Optimizing design of lattice materials based on finite element simulation

The optimized design of simple cross-truss and column lattice structures was carried out by the SolidWorks simulation module.The effective density of the structure was calculated according to the weight reduction requirements proposed by the project.Then,the vari-ation curve between the maximum bearing stress of the unit structure and the structural variables was obtained by simulation.Meanwhile,the mathematical equation between the maximum bearing stress and the structural variables could be obtained through MATLAB fitting.The results indicated that with the decrease in the number of cells,the compressive strength of the prepared column lattice increased(400 to 4 cells,compressive strength 29 MPa to 160 MPa).However,the yield strength increased with the number of cells.The compression strength of the simple cross-truss lattice samples indicated an increase trend with the decrease of the pillar size(an increase of the number of units),reaching 91 MPa(pillar diameter 0.52 mm,number of units 25).While the yield strength increased with the increasing of the number of units.In addition,the additive manufacturing processes of simple cubic lattice and simple cross-pillar lattice were investigated using selective laser melting.The compression performance obtained from the experiment is compared with the simulation results,which are in good agreement.The results of this paper can provide an important reference for optimizing design of lattice materials.

Dynamic Finite Element Analysis for Interaction between Two Phase Saturated Soil Foundation and Platform

In this paper, the foundation soil of offshore structure is simulated as a two phase saturated porous medium. The dynamic equations of porous medium and finite element formulation are given. For structural analysis, the technique of multilevel substructure is used, and the saturated soil analysis is set in the highest level substructure model. Based on these theories a dynamic finite element analysis program DIASS for the analysis of interaction between two phase ocean soil foundation and platform structures has been developed. A numerical example is given here to illustrate the influence of the pore water in soil on the structural response of an ocean platform.

Numerical Simulation of Mechanical Characteristics of a Metal Net for Deep-Sea Aquaculture

The investigation on hydrodynamic characteristics of a cage is important for its application in the deep-sea aquaculture in our country.With finite element method,the beam element is used to simulate a three-dimensional metal chain net,and the connector element is introduced as the interaction between metal net lines.A mechanical model for the metal net is constructed to simulate the hydrodynamic characteristics of a metal net subjected to fluid current forces.The static simulation results show that the relative errors of the displacements are 2.13%,4.19%,6.64%,and 11.35% compared with static concentrated load tests under concentrated forces of 20,40,60,and 80 N,respectively.Both the transient hydrodynamic deformations and drag forces of the netting structures under different current velocities are obtained by solving the hydrodynamic equation of the netting structure.The average relative error of the current forces obtained by numerical simulations shows an 8.13%deviation from the drag tests of the metal nets in the tank under five current velocities.The effectiveness and precision of the simulation approach are verified by static and dynamic tests.The proposed simulation approach will provide a good foundation for the further investigation of the hydrodynamic characteristics of deep-sea aquaculture metal cages and the parameter design for the safety of such cage systems.

APPLICATION OF STOCHASTIC FINITE ELEMENT METHOD TO STRENGTH AND STABILITY ANALYSIS OF EARTH DAMS

This paper applies the stochastic finite element method to analyse the statistics of stresses in earth dams and assess the safety and reliability of the dams. Formulations of the stochastic finite element method are briefly reviewed and the procedure for assessing dam's strength and stability is described. As an example, a detailed analysis for an actual dam Nululin dam is performed. A practical method for studying built-dams based on the prototype observation data is described.

Innovative Teaching Approach Based on Finite Element Technique in Material Mechanics for Vocational Education

This paper proposed an innovative teaching approach based on finite element technique(FET)to improve the understanding of material mechanics.A teaching experiment was conducted using pure bending deformation of a beam as an example,and the deformation and stress distribution of the beam were analyzed using FET.The results showed that using color stress nephograms and color U nephograms can improve students’learning outcomes in mechanics classroom.The high levels of satisfaction and interest in incorporating new techniques into the classroom suggest that there is a need to explore and develop innovative teaching methods in mechanics and related fields.This approach may inspire educators to develop more effective ways of teaching material mechanics,and our research can contribute to the advancement of mechanics education.

COUPLED THERMO-MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONALLY GRADIENT WEAK/MICRO-DISCONTINUOUS INTERFACE WITH GRADED FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Coupled thermo-mechanical analysis of two bonded functionally graded materials subjected to thermal loads is conducted in this study with the graded finite element method. The thermal-mechanical properties of the bi-material interfaces are classified based on discontinuity degrees of their material properties and their derivatives at the interfaces. Numerical results indicate that discontinuity exerts remarkable effect on the temperature profile and stress value at the interface of two bonded functionally-graded materials. Under the thermal flux loading conditions, the stronger the interface discontinuity is, the smaller the heat flux is.

