shells are sought considering the buckling load. The proposed optimization algorithm applies both finite element analysis and the mode-pursuing sampling （MPS）method. The algorithms suggest the optimal stacking sequence for achieving the maximal buckling load. The procedure is implemented by integrating ANSYS and MATLAB. The stacking sequence designing for the symmetric angle-ply three-layered and five-layered composite cylinder shells is presented to illustrate the optimization process, respectively. Compared with the genetic algorithms, the proposed optimization method is much faster and efficient for composite staking sequence plan.

Analysis modeling for plate buckling load of vibration test

In view of the recent technological development, the pursuit of safehigh-precision structural designs has been the goal of most structural designers. To bridge the gapbetween the construction theories and the actual construction techniques, safety factors are adoptedfor designing the strength loading of structural members. If safety factors are too conservative,the extra building materials necessary will result in high construction cost. Thus, there has been atendency in the construction field to derive a precise buckling load analysis model of member inorder to establish accurate safety factors. A numerical analysis model, using modal analysis toacquire the dynamic function calculated by dynamic parameter to get the buckling load of member, isproposed in this paper. The fixed and simple supports around the circular plate are analyzed by thisproposed method. And then, the Monte Carlo method and the normal distribution method are used forrandom sampling and measuring errors of numerical simulation respectively. The analysis resultsindicated that this proposed method only needs to apply modal parameters of 7 X 7 test points toobtain a theoretical value of buckling load. Moreover, the analysis method of inequality-distanttest points produces better analysis results than the other methods.

Optimization for Maximum Nonlinear Buckling Load and Topics on Imperfection of Latticed Shells

The present paper represents comparison of continuum shells and latticed shells with qualitative analysis. For shells, the mechanical characteristics in the two perpendicular directions are continuous and related to each other, and any change in thickness will result in change in stiffness in any direction. In latticed shells, members are discrete and stiffnesses in two mutually perpendicular directions are discontinuous and independent of each other. Therefore, sensitivity of geometrical imperfection for buckling of latticed shells should be different from that of continuum shells. The author proposes a shape optimization method for maximum buckling load of a latticed shell. A single layer latticed dome is taken as a numerical example, and the results show that the buckling load parameter for full area loading case increases 32.75% compared to that of its initial shape. Furthermore, the numerical example demonstrates that an optimum latticed shell with maximum buckling load, unlike an optimum continuum shell, may not be sensitive to its geometrical imperfection.

THE APPROXIMATE ANALYTICAL SOLUTION FOR THE BUCKLING LOADS OF A THIN-WALLED BOX COLUMN WITH VARIABLE CROSS-SECTION

For a thin-walled box column with variable cross-section, the three governing equations for torsional-flexural buckling are ordinary differential equations of the second or fourth order with variable coefficients, so it is very difficult to solve them by means of an analytic method. In this paper, polynomials are used to approximate the geometric properties of cross-section and certain coefficients of the differential equations. Based on the energy principle and the Galerkin's method, the approximate formulas for calculating the flexural and torsional buckling loads of this kind of columns are developed respectively, and numerical examples are used to verify the correctness of the solutions obtained. The results calculated in this paper provide the basis for demonstrating the stability of thin-walled box columns with variable cross-section. This paper is of practical value.

Buckling analysis of shear deformable composite conical shells reinforced by CNTs subjected to combined loading on the two-parameter elastic foundation

The main objective of this study is to investigate the buckling analysis of CCSs reinforced by CNTs subjected to combined loading of hydrostatic pressure and axial compression resting on the twoparameter elastic foundation(T-P-EF).It is one of the first attempts to derive the governing equations of the CCSs reinforced with CNTs,based on a generalized first-order shear deformation shell theory(FSDST)which includes shell-foundation interaction.By adopting the extended mixing rule,the effective material properties of CCSs reinforced by CNTs with linear distributions are approximated by introducing some efficiency parameters.Three carbon nanotube distribution in the matrix,i.e.uniform distribution(U)and V and X-types linear distribution are taken into account.The stability equations are solved by using the Galerkin procedure to determine the combined buckling loads(CBLs)of the structure selected here.The numerical illustrations cover CBLs characteristics of CCSs reinforced by CNTs in the presence of the T-P-EF.Finally,a parametric study is carried out to study the influences of the foundation parameters,the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes and the types of reinforcement on the CBLs.

