Lateral earth pressure of granular backfills on retaining walls with expanded polystyrene geofoam inclusions under limited surcharge loading

Existing studies have focused on the behavior of the retaining wall equipped with expanded polystyrene(EPS)geofoam inclusions under semi-infinite surcharge loading rather than limited surcharge loading.In this paper,the failure mode and the earth pressure acting on the rigid retaining wall with EPS geofoam inclusions and granular backfills(henceforth referred to as EPS-wall),under limited surcharge loading are investigated through two-and three-dimensional model tests.The testing results show that different from the sliding of almost all the backfill in the EPS-wall under semi-infinite surcharge loading,only an approximately triangular backfill slides in the wall under limited surcharge loading.The distribution of the lateral earth pressure on the EPS-wall under limited surcharge loading is non-linear,and the distribution changes from the increase of the wall depth to the decrease with the increase of the limited surcharge loading.An approach based on the force equilibrium of a differential element is developed to predict the lateral earth pressure behind the EPS-wall subjected to limited surcharge loading,and its performance was fully validated by the three-dimensional model tests.

ELASTIC MODULUS REDUCTION METHOD FOR LIMIT LOAD EVALUATION OF FRAME STRUCTURES

A new strategy for elastic modulus adjustment is proposed based on the element bearing ratio （EBR）,and the elastic modulus reduction method （EMRM） is proposed for limit load evaluation of frame structures. The EBR is defined employing the generalized yield criterion,and the reference EBR is determined by introducing the extrema and the degree of uniformity of EBR in the structure. The elastic modulus in the element with an EBR greater than the reference one is reduced based on the linear elastic finite element analysis and the equilibrium of strain energy. The lower-bound of limit-loads of frame structures are analyzed and the numerical example demonstrates the flexibility,accuracy and effciency of the proposed method.

Fatigue Life Prediction under Service Load Considering Strengthening Effect of Loads below Fatigue Limit

Lightweight design requires an accurate life prediction for structures and components under service loading histories. However, predicted life with the existing methods seems too conservative in some cases, leading to a heavy structure. Because these methods are established on the basis that load cycles would only cause fatigue damage, ignore the strengthening effect of loads. Based on Palmgren-Miner Rule （PMR）, this paper introduces a new method for fatigue life prediction under service loadings by taking into account the strengthening effect of loads below the fatigue limit. In this method, the service loadings are classified into three categories： damaging load, strengthening load and none-effect load, and the process for fatigue life prediction is divided into two stages： stage I and stage II, according to the best strengthening number of cycles. During stage I, fatigue damage is calculated considering both the strengthening and damaging effect of load cycles. While during stage II, only the damaging effect is considered. To validate this method, fatigue lives of automobile half shaft and torsion beam rear axle are calculated based on the new method and traditional methods, such as PMR and Modified Miner Rule （MMR）, and fatigue tests of the two components are conducted under service loading histories. The tests results show that the percentage errors of the predicted life with the new method to mean life of tests for the two components are –3.78% and –1.76% separately, much lesser than that with PMR and MMR. By considering the strengthening effect of loads below the fatigue limit, the new method can significantly improve the accuracy for fatigue life prediction. Thus lightweight design can be fully realized in the design stage.

Limit Load Solution for Electron Beam Welded Joints with Single Edge Weld Center Crack in Tension

Limit loads are widely studied and several limit load solutions are proposed to some typical geometry of weldments.However,there are no limit load solutions exist for the single edge crack weldments in tension（SEC（T））,which is also a typical geometry in fracture analysis.The mis-matching limit load for thick plate with SEC（T） are investigated and the special limit load solutions are proposed based on the available mis-matching limit load solutions and systematic finite element analyses.The real weld configurations are simplified as a strip,and different weld strength mis-matching ratio M,crack depth/width ratio a/W and weld width 2H are in consideration.As a result,it is found that there exists excellent agreement between the limit load solutions and the FE results for almost all the mis-matching ration M,a/W and ligament-to-weld width ratio（W-a）/H.Moreover,useful recommendations are given for evaluating the limit loads of the EBW structure with SEC（T）.For the EBW joints with SEC（T）,the mis-matching limit loads can be obtained assuming that the components are wholly made of base metal,when M changing from 1.6 to 0.6.When M decreasing to 0.4,the mis-matching limit loads can be obtained assuming that the components are wholly made of base metal only for large value of（W-a）/H.The recommendations may be useful for evaluating the limit loads of the EBW structures with SEC（T）.The engineering simplifications are given for assessing the limit loads of electron beam welded structure with SEC（T）.

