Crack initiation stress and strain of jointed rock containing multi-cracks under uniaxial compressive loading: A particle flow code approach

The ratio of crack initiation stress to the uniaxial compressive strength(SCI,B/SUC,B) and the ratio of axial strain at the crack initiation stress to the axial strain at the uniaxial compressive strength(B,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS) were studied by performing numerical stress analysis on blocks having multi flaws at close spacing's under uniaxial loading using PFC3 D. The following findings are obtained: SCI,B/SUC,B has an average value of about 0.5 with a variability of ± 0.1. This range agrees quite well with the values obtained by former research. For joint inclination angle, β=90°,B,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS is found to be around 0.48 irrespective of the value of joint continuity factor, k. No particular relation is found betweenB,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS and β; however, the average B,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS seems to slightly decrease with increasing k. The variability ofB,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS is found to increase with k.Based on the cases studied in this work,B,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS ranges between 0.3 and 0.5. This range is quite close to the range of 0.4to 0.6 obtained for SCI,B/SUC,B. The highest variability of ± 0.12 forB,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS is obtained for k=0.8. For the remaining k values the variability ofB,UCB,CI,A,A/SSSS can be expressed within ± 0.05. This finding is very similar to the finding obtained for the variability of SCI,B/SUC,B.

Test research and computer simulation analysis of construction state during form finding for suspen-dome system

A novel construction method without scaffold work called as assembly-prestressing form finding loop by loop is presented.Based on the theory of finite displacement,the cycle-forward analysis method is presented for its construction calculation,which adopts the finite element method of generalized geometric nonlinearity combined with the application in the real construction process.By means of the combination of the forward analysis according to real construction sequence and the cycle iteration according to the initial strain increment method of cable force adjustment,the influence of the structural geometric nonlinearity and the loss of prestress are taken into account due to prestressing of tendons in turn and so on.If the initial cable forces derived from the method were used for construction,expected cable forces and shape could be assured easily.Simulation analysis achieved real-time tracking and controlling of the construction status.Finally,according to the procedure and parameters in simulating,a model experimental research on the stage of form finding(namely prestressing)was carried out for suspen-dome structure.The feasibility on the assembly-prestressing form finding method loop by loop was testified.The cycle-forward analysis method was established and numerical simulation was performed,and the results show that it was useful for the design and the construction of similar suspen-dome structure.

Plate reinforced square hollow section X-joints subjected to in-plane moment

The static test of 13 square hollow section(SHS) X-joints with different β and different types of plate reinforcement under in-plane moment in brace was carried out. Experimental test schemes, failure modes of specimens, moment-vertical displacement curves, moment-deformation of the chord, and strain strength distribution curves were presented. The effect of β and plate reinforcement types on in-plane flexural property of SHS X-joints was studied. Results show that punching shear of chord face disappears, brace material fracture appears and concave and convex deformation of chord decrease when either collar plates or doubler plates were welded on chord face. Moment-vertical displacement curves of all specimens have obvious elastic, elastic-plastic and plastic stages. As β increases, the in-plane flexural ultimate capacity and initial stiffness of joints of the same plate reinforcement type increase, but ductility of joints decreases. With the same β, the in-plane flexural initial stiffness and ultimate capacity of doubler plate reinforced joints, collar plate reinforced joints, and unreinforced joints decrease progressively. Thickness of reinforcement plate has no obvious effect on in-plane flexural initial stiffness and ultimate capacity of joints. As thickness of reinforcement plate increases, the ductility of reinforced X-joints decreases. The concave and convex deformation of every specimen has good symmetry;as β increases, the yield and ultimate deformation of chord decrease.

Oblique and Herringbone Buckling Analysis of Steel Strip by Spline FEM

The tilted waves in steel strip during rolling and leveling of sheet metal can be classified into two different types of buckling, oblique and herringbone buckling, respectively. Numerical considerations of oblique and herringbone buckling phenomena are dealt with by the spline finite element method （FEM）. It is pointed out that the shear stress due to residual strains caused by the rolling process or applied non-uniform loading is the main reason of oblique and herringbone buckle. According to the analysis of stress distribution in plane, the appropriate initial strain patterns are adopted and the corresponding buckling modes are calculated by the spline FEM. The developed numerical model provides an estimation of buckling critical load and wave configuration.

Creep deformation and strength evolution mechanisms of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy during stress relaxation at elevated temperatures from elastic to plastic loading

In this study, the stress relaxation(SR) behaviors of a Ti-6Al-4V alloy pre-loaded from elastic to plastic regions and corresponding strength evolution mechanisms at different temperatures were systematically studied. In order to quantitatively analyze the detailed deformation and strength evolution mechanisms during the whole SR tests, which is composed of the loading stage and subsequent SR stage, the evolutions of α/β structures and dislocations have been identified by a series of microstructural observations,i.e., scanning electron microscopy(SEM), electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS). A great quantity of entangled dislocations in α phase introduced by the plastic loading at temperatures below 800 °C promotes the emergence of SR behavior with a higher creep rate, leading to the much higher SR level with larger pre-load levels. Diffusion is significantly enhanced by dislocations accumulated at interfaces with higher temperatures(> 800 ℃), contributing to a similar SR phenomenon under different initial strain levels.Apparent strength loss has been observed after SR with high temperatures or pre-loaded to the plastic region, e.g., 94 MPa loss for 800 °C, pre-loaded with a stain of 10% and SR for 2400 s. The strength loss mainly comes from the loading stage where distorted and fragmented β layers occur. The subsequent SR stage facilitates interfacial diffusion and results in a higher fraction of granular β phases, leading to a further decrease in yield strength(YS). This study enhances the understanding on the deformation and strength evolution mechanisms of titanium alloys with lamellar structures in the whole SR process, providing a physical foundation for optimizing the processing parameters for manufacturing titanium alloy components with high accuracy and performance.