DYNAMIC BUCKLING OF DOUBLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES UNDER STEP AXIAL LOAD

An approximate method is presented in this paper for studying the dynamic buckling of double-walled carbon nanotubes （DWNTs） under step axial load. The analysis is based on the continuum mechanics model, which takes into account the van der Waals interaction between the outer and inner nanotubes. A buckling condition is derived, from which the critical buckling load and associated buckling mode can be determined. As examples, numerical results are worked out for DWNTs under fixed boundary conditions. It is shown that, due to the effect of van der Waals forces, the critical buckling load of a DWNT is enhanced when inserting an inner tube into a single-walled one. The paper indicates that the critical buckling load of DWNTs for dynamic buckling is higher than that for static buckling. The effect of the radii is also examined. In addition, some of the results are compared with the previous ones.

The critical loading for lateral buckling of continuous welded rail

The most significant differences between continuous welded rails （CWRs） and general split-type connectors are axial compression in the longitudinal direction, buckling stability and other issues generated under the influence of thermal effect. Under thermal effect, a dynamical behavior similar to that of a beam fixed on two sides occurs in the central locked area of the welded rail, as there is axial compression but no possibility of sliding. Continuous welded rails do not contract or expand, and are supported by the dynamical system made up of ballasts and rail clips. The rail-support system mentioned above has the features of non-uniform material distribution and uncertainty of construction quality. Due to these facts, the dynamics method based on the linear elastic hypothesis cannot correctly evaluate the rail＇s buckling conditions. This study is aimed at applying Finite Difference Method （FDM） and Monte Carlo Random Normal Variables Method to the analysis of welded rail＇s buckling behavior during the train＇s acceleration and deceleration, under thermal effect and uncertain factors of ballast and rail clips. The analysis result showed that buckling occurs under the combined effect of thermal effect and the train＇s deceleration force co-effect and the variance ratio of ballast and rail clips is over 0.85, or under the combined effect of thermal effect and the train＇s acceleration force when the ariance ratio is over 0.88.

Interval Analysis Method on the Buckling of Composite Laminate

A method named interval analysis method, which solves the buckling load of composite laminate with uncertainties, is presented. Based on interval mathematics and Taylor series expansion, the interval analysis method is used to deal with uncertainties. Not necessarily knowing the probabilistic statistics characteristics of the uncertain variables, only little information on physical properties of material is needed in the interval analysis method, that is, the upper bound and lower bound of the uncertain variable. So the interval of response of the structure can be gotten through less computational efforts. The interval analysis method is efficient under the condition that probability approach cannot work well because of small samples and deficient statistics characteristics. For buckling load of a special cross-ply laminates and antisymmetric angle-ply laminates with all edges simply supported, calculations and comparisons between interval analysis method and probability method are performed.

Dynamic and buckling analysis of polymer hybrid composite beam with variable thickness

This work deals with a study of the dynamic and buckling analysis of polymer hybrid composite(PHC) beam. The beam has variable thickness and is reinforced by carbon nanotubes(CNTs) and nanoclay(NC) simultaneously. The governing equations are derived based on the first shear deformation theory(FSDT). A three-phase HalpinTsai approach is used to predict the mechanical properties of the PHC. We focus our attention on the effect of the simultaneous addition of NC and CNT on the vibration and buckling analysis of the PHC beam with variable thickness. Also a comparison study is done on the sensation of three impressive parameters including CNT, NC weight fractions, and the shape factor of fillers on the mechanical properties of PHC beams,as well as fundamental frequencies of free vibrations and critical buckling load. The results show that the increase of shape factor value, NC, and CNT weight fractions leads to considerable reinforcement in mechanical properties as well as increase of the dimensionless fundamental frequency and buckling load. The variation of CNT weight fraction on elastic modulus is more sensitive rather than shear modulus but the effect of NC weight fraction on elastic and shear moduli is fairly the same. The shape factor values more than the medium level do not affect the mechanical properties.