PLASTIC LIMIT LOAD ANALYSIS OF DEFECTIVE PIPELINES

The integrity assessment of defective pipelines represents a practically important task of structural analysis and design in various technological areas,such as oil and gas indus- try,power plant engineering and chemical factories.An iterative algorithm is presented for the kinematic limit analysis of 3-D rigid-perfectly plastic bodies.A numerical path scheme for radial loading is adopted to deal with complex multi-loading systems.The numerical procedure has been applied to carry out the plastic collapse analysis of pipelines with part-through slot under internal pressure,bending moment and axial force.The effects of various shapes and sizes of part-through slots on the collapse loads of pipelines are systematically investigated and evaluated.Some typical failure modes corresponding to different configurations of slots and loading forms are studied.

FRACTURE LIMIT LOAD OF CONE SHAPE PART IN DRAWING PROCESS

The deformation characters and load status of the blank＇s potential fracture zone are analyzed at the moment when blank is approaching to punch comer in drawing process of cone shape part. Based on tension instability theory, the formula for calculating fracture limit load of cone shape part in drawing process is derived. Also, the formula is analyzed and verified by experiment.

Limit Load Analysis of Pipes with Local Wall-thinning

The loss of metal in a pipe due to corrosion usually results in localized thinned areas with various depths and an irregular shape on its surface. In this paper, a number of numerical models of pipes with different size defects are established. The limit loads of these pipes are researched using the nonlinear finite element method. The effect of defect parameters of the local wall-thinning pipes on the limit load is discussed. The results show that limit loads decrease obviously when the depths and lengths of the defect increase. However, when the defect length reaches a certain value, the effect of defect length on limit loads is not significant. These results are compared with the results of the method of API 579. When the defect length is adequately small, the results of FEM are in good agreement with the ones of APl 579, but when the defect depth and length is adequately large, the API 579 is not suitable.

An Analysis on Limit Load for Corroded Submarine Pipelines

By means of elastic-plastic finite element analysis, a systematic nonlinear analysis of material and geometry has been carried out for submarine pipelines. A criterion for deriving limit load is studied. Based on this criterion, the limit load for corroded submarine pipelines is calculated. The corrosion length, corrosion depth and corrosion width affect the limit load. A solution to limit load is proposed and proved valid through comparison of the solution with burst test results and ASME B31G solutions.

A Discusion on Limited Load-Carrying Capacity of Rectangular Plates

The elastic-plastic method is often used in designing the inner flat bulkhead plates of submarines, and the upper structure of ships and drilling platforms. Such bulkhead plates can bear the load only once. For the improvement of the load-carrying capacity or the reduction of the weight of plates, the yield line analytical method is employed in this paper to design the bulkhead plate to improve economy and increase the effiective load. Besides, a further sutdy of this method has been made theoretically and experimentally, and the data of the limited load-carrying capacity of the plate have been obtained. Furthermore, the safety coefficients for such a method are presented, which can be used as reference for related departments and staffs.

往复荷载作用后钢管混凝土柱-组合梁节点耐火性能数值分析

为研究钢管混凝土柱-组合梁节点在往复荷载作用后的耐火性能,利用有限元软件ABAQUS建立了该节点的有限元分析模型,并与已有试验结果进行对比验证。在此基础上,分析了往复荷载作用后塑性损伤和残余变形对组合梁节点火灾下的应力和变形的影响,以及不同损伤程度、荷载作用水平和防火保护层厚度对节点耐火极限和破坏模态的影响。结果表明:地震预损伤对节点的耐火极限有不利影响,且随损伤程度的增加,耐火极限下降明显;重度损伤下节点的耐火极限与无损伤节点相比降低了23.5%;重度损伤的节点在火灾作用下形成塑性铰,且产生较大的耗能损伤,轻度和中度损伤下未形成明显塑性铰,耐火极限分别仅下降1.0%和3.6%;对于以梁损伤作为预损伤模式的节点,梁荷载比和防火保护层厚度是影响有地震预损伤节点耐火极限的主要因素;随柱荷载比的增大,耐火极限呈降低趋势,但整体影响不大。

缓解季节性台区重过载问题的农村电采暖负荷尖峰时移策略

随着煤改电供暖政策的推广,由于冬季对供暖的高需求以及峰谷电价交接时段用电较高的同时率,近年来,台区变压器出现季节性重过载甚至烧毁的情况愈加频繁。提出了一种适用于缓解农村台区季节性重过载的电采暖负荷尖峰时移策略。该策略将住户舒适度、用电量和用电费用保持不变三个住户电采暖需求等效为峰移峰-谷移谷、调节前后电量不变和移峰接力-调节时长限制的数学模型约束,基于电采暖房间热惯性温度变化模型分析其保温时长,通过0-1规划制定了负荷限时平移和轮值削峰策略。严重过载情况下改变保温等级分析降低功率情况。算例验证结果表明,该策略可以高效缓解台区季节性重过载问题。