Structural characteristics of cement-stabilized soil bases with 3D finite element method

Cement-stabilized soil bases have been widely used in expressways due to its high strength,appropriate stiffness,good water resistance,and frost resistance.So far,the structural characteristics and mechanical behaviors of cement-stabilized soil bases were not investigated so much.In this paper,the 3D elastic-plastic finite element method(FEM)was used to analyze the mechanical behaviors and structural characteristics of cementstabilized soil bases from construction to operation.The pavement filling and the traffic loading processes were simulated,and a contact model was used to simulate the contact behavior between each layer of the pavement.Considering the construction process,the structural characteristics and mechanical behaviors of cementstabilized soil bases were studied under asphalt-concrete pavement conditions.Furthermore,the general rules of deformations and stresses in cement-stabilized soil bases under different conditions were discussed,and some suggestions were put forward for the design and construction of cement-stabilized soil bases.

Biomechanical Effects of Tibial Stems with Different Structures on Human Knee Joint after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Finite Element Analysis

Porous structure in orthopedic prosthesis may reduce micromotion and increase the service life of implants.The purposes of this study were to compare the influence of the tibial stems with solid and porous structures in Total Knee Arthroplasty(TKA)on knee joint and prostheses,and to improve the mechanical stability of the host bone by seeking favorable structure for the tibial stem.The Finite Element(FE)models of TKA knee with four different structures in the middle segment of the tibial stem(i.e.,solid,cubic,truncated cubic,and octahedral structures)were constructed.The distributions of von Mises stress in the knee joint,tibial prosthesis and proximal tibia,and the compressive stresses of the tibial prosthesis and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene for the four FE models were analyzed.The results showed that the tibial stem filled with the octahedral structure has the best mechanical performance among the above four types of tibial stems.It could effectively reduce the stress concentration and stress shielding effects,and provide an improved mechanical environment for knee joint after TKA.This study would shed some lights on the design and fabrication of porous implants targeted to biomedical applications.

Non-pneumatic mechanical elastic wheel natural dynamic characteristics and influencing factors

Non-pneumatic tire appears to have advantages over traditional pneumatic tire in terms of flat proof and maintenance free.A mechanical elastic wheel(MEW) with a non-pneumatic elastic outer ring which functions as air of pneumatic tire was presented.The structure of MEW was non-inflatable integrated configuration and the effect of hinges was accounted for only in tension. To establish finite element model of MEW, various nonlinear factors, such as geometrical nonlinearity, material nonlinearity and contact nonlinearity, were considered. Load characteristic test was conducted by tyre dynamic test-bed to obtain force-deflection curve. And the finite element model was validated through load characteristic test. Natural dynamic characteristics of the MEW and its influencing factors were investigated based on the finite element model. Simulation results show that the finite element model closely matched experimental wheel. The results also show that natural frequency is related to ground constraints, material properties, loads and torques. Influencing factors as above obviously affect the amplitude of mode of vibration, but have little effect on mode of vibration shape. The results can provide guidance for experiment research, structural optimization of MEW.

Element Analysis of Instrumented Sharp Indentations into Pressure-sensitive Materials

Finite element analysis was carried out to investigate the conical indentation response of elastic-plastic solids within the framework of the hydrostatic pressure dependence and the power law strain hardening. A large number of 40 difierent combinations of elasto-plastic properties with n ranging from 0 to 0.5 and σy/E ranging from 0.0014 to 0.03 were used in the computations. The loading curvature C and the average contact pressure Pave were considered within the concept of representative strains and the dimensional analysis.Dimensionless functions associated with these two parameters were formulated for each studied value of the pressure sensitivity. The results for pressure sensitive materials lie between those for Von Mises materials and the elastic model.

Quasi-static and low-velocity impact mechanical behaviors of entangled porous metallic wire material under different temperatures

To improve the defense capability of military equipment under extreme conditions,impact-resistant and high-energy-consuming materials have to be developed.The damping characteristic of entangled porous metallic wire materials(EPMWM)for vibration isolation was previously investigated.In this paper,a study focusing on the impact-resistance of EPMWM with the consideration of ambient temperature is presented.The quasi-static and low-velocity impact mechanical behavior of EPMWM under different temperatures(25℃-300℃)are systematically studied.The results of the static compression test show that the damping energy dissipation of EPMWM increases with temperature while the nonlinear damping characteristics are gradually enhanced.During the impact experiments,the impact energy loss rate of EPMWM was between 65%and 85%,while the temperatures increased from 25℃to 300℃.Moreover,under the same drop impact conditions,the overall deformation of EPMWM decreases in the temperature range of 100℃-200℃.On the other hand,the impact stiffness,energy dissipation,and impact loss factor of EPMWM significantly increase with temperature.This can be attributed to an increase in temperature,which changes the thermal expansion coefficient and contact state of the internal wire helixes.Consequently,the energy dissipation mode(dry friction,air damping,and plastic deformation)of EPMWM is also altered.Therefore,the EPMWM may act as a potential candidate material for superior energy absorption applications.

