Numerical Exploration of Asymmetrical Impact Dynamics: Unveiling Nonlinearities in Collision Problems and Resilience of Reinforced Concrete Structures

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of collision and impact problems’ numerical solutions, focusing ongeometric, contact, and material nonlinearities, all essential in solving large deformation problems during a collision.The initial discussion revolves around the stress and strain of large deformation during a collision, followedby explanations of the fundamental finite element solution method for addressing such issues. The hourglassmode’s control methods, such as single-point reduced integration and contact-collision algorithms are detailedand implemented within the finite element framework. The paper further investigates the dynamic responseand failure modes of Reinforced Concrete (RC) members under asymmetrical impact using a 3D discrete modelin ABAQUS that treats steel bars and concrete connections as bond slips. The model’s validity was confirmedthrough comparisons with the node-sharing algorithm and system energy relations. Experimental parameterswere varied, including the rigid hammer’s mass and initial velocity, concrete strength, and longitudinal and stirrupreinforcement ratios. Findings indicated that increased hammer mass and velocity escalated RC member damage,while increased reinforcement ratios improved impact resistance. Contrarily, increased concrete strength did notsignificantly reduce lateral displacement when considering strain rate effects. The study also explores materialnonlinearity, examining different materials’ responses to collision-induced forces and stresses, demonstratedthrough an elastic rod impact case study. The paper proposes a damage criterion based on the residual axialload-bearing capacity for assessing damage under the asymmetrical impact, showing a correlation betweendamage degree hammer mass and initial velocity. The results, validated through comparison with theoreticaland analytical solutions, verify the ABAQUS program’s accuracy and reliability in analyzing impact problems,offering valuable insights into collision and impact problems’ nonlinearities and practical strategies for enhancingRC structures’ resilience under dynamic stress.

Numerical Solution of the Asymmetric Water Impact of A Wedge in Three Degrees of Freedom

Impact problems associated with water entry have important applications in various aspects of naval architecture and ocean engineering. Estimation of hydrodynamic impact forces especially during the first instances after the impact is very important and is of interest. Since the estimation of hydrodynamic impact load plays an important role in safe design and also in evaluation of structural weight and costs, it is better to use a reliable and accurate prediction method instead of a simple estimation resulted by analyzing methods. In landing of flying boats, some phenomena such as weather conditions and strong winds can cause asymmetric instead of symmetric descent. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the asymmetric impact of a wedge, as the step of a flying boat, considering dynamic equations in two-phase flow is taken into account. The dynamic motion of the wedge in two-phase flow is solved based on finite volume method with volume of fluid （VOF） scheme considering dynamic equations. Then the effects of different angles of impact and water depth on the velocity change and slamming forces in an asymmetric impact are investigated. The comparison between the simulation results and experimental data verifies the accuracy of the method applied in the present study.

Experimental study on the dynamic response of a 3-D wedge under asymmetric impact

Water entry problems represent complex multiphase flows involving air,water,and structure interaction,occurring rapidly in rough seas,and potentially effecting structural integrity of floating structures.This paper experimentally investigates asymmetric slamming loads acting on a 3-D elastic wedge section.The specimen,featuring two different bottom plates(stiffened and unstiffened),each 4 mm thick,aims to assess the effect of structural stiffness on dynamic loads.The experiments are conducted at different drop heights of 25 cm and 50 cm and varying heel angles from 5°to 25°.The paper describes the experimental conditions,including wedge geometry,material properties,and the test plan.The study explores the influence of heel angle on impact acceleration,revealing an increase in peak acceleration with a higher inclination angle,particularly in the vertical direction.Additionally,the hydrodynamic pressure resulting from asymmetric slamming is presented.The pressure results analyzed and compared at different locations along the length of the wedge.The experimental findings indicate that,despite the leeward side(stiffened)experiencing a smaller hydrodynamic load,the heel angle significantly affects pressure results on the windward side(unstiffened),leading to a more pronounced dynamic response.The time history of pressure results emphasizes the effect of elastic vibrations,particularly noticeable on the unstiffened bottom plate.This study contributes to a deeper understanding of asymmetric slamming on aluminum structures,facilitating the enhancement of mathematical models and the validation of numerical simulations.

Responses of Housing Price under Different Directions of Population Change:Evidence from China's Rust Belt

Population growth has been widely regarded as an important driver of surging housing prices of urban China,while it is unclear as yet whether population shrinkage has an impact on housing prices that is symmetrical with that of population growth.This study,taking 35 sample cites in Northeast China,the typical rust belt with intensifying population shrinkage,as examples,provides an empirical assessment of the roles of population growth and shrinkage in changing housing prices by analyzing panel data,as well as a variety of other factors in related to housing price,during the period of 1999–2018.Findings indicate that although gap in housing prices was widening between population growing cities and population shrinking cities,the past two decades witnessed an obvious rise in housing prices of those sample cities to varying degree.Changes in population size did not have a statistically significant impact on housing prices volatility of sample cities,because population reduction did not lead to a decline in housing demand correspondingly and an increasing housing demand aroused by population growth was usually followed by a quicker and larger housing supply.The rising housing prices in sample cities was mainly driven by factors like changes in land cost,investment in real estate,GDP per capita and household number.However,this does not mean that the impact of population shrinkage on housing prices could be ignored.As population shrinkage intensifies,avoiding the rapid decline of house prices should be the focus of real estate regulation in some population shrinking cities of Northeast China.Our findings contribute a new form of asymmetric responses of housing price to population growth and shrinkage,and offer policy implications for real estate regulation of population shrinking cities in China’s rust belt.