Analytic Solution of Elasto-Plastic Stress in Infinite Slope under Uniform Load

According to the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion, the stress field of the infinite slope is derived under a vertical uniform load q on the top of the slope. It is indicated that elastic and elasto-plastic states would occur in the slope. When q is smaller than the critical load, q(p), the slope is in the elastic state. If q equals q(p), the slope is in the critical state, and the plastic deformation would occur along the critical angle. With the increase of q, the plastic zone would extend, and the slope is in the elasto-plastic State. If q equals limit load, the slope is in the limit equilibrium state. The slope may be divided into three zones. Some charts of the critical angle, the critical and limit load coefficients are presented in this paper.

An Adaptive Load Stepping Algorithm for Path-Dependent Problems Based on Estimated Convergence Rates

A new adaptive(automatic)time stepping algorithm,called RCA(Rate of Convergence Algorithm)is presented.The new algorithm was applied in nonlinear finite element analysis of path-dependent problems.The step size is adjusted by monitoring the estimated convergence rate of the nonlinear iterative process.The RCA algorithm is relatively simple to implement,robust and its performance is comparable to,and in some cases better than,the automatic load incrementaion algorithm existent in commercial codes.Discussions about the convergence rate of nonlinear iterative processes,an estimation of the rate and a study of the parameters of the RCA algorithm are presented.To show the capacity of the algorithm to adjust the increment size,detailed discussions based on results for different limit load analyses are presented.The results obtained by RCA algorithm are compared with those by ABAQUS?,one of the most powerful nonlinear FEA(Finite Element Analysis)commercial software,in order to verify the capability of RCA algorithm to adjust the increment size along nonlinear analyses.

Limit Requirements Simulation of Sundial Solar Tracking Machine

Sundial solar tracking machines are machines that tracking the sun,and can promote sunshine receiving efficiency of solar panels.Their operations are strongly influenced by wind load.Previous studies were focused on tracking accuracy and tracking methods,the influence of wind load to the operation of the tracking machines has not caused enough attention,so that many tracking machines did not have the reasonable design basis,which led to unreasonable design and high maintenance costs,and had seriously influenced the application and popularization of the tracking machines.Therefore,the 16 m2 sundial solar tracking machine is taken as research object from the perspective of wind load.A series of computational fluid dynamics（CFD） analyses are carried out on the model of the 16 m2 sundial solar tracking machine.Firstly,in order to make CFD analyses carry on smoothly,after the three-dimensional solid model is established,the model is simplified,and grids are meshed on the simplified model.Then,in the virtual environment,to make the simulation closer to real but at the same time not too complex to make simulation hard to realize,assumptions of the nature of air flow are conducted,boundary conditions of the analyses are set reasonably,and appropriate CFD analysis solver is also chosen.Finally,the results of the CFD analyses are also analyzed and sorted;and limit requirements（i.e.,force conditions of limit case）,such as the maximum load and the maximum total torque,are provided for the further finite element analyses（FEA） and the optimization design of the products.This paper presents an effective computer simulation analysis method for the design and optimization of this type of solar tracking machine,and this method can greatly shorten the development cycle and cost.

SIMPLE SHAKEDOWN OF STRUCTURES UNDER VARIABLE MULTI-LOADINGS

The shakedown analysis of structures under variable multi-loadings is considered, and the corresponding simple shakedown condition is presented in this paper. Distribution of fixed stresses field is given, and the self-equilibrium of fixed stresses field is analyzed. Elastic shakedown and plastic shakedown conditions are presented based on the fixed stresses field. The theorem is convenient to evaluate the shakedown limit of structures under cyclical variable multiloadings through solving positive scalar fields and fixed stresses field factors at a series of dangerous positions of the structure, and tedious computations are avoided. Finally the theorem is applied to a thick-walled cylindrical tube under variable pressure and temperature, and the rolling contact problem. The results are in good agreement with some computational results.