Gradient honeycomb metastructure with broadband microwave absorption and effective mechanical resistance

Multifunctional metastructure integrated broadband microwave absorption and effective mechanical resistance has attracted much attention.However,multifunctional performance is limited by the lack of theoretical approaches to integrated design.Herein,a multi-layer impedance gradient honeycomb(MIGH)was designed through theoretical analysis and simulation calculation,and fabricated using 3D printing technique.A theoretical calculation strategy for impedance gradient structure was established based on the electromagnetic parameter equivalent method and the multi-layer finite iterative method.The impedance of MIGH was analyzed by the theoretical calculation strategy to resolve the broadband absorption.Intrinsic loss mechanism of matrix materials and distributions of electric fields,magnetic fields and power loss were analyzed to investigate the absorption mechanism.Experimental results indicated that a 15 mm thick designed metastructure can achieve the absorption more than 88.9%in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz.Moreover,equivalent mechanical parameters of MIGH was calculated by integral method according to the Y-shaped model.Finite Element analysis of stress distributions were carried out to predict the deformation behavior.Mechanical tests demonstrate that MIGH achieved the compression modulus of 22.89 MPa and flexure modulus of 17.05 MPa.The integration of broadband electromagnetic absorption and effective mechanical resistance was achieved by the proposed design principle and fabrication methodology.

Influence Analysis of Machining and Installation Errors on the Radial Stiffness of a Non-Pneumatic Mechanical Elastic Wheel

Machining and installation errors are unavoidable in mechanical structures. However, the effect of errors on radial stiffness of the mechanical elastic wheel(ME-Wheel) is not considered in previous studies. To this end, the interval mathematical model and interval finite element model of the ME-Wheel were both established and compared with bench test results. The intercomparison of the influence of the machining and installation errors on the ME-Wheel radial stiffness revealed good consistency among the interval mathematical analysis, interval finite element simulation,and bench test results. Within the interval range of the ME-Wheel machining and installation errors, parametric analysis of the combined elastic rings was performed at different initial radial rigidity values. The results showed that the initial radial stiffness of the flexible tire body significantly influenced the ME-Wheel radial stiffness, and the inverse relationship between the hinge unit length or suspension hub and the radial stiffness was nonlinear. The radial stiffness of the ME-Wheel is predicted by using the interval algorithm for the first time, and the regularity of the radial stiffness between the error and the load on the ME-Wheel is studied, which will lay the foundation for the exact study of the ME-Wheel dynamic characteristics in the future.

Analysis of Frequency Characteristics and Sensitivity of Compliant Mechanisms

Based on a modified pseudo-rigid-body model,the frequency characteristics and sensitivity of the large-deformation compliant mechanism are studied.Firstly,the pseudo-rigid-body model under the static and kinetic conditions is modified to enable the modified pseudo-rigid-body model to be more suitable for the dynamic analysis of the compliant mechanism.Subsequently,based on the modified pseudo-rigid-body model,the dynamic equations of the ordinary compliant four-bar mechanism are established using the analytical mechanics.Finally,in combination with the finite element analysis software ANSYS,the frequency characteristics and sensitivity of the compliant mechanism are analyzed by taking the compliant parallel-guiding mechanism and the compliant bistable mechanism as examples.From the simulation results,the dynamic characteristics of compliant mechanism are relatively sensitive to the structure size,section parameter,and characteristic parameter of material on mechanisms.The results could provide great theoretical significance and application values for the structural optimization of compliant mechanisms,the improvement of their dynamic properties and the expansion of their application range.

Influence of pore structures on the mechanical behavior of low-permeability sandstones:numerical reconstruction and analysis

The research of rock properties based on its inherent microscopic to mesoscopic porous structure has drawn great attention for its potential in predicting the macroscopic behavior of rocks.An accurate reconstruction of the threedimensional porous structure is a premise for the related studies of hydraulic and mechanical properties of rocks,such as the transport properties and mechanical responses under pressures.In this paper,we present a computer procedure for reconstructing the 3D porous structure of low-permeability sandstone.Two large-size 3D models are reconstructed based on the information of a reference model which is established from computed tomography(CT)images.A self-developed finite element method is applied to analyze the nonlinear mechanical behavior of the sandstone based on its reconstructed model and to compare the results with those based on the reference model.The good consistency of the obtained mechanical responses indicates the potential of using reconstruction models to predict the influences of porous structure on the mechanical properties of low-permeability sandstone.