Structural Integrity Assessment of Offshore Jackets Considering Proper Modeling of Buckling in Tubular Members-a Case Study of Resalat Jacket

In the present research,results of buckling analysis of 384 finite element models,verified using three different test results obtained from three separate experimental investigations,were used to study the effects of five parameters such as D/t,L/D,imperfection,mesh size and mesh size ratio.Moreover,proposed equations by offshore structural standards concerning global and local buckling capacity of tubular members including former API RP 2A WSD and recent API RP 2A LRFD,ISO 19902,and NORSOK N-004 have been compared to FE and experimental results.One of the most crucial parts in the estimation of the capacity curve of offshore jacket structures is the correct modeling of compressive members to properly investigate the interaction of global and local buckling which leads to the correct estimation of performance levels and ductility.Achievement of the proper compressive behavior of tubular members validated by experimental data is the main purpose of this paper.Modeling of compressive braces of offshore jacket platforms by 3D shell or solid elements can consider buckling modes and deformations due to local buckling.ABAQUS FE software is selected for FE modeling.The scope of action of each of elastic buckling,plastic buckling,and compressive yielding for various L/r ratios is described.Furthermore,the most affected part of each parameter on the buckling capacity curve is specified.The pushover results of the Resalat Jacket with proper versus improper modeling of compressive members have been compared as a case study.According to the results,applying improper mesh size for compressive members can under-predict the ductility by 33%and under-estimate the lateral loading capacity by up to 8%.Regarding elastic stiffness and post-buckling strength,the mesh size ratio is introduced as the most effective parameter.Besides,imperfection is significantly the most important parameter in terms of critical buckling load.

Structure buckling and non-probabilistic reliability analysis of supercavitating vehicles

To perform structure buckling and reliability analysis on supercavitating vehicles with high velocity in the submarine,supercavitating vehicles were simplified as variable cross section beam firstly.Then structural buckling analysis of supercavitating vehicles with or without engine thrust was conducted,and the structural buckling safety margin equation of supercavitating vehicles was established.The indefinite information was described by interval set and the structure reliability analysis was performed by using non-probabilistic reliability method.Considering interval variables as random variables which satisfy uniform distribution,the Monte-Carlo method was used to calculate the non-probabilistic failure degree.Numerical examples of supercavitating vehicles were presented.Under different ratios of base diameter to cavitator diameter,the change tendency of non-probabilistic failure degree of structural buckling of supercavitating vehicles with or without engine thrust was studied along with the variety of speed.

Buckling analysis of functionally graded nanobeams under non-uniform temperature using stress-driven nonlocal elasticity

In this work,the size-dependent buckling of functionally graded(FG)Bernoulli-Euler beams under non-uniform temperature is analyzed based on the stressdriven nonlocal elasticity and nonlocal heat conduction.By utilizing the variational principle of virtual work,the governing equations and the associated standard boundary conditions are systematically extracted,and the thermal effect,equivalent to the induced thermal load,is explicitly assessed by using the nonlocal heat conduction law.The stressdriven constitutive integral equation is equivalently transformed into a differential form with two non-standard constitutive boundary conditions.By employing the eigenvalue method,the critical buckling loads of the beams with different boundary conditions are obtained.The numerically predicted results reveal that the growth of the nonlocal parameter leads to a consistently strengthening effect on the dimensionless critical buckling loads for all boundary cases.Additionally,the effects of the influential factors pertinent to the nonlocal heat conduction on the buckling behavior are carefully examined.