General Analytical Shakedown Analysis of a Structure Subjected to Combined Loading with Constant and Cyclic Loads

The shakedown behavior of structures subjected to a combined loading of constant and cyclic loads has been well researched.For some specified problems,shakedown limit loads have been obtained.However,the general effect of combined loading on the structural shakedown has not yet been presented.The general analytic solution of the elastic shakedown limit load is thus derived for a structure subjected to combined loading.Polizzotto's extended static shakedown theorem for combined loading is applied.The stress field in equilibrium with the external constant load required in Polizzotto's extended theorem is constructed by subtracting the reference elastic stress field of the peak cyclic load from the elastic-plastic stress field of the combined constant load and peak cyclic load.The shakedown condition of the stress field is then derived according to the extended theorem.Through the analytical analysis of the shakedown condition,the structural shakedown behavior under combined loading is investigated.A general solution of the shakedown limit load is then derived,and the effects of the combined loading on the shakedown behavior are proposed.The obtained general analytical result is applied to a hollow tension specimen under constant tension and alternating torsion and a plate with a central hole under constant and cyclic tension.The results are consistent with the solutions reported in the literature.

Study on Failure Mechanism and Bearing Capacity of Three-Dimensional Rectangular Footing Subjected to Combined Loading

This paper presents two kinematic failure mechanisms of threc-dimensional rectangular footing resting on homogeneous undrained clay foundation under uniaxial vertical loading and uniaxial moment loading. The failure mechanism under vertical loading comprises a plane strain Prandti-type mechanism over the central part of the longer side, and the size of the mechanism gradually reduces at the ends of the longer side and over the shorter side as the corner of rectangular footing is being approached where the direction of soil motion remains normal to each corresponding side respectively. The failure mechanism under moment loading comprises a plane strain scoop sliding mechanism over the central part of the longer side, and the radius of scoop sliding mechanism increases linearly at the ends of the longer side. On the basis of the kinematic failure mechanisms mentioned above, the vertical ultimate bearing capacity and the ultimate bearing capacity against moment or moment ultimate bearing capacity are obtained by use of upper bound limit analysis theory. At the same time, numerical analysis results, Skempton＇ s results and Salgado et al. ＇s results are compared with this upper bound solution. It shows that the presented failure mechanisms and plastic limit analysis predictions are validated. In order to investigate the behaviors of undrained clay foundation beneath the rectangular footing subjected to the combined loadings, numerical analysis is adopted by virtue of the general-purpose FEM software ABAQUS, where the clay is assumed to obey the Mohr-Coulomb yielding criterion. The failure envelope and the ultimate bearing capacity are achieved by the numerical analysis results with the varying aspect ratios from length L to breadth B of the rectangular footing. The failure mechanisms of rectangular footing which are subjected to the combined vertical loading V and horizontal loading H （Vertical loading V and moment loading M, and horizontal loading H and moment loading M respectively are observed in the finite element analysis. ） is explained by use of the upper bound plasticity limit analysis theory. Finally, the reason of eccentricity of failure envelope in H-M loading space is given in this study, which can not be explained by use of the traditional ＇ swipe test＇.

Use of Dried Blood Spot to Improve the Diagnosis and Management of HIV in Resource-Limited Settings

Over 75% of people infected with HIV live in countries where health resources are very limited for the diagnosis and biological monitoring of people infected by the virus. In resource-limited settings, the use of DBS is a valuable alternative. It has provided technical and economical alternative to the collection of blood in the tubes for testing HIV infection. The DBS can be kept for over a year, it is economical in storage space and facilitates storage conditions because it can be stored at room temperature. It is more discreet and easier to carry over liquid samples that require tubes and other appropriate materials. The amount is sufficient for certain analyses of DNA generally, but may be insufficient for the analysis of viral RNA if the viral load is low. Its disadvantage is often associated with small amounts of blood collected available for testing, and the difficulties encountered in laboratories to extract the maximum possibilities without material contamination. DBS can be stored at room temperature (25℃ - 35℃), at 4℃, -20℃ or even -70℃. With PCR, the DBS is a suitable medium for the diagnosis of patients infected with HIV, virological monitoring by the VL and even analyzing viral genotype. It is a handy stand for the collection, transport and analyses of biological monitoring of HIV infection. It is indeed very suitable for environments with limited accessibility where it is difficult for specialized laboratories to monitor these patients. The DBS is suitable for resource-limited settings.

Strength reduction and step-loading finite element approaches in geotechnical engineering

The finite element limit analysis method has the advantages of both numerical and traditional limit equilibrium techniques and it is particularly useful to geotechnical engineering.This method has been developed in China,following well-accepted international procedures,to enhance understanding of stability issues in a number of geotechnical settings.Great advancements have been made in basic theory,the improvement of computational precision,and the broadening of practical applications.This paper presents the results of research on（1） the efficient design of embedded anti-slide piles,（2） the stability analysis of reservoir slopes with strength reduction theory,and（3） the determination of the ultimate bearing capacity of foundations using step-loading FEM（overloading）.These three applications are evidence of the design improvements and benefits made possible in geotechnical engineering by finite element modeling.