Effect of particle characteristics on deformation of particle reinforced metal matrix composites

The particle characteristics of 15%SiC particles reinforced metal matrix composites(MMC)made by powder metallurgy route were studied by using a statistical method.In the analysis,the approach for estimation of the characteristics of particles was presented.The study was carried out by using the mathematic software MATLAB to calculate the area and perimeter of each particle, in which the image processing technique was employed.Based on the calculations,the sizes and shape factors of each particle were investigated respectively.Additionally,the finite element model(FEM)was established on the basis of the actual microstructure.The contour plots of von Mises effective stress and strain in matrix and particles were presented in calculations for considering the influence of microstructure on the deformation behavior of MMC.Moreover,the contour maps of the maximum stress of particles and the maximum plastic strain of matrix in the vicinity of particles were introduced respectively.

Dynamic Characteristics Analysis and Vibration Experiment of Upper-time of Flight Counter (U-ToFC)

The dynamic characteristic parameters of Up-time of Flight Counter （U-ToFC） are important for research of structure optimization and reliability. However, the current simulation is performed based on homogenous material and simplified constraint model, the correct and reliability of results are difficult to be guaranteed. The finite element method based on identification of material parameters is proposed for this investigation on dynamic analysis, simulation and vibration experiment of the U-ToFC. The structure of the U-ToFC is complicated. Its＇ outside is made of aluminum alloy and inside contains electronic components such as capacitors, resistors, inductors, and integrated circuits. The accurate material parameters of model are identified difficultly. Hence, the parameters identification tests are performed to obtain the material parameters of this structure. On the basis of the above parameters, the experiment and FEA are conducted to the U-ToFC. In terms of the flight acceptance test level, and two kinds of joints condition between the U-ToFC and fixture are considered. The natural frequencies, vibration shapes and the response of the power spectral density of the U-ToFC are obtained. The results show simulation which is based on parameters identification is similar with vibration experiment in natural frequencies and responses. The errors are less than 10%. The vibration modes of simulation and experiment are consistent. The paper provides a more reliable computing method for the dynamic characteristic analysis of large complicated structure.

Coupling dynamic equations of motor-driven elastic linkage mechanism with links fabricated from three-dimensional braided composite materials

A motor-driven linkage system with links fabricated from 3-dimensional braided composite materials was studied. A group of coupling dynamic equations of the system, including composite materials parameters, electromagnetism parameters of the motor and structural parameters of the link mechanism, were established by finite element method. Based on the air-gap field of non-uniform airspace of three-phase alternating current motor caused by the vibration eccentricity of rotor, the relation of electromechanical coupling at the actual running state was analyzed. And the motor element, which defines the transverse vibration and torsional vibration of the motor as its nodal displacement, was established. Then, based on the damping element model and the expression of energy dissipation of the 3-dimentional braided composite materials, the damping matrix of the system was established by calculating each order modal damping of the mechanism.

Geochemical characteristics and growth suitability assessment of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in the Earth's critical zone of North China

Geochemical differentiation of soils has a series of consequences on plant and places pressure on the ecological environment.The quantitative evaluation of element migration in the Earth’s critical zone is a challenging task.In this study,two demonstration study areas of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi were selected,and multiple chemical weathering indexes,chemical loss fraction,mass migration coefficients and biological enrichment coefficient method were used to assess the ecological and geochemical suitability.The results show that for the element of Fe,Zn,Se,Cu,Co,Ni,Mo and Ge,the degree of weathering and soil maturation,were greater in the rhyolitic tuff area than in the Plagioclase gneiss area.In both research sites,the heavy metal level of samples in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi did not exceed the standard limits.The plagioclase gneiss region’s surface soil environment was more alkaline,and the content of soil organic matter was lower,resulting in a higher bioenrichment intensity of Ge,Co,Cu,and Se elements in Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi than in the rhyolite-tuff area.The elements of Cd,Nb,Mo,Pb and As are considerably enriched in the soil of the plagioclase gneiss area but lost by leaching in the soil of the rhyolite tuff area,which is connected to the interplay of elemental abundance and human impact in the parent materials.This study provides a good example of how to assess growth suitability of Chinese medicinal materials in the Earth’s critical zone.

Physics-informed deep learning for digital materials

In this work,a physics-informed neural network(PINN)designed specifically for analyzing digital mate-rials is introduced.This proposed machine learning(ML)model can be trained free of ground truth data by adopting the minimum energy criteria as its loss function.Results show that our energy-based PINN reaches similar accuracy as supervised ML models.Adding a hinge loss on the Jacobian can constrain the model to avoid erroneous deformation gradient caused by the nonlinear logarithmic strain.Lastly,we discuss how the strain energy of each material element at each numerical integration point can be calculated parallelly on a GPU.The algorithm is tested on different mesh densities to evaluate its com-putational efficiency which scales linearly with respect to the number of nodes in the system.This work provides a foundation for encoding physical behaviors of digital materials directly into neural networks,enabling label-free learning for the design of next-generation composites.