Isogeometric analysis of free-form Timoshenko curved beams including the nonlinear effects of large deformations

In the present paper, the isogeometric analysis（IGA） of free-form planar curved beams is formulated based on the nonlinear Timoshenko beam theory to investigate the large deformation of beams with variable curvature. Based on the isoparametric concept, the shape functions of the field variables（displacement and rotation） in a finite element analysis are considered to be the same as the non-uniform rational basis spline（NURBS） basis functions defining the geometry. The validity of the presented formulation is tested in five case studies covering a wide range of engineering curved structures including from straight and constant curvature to variable curvature beams. The nonlinear deformation results obtained by the presented method are compared to well-established benchmark examples and also compared to the results of linear and nonlinear finite element analyses. As the nonlinear load-deflection behavior of Timoshenko beams is the main topic of this article, the results strongly show the applicability of the IGA method to the large deformation analysis of free-form curved beams. Finally, it is interesting to notice that, until very recently, the large deformations analysis of free-form Timoshenko curved beams has not been considered in IGA by researchers.

Geometric nonlinear dynamic analysis of curved beams using curved beam element

Instead of using the previous straight beam element to approximate the curved beam,in this paper,a curvilinear coordinate is employed to describe the deformations,and a new curved beam element is proposed to model the curved beam.Based on exact nonlinear strain-displacement relation,virtual work principle is used to derive dynamic equations for a rotating curved beam,with the effects of axial extensibility,shear deformation and rotary inertia taken into account.The constant matrices are solved numerically utilizing the Gauss quadrature integration method.Newmark and Newton-Raphson iteration methods are adopted to solve the differential equations of the rigid-flexible coupling system.The present results are compared with those obtained by commercial programs to validate the present finite method.In order to further illustrate the convergence and efficiency characteristics of the present modeling and computation formulation,comparison of the results of the present formulation with those of the ADAMS software are made.Furthermore,the present results obtained from linear formulation are compared with those from nonlinear formulation,and the special dynamic characteristics of the curved beam are concluded by comparison with those of the straight beam.

Exact solution for warping of spatial curved beams in natural coordinates

The purpose of the paper is to present an exact analytical solution of a spatial curved beam under multiple loads based on the existing theory. The transverse shear deformation and torsion-related warping effects are taken into account. By using this solution, a plane curved beam subjected to uniform vertical loads and torsions is analyzed. Accuracy and efficiency of present theory are demonstrated by comparing its numerical results with Heins＇ solution. Furthermore, the effects of the transverse shear deformation and torsion-related warping on deformation of the beam are discussed.

THE CURVED BEAM ELEMENT AND ITS CONVERGENCE RATE

The quasi-conforming element of the curved beam and shallow curved beam is given in this paper. Numerical examples illustrate that the quasi-conforming elements of the curved beam and shallow curved beam which is used to approximate the curved beam have better accuracy than the straight beam clement. The curved beam element constructed by displacement method can not satisfy rigid body motion condition and the very fine grids have to be used in order to satisfy rigid body motion condition approxtmately.In this paper it is proved that the straight beam element and the quasi-conforming element of the curved beam and shallow curved beam, when element size is reduced infinitely, have convergence rate with the same order O(l2) and when regular elements are used. I is the element length.

Geometric nonlinear formulation for curved beams with varying curvature

Based on exact Green strain of spatial curved beam, the relation for plane curved beam with varying curvature is derived nonlinear strain-displacement Instead of using the previous straight beam elements, curved beam elements are used to approximate the curved beam with varying curvature. Based on virtual work principle, rigid-flexible coupling dynamic equations are obtained. Physical experiments were carried out to capture the large overall motion and the strain of curved beam to verify the present rigid-flexible coupling formulation for curved beam based on curved beam element. Numerical results obtained from simulations were compared with those results from the physical experiments. In order to illustrate the effectiveness of the curved beam element methodology, the simulation results of present curved beam elements are compared with those obtained by previous straight beam elements. The dynamic behavior of a slider-crank mechanism with an initially curved elastic connecting rod is investigated. The advantage of employing generalized-or method is pointed out and the special nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the curved beam are concluded.

Dynamic and electrical responses of a curved sandwich beam with glass reinforced laminate layers and a pliable core in the presence of a piezoelectric layer under low-velocity impact

The dynamic responses and generated voltage in a curved sandwich beam with glass reinforced laminate(GRL)layers and a pliable core in the presence of a piezoelectric layer under low-velocity impact(LVI)are investigated.The current study aims to carry out a dynamic analysis on the sandwich beam when the impactor hits the top face sheet with an initial velocity.For the layer analysis,the high-order shear deformation theory(HSDT)and Frostig's second model for the displacement fields of the core layer are used.The classical non-adhesive elastic contact theory and Hunter's principle are used to calculate the dynamic responses in terms of time.In order to validate the analytical method,the outcomes of the current investigation are compared with those gained by the experimental tests carried out by other researchers for a rectangular composite plate subject to the LVI.Finite element(FE)simulations are conducted by means of the ABAQUS software.The effects of the parameters such as foam modulus,layer material,fiber angle,impactor mass,and its velocity on the generated voltage are reviewed.

