Experimental research and finite element analysis of bridge piers failed in flexure-shear modes

In recent earthquakes, a large number of reinforced concrete （RC） bridges were severely damaged due to mixed flexure-shear failure modes of the bridge piers. An integrated experimental and finite element （FE） analysis study is described in this paper to study the seismic performance of the bridge piers that failed in flexure-shear modes. In the first part, a nonlinear cyclic loading test on six RC bridge piers with circular cross sections is carried out experimentally. The damage states, ductility and energy dissipation parameters, stiffness degradation and shear strength of the piers are studied and compared with each other. The experimental results suggest that all the piers exhibit stable flexural response at displacement ductilities up to four before exhibiting brittle shear failure. The ultimate performance of the piers is dominated by shear capacity due to significant shear cracking, and in some cases, rupturing of spiral bars. In the second part, modeling approaches describing the hysteretic behavior of the piers are investigated by using ANSYS software. A set of models with different parameters is selected and evaluated through comparison with experimental results. The influences of the shear retention coefficients between concrete cracks, the Bauschinger effect in longitudinal reinforcement, the bond-slip relationship between the longitudinal reinforcement and the concrete and the concrete failure surface on the simulated hysteretic curves are discussed. Then, a modified analysis model is presented and its accuracy is verified by comparing the simulated results with experimental ones. This research uses models available in commercial FE codes and is intended for researchers and engineers interested in using ANSYS software to predict the hysteretic behavior of reinforced concrete structures.

FINITE ELEMENT NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TEMPERATURE FIELD IN METAL PATTERN CASTING SYSTEM AND "REVERSE METHOD" OF DEFINING THE THERMAL PHYSICAL COEFFICIENT

With the technology support of virtual reality and ANSYS software, an example on the simulation of temperature distribution of casting system during the solidification process was provided, which took the latent heat of phase change, the conditions for convection, and the interface heat transfer coefficient into consideration. The result of ANSYS was found to agree well with the test data. This research offers an unorthodox way or ＂reverse method＂ of defining the relevant thermal physical coefficient.

Two-dimensional Numerical Modeling Research on Continent Subduction Dynamics

Continent subduction is one of the hot research problems in geoscience. New models presented here have been set up and two-dimensional numerical modeling research on the possibility of continental subduction has been made with the finite element software, ANSYS, based on documentary evidence and reasonable assumptions that the subduction of oceanic crust has occurred, the subduction of continental crust can take place and the process can be simplified to a discontinuous plane strain theory model. The modeling results show that it is completely possible for continental crust to be subducted to a depth of 120 km under certain circumstances and conditions. At the same time, the simulations of continental subduction under a single dynamical factor have also been made, including the pull force of the subducted oceanic lithosphere, the drag force connected with mantle convection and the push force of the mid-ocean ridge. These experiments show that the drag force connected with mantle convection is critical for continent subduction.

Influences of Randomly Distributed Wall Thickness of Beverage Can on Its Strength and Stiffness

This paper describes the research undertaken on the strength and stiffness of fluctuation on the wall thickness of steel beverage cans using the Monte Carlo stochastic finite element method. Sample distributions were firstly assumed and then proven using the data observations of the wall thickness, the APDL language was then applied, and the stresses and displacements of the can were calculated by using the ANSYS software. It is concluded that the structural reliability of a steel making beverage can be estimated accurately.

Seismic Response Analysis of Portal Water Injection Sheet Pile

To further the study on the newly developed portal water injection sheet pile under static loads, in this paper, by adopting the nonlinear calculation module of FEM software ANSYS, a model for the interaction between the soil and the sheet piles is set up, and the seismic response analysis for this type of space-retaining structure is performed. The effects of the embedded depth and the distance between the front pile and the back pile on the dynamic characteristics of the portal water injection sheet pile are studied.

Optimization and Simulation of Inclined Channel Area Lining for CDQ Ovens

The mechanical force borne by the lintel and“brackets”in the inclined channel area of CDQ and the thermal stress generated by the top-down temperature gradient were simulated by ANSYS software.The following conclusions are drawn.(1)The mechanical force has very mild effect on the damage of the“brackets”.(2)The temperature gradient caused by the uneven temperature distribution of CDQ oven is the key factor affecting the“bracket”damage.The different expansion of refractory materials in various parts results in the thermal stress concentration which tears the“brackets”.(3)The structure adjustment of the“brackets”has very little effect on the thermal stress distribution.(4)The multi-phase nitride bonded silicon carbide for CDQ can effectively alleviate the stress concentration at the“brackets”,realizing the long-life and stable operation.

3-D Finite-Element Numerical Simulation of Centrifugal Induction Electrosalg Casting Solidification Process

A 3-D finite-element numerical simulation model of temperature field for CIESC casting solidification process was developed with the aid of ANSYS software and a series of corresponding experiments were made. The results showed that the good agreement was obtained between the numerical simulation and the experiments. Based on the numerical simulation results, the characteristics of temperature distribution in the castings during CIESC solidification process were analyzed and summarized. According to the G/R-1/2 method and numerical simulation results, there is no any shrinkage defect in the CIESC casting and structure or casting is fine and compact.