Effects of layer number and initial pressure on continuum-based buckling analysis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes accounting for van der Waals interaction

The structural instability of multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) has captured extensive attention due to the unique characteristic of extremely thin hollow cylinder structure. The previous studies usually focus on the buckling behavior without considering the effects of the wall number and initial pressure. In this paper, the axial buckling behavior of MWCNTs with the length-to-outermost radius ratio less than 20 is investigated within the framework of the Donnell shell theory. The governing equations for the infinitesimal buckling of MWCNTs are established, accounting for the van der Waals(vd W) interaction between layers. The effects of the wall number, initial pressure prior to buckling, and aspect ratio on the critical buckling mode, buckling load, and buckling strain are discussed, respectively. Specially, the four-walled and twenty-walled CNTs are studied in detail, indicating the fact that the buckling instability may occur in other layers besides the outermost layer. The obtained results extend the buckling analysis of the continuum-based model, and provide theoretical support for the application of CNTs.

Stability Performance of Buckling-Restrained Brace with Brace Joints

The stability and ductility of four buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) with brace joints were studied. The load-carrying element of BRB was fabricated with steel (Chinese Q235), and a layer of colloidal silica sheet (0.5 mm in thickness) or four layers of plastic film (0.2 mm in thickness) were used as unbonding materials to provide space to prevent the buckling of inner core in higher modes and facilitate its lateral expansion in case of compression. Based on the equation of BRBs with brace joints of different restrained stiffnesses, the buckling load is calculated considering the initial geometric imperfections and residual stress, and the theoretical values agree well with the experiment results. It is concluded that the buckling load and ductility of BRBs are influenced greatly by the restrained stiffness of brace joints. If the restrained stiffness is deficient, the unstrained segment of BRBs with less stiffness will buckle firstly. As a result, the ultimate load of BRBs decreases, and the maximum compression load is reduced to about 65% of the maximum tension load; the stiffness also degenerates, and there is a long decreasing stage on the back-bone curve in compression phase; the ductility decreases, i.e., the ultimate tension ductility and ultimate compression ductility are approximately 15 and 1.3 respectively, and the cumulative plastic ductility is only approximately 200. If the restrained stiffness of joint is large enough, the stability will be improved as follows: the yielding strength and ultimate strength of BRBs are nearly the same, and there is an obvious strain intensification in both tension and compression phases; the ductility of brace also increases obviously, i.e., the ultimate tension ductility and ultimate compression ductility are both approximately 14, and the cumulative plastic ductility reaches 782.

A rigid-flexible coupling finite element model of coupler for analyzing train instability behavior during collision

Rail vehicles generate huge longitudinal impact loads in collisions.If unreasonable matching exists between the compressive strength of the intermediate coupler and the structural strength of the car body,the risk of car body structure damage and train derailment will increase.Herein,a four-stage rigid-flexible coupling finite element model of the coupler is established considering the coupler buckling load.The influence of the coupler buckling load on the train longitudinal-vertical-hori-zontal buckling behavior was studied,and the mechanism of the train horizontal buckling instability in train collisions was revealed.Analysis results show that an intermediate coupler should be designed to ensure that the actual buckling load is less than the compressive load when the car body structure begins to deform plastically.The actual buckling load of the coupler and the asymmetry of the structural strength of the car body in the lateral direction are two important influencing factors for the lateral buckling of a train collision.If the strength of the two sides of the car body structure in the lateral direction is asymmetrical,the deformation on the weaker side will be larger,and the end of the car body will begin to deflect under the action of the coupler force,which in turn causes the train to undergo sawtooth buckling.