Large deflection of curved elastic beams made of Ludwick type material

The large deflection of an axially extensible curved beam with a rectangular cross-section is investigated. The elastic beam is assumed to satisfy the Euler-Bernoulli postulation and be made of the Ludwick type material. Through reasonably simplified integration, the strain and curvature of the axis of the beam are presented in implicit formulations. The governing equations involving both geometric and material nonlin- earities of the curved beam are derived and solved by the shooting method. When the initial curvature of the beam is zero, the curved beam is degenerated into a straight beam, and the predicted results obtained by the present model are consistent with those in the open literature. Numerical examples are further given for curved cantilever and simply supported beams, and the couplings between elongation and bending are found for the curved beams.

CLOSED-FORM SOLUTIONS FOR ELASTOPLASTIC PURE BENDING OF A CURVED BEAM WITH MATERIAL INHOMOGENEITY

The elastoplastic pure bending problem of a curved beam with material inhomo- geneity is investigated based on Tresca＇s yield criterion and its associated flow rule. Suppose that the material is elastically isotropic, ideally elastic-plastic and its elastic modulus and yield limit vary radially according to exponential functions. Closed-form solutions to the stresses and radial displacement in both purely elastic stress state and partially plastic stress state are presented. Numerical examples reveal the distinct characteristics of elastoplastic bending of a curved beam composed of inhomogeneous materials. Due to the inhomogeneity of materials, the bearing capac- ity of the curved beam can be improved greatly and the initial yield mode can also be dominated. Closed-form solutions presented here can serve as benchmark results for evaluating numerical solutions.

SOLUTION OF GENERALIZED COORDINATE FOR WARPING FOR NATURALLY CURVED AND TWISTED BEAMS

A theoretical method for static analysis of naturally curved and twisted beams under complicated loads was presented, with special attention devoted to the solving process of governing equations which take into account the effects of torsion-related warping as well as transverse shear deformations. These governing equations, in special cases, can be readily solved and yield the solutions to the problem. The solutions can be used for the analysis of the beams, including the calculation of various internal forces, stresses, strains and displacements. The present theory will be used to investigate the stresses and displacements of a plane curved beam subjected to the action of horizontal and vertical distributed loads. The numerical results obtained by the present theory are found to be in very good agreement with the results of the FEM results. Besides, the present theory is not limited to the beams with a double symmetric cross-section, it can also be extended to those with arbitrary cross-sectional shape.

Enabling the transfer matrix method to model serial-parallel compliant mechanisms including curved flexure beams

Compliant mechanisms with curved flexure hinges/beams have potential advantages of small spaces,low stress levels,and flexible design parameters,which have attracted considerable attention in precision engineering,metamaterials,robotics,and so forth.However,serial-parallel configurations with curved flexure hinges/beams often lead to a complicated parametric design.Here,the transfer matrix method is enabled for analysis of both the kinetostatics and dynamics of general serial-parallel compliant mechanisms without deriving laborious formulas or combining other modeling methods.Consequently,serial-parallel compliant mechanisms with curved flexure hinges/beams can be modeled in a straightforward manner based on a single transfer matrix of Timoshenko straight beams using a step-by-step procedure.Theoretical and numerical validations on two customized XY nanopositioners comprised of straight and corrugated flexure units confirm the concise modeling process and high prediction accuracy of the presented approach.In conclusion,the present study provides an enhanced transfer matrix modeling approach to streamline the kinetostatic and dynamic analyses of general serial-parallel compliant mechanisms and beam structures,including curved flexure hinges and irregular-shaped rigid bodies.

Dynamic Performance of Straddle Monorail Curved Girder Bridge

In this work,a monorail vehicle-bridge coupling(VBC)model capable of accurately considering curve alignment and superelevation is established based on curvilinear moving coordinate system,to study the VBC vibration of straddlemonorail curved girder bridge and the relevant factors influencing VBC.While taking Chongqing Jiao Xin line as an example,the VBC program is compiled using Fortran,where the reliability of algorithm and program is verified by the results of Chongqing monorail test.Moreover,the effects of curve radius,vehicle speed,and track irregularity on the corresponding vehicle and bridge vibrations are compared and analyzed.It is observed that the test results of lateral vibration acceleration(LVA)and vertical vibration acceleration(VVA)of track beam,and LVA of vehicle,are consistent with the simulation results.Owing to the track irregularity,vibration of track beam and vehicle increases significantly.Besides,an increase in vehicle speed gradually increases the vibration of track beam and vehicle.For the curve radius(R)≤200 m,lateral and vertical vibrations of the track beam and vehicle decrease significantly with an increasing curve radius.Alternatively,when 200 m<R<600 m,the lateral vibration of the track beamand vehicle decreases slowly with an increasing curve radius,while the relevant vertical vibration remains stable.Similarly,when R≥600 m,the lateral and vertical vibrations of the track beam and vehicle tend to be stable.Accordingly,the results presented here can provide a strong reference for the design,construction,and safety assessment of existing bridges.