Shear deformable finite beam elements for composite box beams

The shear deformable thin-walled composite beams with closed cross-sections have been developed for coupled flexural, torsional, and buckling analyses. A theoretical model applicable to the thin-walled laminated composite box beams is presented by taking into account all the structural couplings coming from the material anisotropy and the shear deformation effects. The current composite beam includes the transverse shear and the restrained warping induced shear deformation by using the first-order shear deformation beam theory. Seven governing equations are derived for the coupled axial-flexural-torsional-shearing buckling based on the principle of minimum total potential energy. Based on the present analytical model, three different types of finite composite beam elements, namely, linear, quadratic and cubic elements are developed to analyze the flexural, torsional, and buckling problems. In order to demonstrate the accuracy and superiority of the beam theory and the finite beam elements developed by this study,numerical solutions are presented and compared with the results obtained by other researchers and the detailed threedimensional analysis results using the shell elements of ABAQUS. Especially, the influences of the modulus ratio and the simplified assumptions in stress-strain relations on the deflection, twisting angle, and critical buckling loads of composite box beams are investigated.

An Investigation of Buckled of Column on Liner Elastic foundation by Using Finite-Difference Mode

The use of columns on elastic foundation is very common in Civil Engineering, like bridge pier, the foundation of the buildings etc. So, it will be useful to find the critical load for the structure, the problem in this paper will be solved by Finite-Difference Mode, that＇ s simple and has an extensive use. The way it works is that by dividing the component into many units. Finite-difference methods （FDM） are numerical methods for anoroximating, the solutions to differential eauations usine finite difference equations to approximate derivatives.

Stability Analysis of a Multi-holes Shell Under Axial Compression

The paper presents a multi-holes shell with one hundred and eighty circular holes which has been used in engineering. Using a buckling module of the finite element analysis software, stability behavior and destroy mode along geometry parameters are studied. Results show the destroy mode depends on the geometry parameter greatly. Curves of buckling critical load and strength limited load along geometry parameters have a point of intersection. The point implies the multi-holes shell has different destroy mode and the value of point is change in geometry parameters.

Buckling analysis of planar linear uniform deployable structures consisting of scissor-like element in space under compression

This paper comprehensively investigates the buckling load and the stability of a planar linear array deployable structure composed of scissor-like element(SLE)under compression.At present,the researches on deployable structure are mainly focused on configuration design and dynamics characteristics of the mechanisms,but less on structural instability.In fact,when the external load exceeds the structural critical load value,the deployable structure will be permanently deformed or even collapse directly and no longer have any bearing capacity.To address this issue,a new stability model is derived using linear elastic analysis method and substructure method to evaluate the buckling characteristics of the deployable structure with n SLEs when it is carried out in space,which can accurately obtain the structural instability load and can be used quantitatively to optimize the structure for making it have the most stable configuration.In addition,the effects of the number of elements,the length,material properties and flexibility of the bar,and the deployment degree on the buckling of the scissor deployable structure are investigated,and the results of the theoretical analysis are compared with simulation and analytical results,respectively,confirming that the proposed stability model not only is able to effectively predict the structural instability load but also determine which part of the deployable structure is unstable.It can be concluded that the stability of the deployable structure gradually decreases with the increase of the number of elements or the bar flexibility.In the calculation process,the critical load of each sub-element should be considered,and the minimum value of the critical loads of all subunits can be regarded as the instability load of the whole structure.

Dynamic Assessment of the Carrying Capacity of Oilfield Derricks

This paper presents a dynamic evaluation method to calculate the buckling strength of oilfield derricks. First, the linear relationship between the basic frequency and the ultimate strength of the cantilever structure with axial load is determined using the dynamic eigenvalue equations of the structure. Then, the basic frequency, ω 2 1i , corresponding to the load, N i, can be calculated or measured, and the linear relationship of ω 2 1i ～N i is plotted using the data mentioned above. The axial force corresponding to ω 2 1i =0 is the required buckling strength of the oilfield derrick. The suggested method can evaluate the buckling strength of oilfield derricks combining nondestructive testing with calculating. It is a convenient and practical method to estimate the carrying capacity of any steel structure.