On well-posedness of two-phase nonlocal integral models for higher-order refined shear deformation beams

Due to the conflict between equilibrium and constitutive requirements,Eringen’s strain-driven nonlocal integral model is not applicable to nanostructures of engineering interest.As an alternative,the stress-driven model has been recently developed.In this paper,for higher-order shear deformation beams,the ill-posed issue(i.e.,excessive mandatory boundary conditions(BCs)cannot be met simultaneously)exists not only in strain-driven nonlocal models but also in stress-driven ones.The well-posedness of both the strain-and stress-driven two-phase nonlocal(TPN-Strain D and TPN-Stress D)models is pertinently evidenced by formulating the static bending of curved beams made of functionally graded(FG)materials.The two-phase nonlocal integral constitutive relation is equivalent to a differential law equipped with two restriction conditions.By using the generalized differential quadrature method(GDQM),the coupling governing equations are solved numerically.The results show that the two-phase models can predict consistent scale-effects under different supported and loading conditions.

Behaviour and Analysis of Horizontally Curved Steel Box-Girder Bridges

Various theories and analytical formulations were implemented and exploited in the 1980s and 1990s for the design of bridge beams or decks curved in the horizontal plane and subjected to out-of-plane loads. Nowadays, the Finite Element Method (FEM) is a valid tool for the analysis of structures with complex geometries and, therefore, the development of sophisticated analytical formulations is not needed anymore. However, they are still useful for the validation of FE models. This paper presents the case study of an existing viaduct built in North Italy, aiming to compare analytical approaches and numerical modelling. The bridge is characterized by an axis curved in two directions and a rectilinear segment. The global analysis of the viaduct is carried out with special attention to the attributes that cause torque action and bending moment. The theoretical developments focus on a deeper understanding of the torsional response under different constraint and loading conditions and aspire to raise awareness of the mutual interaction of flexural and torsional behaviour, that are always present in these complex curved systems. The examination of the case study is also obtained by comparing the response of isostatic and hyperstatic curvilinear steel box-girders.

A further study on the spreading and directionality of Gaussian array beams in non-Kolmogorov turbulence

It is found that in free space, the curves of the mean-squared beam width may each have a cross point at a certain propagation distance Zc. For Gaussian array beams, the analytical expressions of zc are derived. For the coherent com- bination, Zc is larger than that for the incoherent combination. However, in non-Kolmogorov turbulence, the cross point disappears, and the Gaussian array beams will have the same directionality in terms of the angular spread. Furthermore, a short propagation distance is needed to reach the same directionality when the generalized exponent is equal to 3.108. In particular, it is shown that the condition obtained in previous studies is not necessary for laser beams to have the same directionality in turbulence, which is explained physically. On the other hand, the relative average intensity distributions at the position where the Gaussian array beams have the same mean-squared beam width are also examined.

A bio-inspired spider-like structure isolator for low-frequency vibration

This paper proposes a quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)isolator composed of a curved beam(as spider foot)and a linear spring(as spider muscle)inspired by the precise capturing ability of spiders in vibrating environments.The curved beam is simplified as an inclined horizontal spring,and a static analysis is carried out to explore the effects of different structural parameters on the stiffness performance of the QZS isolator.The finite element simulation analysis verifies that the QZS isolator can significantly reduce the first-order natural frequency under the load in the QZS region.The harmonic balance method(HBM)is used to explore the effects of the excitation amplitude,damping ratio,and stiffness coefficient on the system’s amplitude-frequency response and transmissibility performance,and the accuracy of the analytical results is verified by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta integral method(RK-4).The experimental data of the QZS isolator prototype are fitted to a ninth-degree polynomial,and the RK-4 can theoretically predict the experimental results.The experimental results show that the QZS isolator has a lower initial isolation frequency and a wider isolation frequency bandwidth than the equivalent linear isolator.The frequency sweep test of prototypes with different harmonic excitation amplitudes shows that the initial isolation frequency of the QZS isolator is 3 Hz,and it can isolate 90%of the excitation signal at 7 Hz.The proposed biomimetic spider-like QZS isolator has high application prospects and can provide a reference for optimizing low-frequency or ultra-low-frequency isolators.

Recurrent formula of Bernoulli numbers and the relationships among the coefficients of beam,Bernoulli numbers and Euler numbers

Based on the differential equation of the deflection curve for the beam,the equation of the deflection curve for the simple beamis obtained by integral. The equation of the deflection curve for the simple beamcarrying the linear load is generalized,and then it is expanded into the corresponding Fourier series.With the obtained summation results of the infinite series,it is found that they are related to Bernoulli num-bers and π. The recurrent formula of Bernoulli numbers is presented. The relationships among the coefficients of the beam,Bernoulli numbers and Euler numbers are found,and the relative mathematical formulas are presented.