Exact simulation for direction-dependent large elastic strain responses of soft fibre-reinforced composites

An explicit form of the elastic strain-energy function for direction-dependent large elastic strain behaviors of soft fiber-reinforced composites is first presented based upon a decoupled approach for simulating complex nonlinear coupling effects.From this form,the exact closed-form solutions are then obtained for the uniaxial tension responses in the fiber and cross-fiber directions.With such exact solutions,the issue of simultaneously simulating strongly coupling nonlinear responses in the fiber and cross-fiber directions may be reduced to the issue of separately treating each decoupled uniaxial stress-strain response,thus bypassing usual complexities and uncertainties involved in identifying a large number of strongly coupled adjustable parameters.The numerical examples given are in good agreement with the experimental data for large strain responses.

Deformable micro-continua in which quantum mysteries reside

Deformable micro-continua of highly localized nature are found to exactly exhibit all quantum effects commonly known for quantum entities at microscopic scale.At every instant,the spatial configuration of each such micro-continuum is prescribed by four spatial distributions of the mass,the velocity,the internal stress,and the intrinsic angular momentum.The deformability features of such micro-continua in response to all configuration changes are identified with a constitutive equation that specifies how the internal stress responds to the mass density field.It is shown that these microcontinua are endowed with the following unique response features:(i)the coupled system of the nonlinear field equations governing their dynamic responses to any given force and torque fields is exactly reducible to a linear dynamic equation governing a complex field variable;(ii)this fundamental dynamic equation and this complex field variable are just the Schrodinger equation and the complex wave function in quantum theory;and,accordingly,(iii)the latter two and all quantum effects known for quantum entities are in a natural and unified manner incorporated as the inherent response features of the micro-continua discovered,thus following objective and deterministic response patterns for quantum entities,in which the physical origins and meanings of the wave function and the Schrodinger equation become self-evident and,in particular,any probabilistic indeterminacy becomes irrelevant.

Current State of Strain in the Central Cascadia Margin Derived from Changes in Distance between GPS Stations

Using continuously operating Global Positioning Stations in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, over 100 station-station baseline length changes were determined along seven West-East transects, two North-South transects and in three localized areas to determine both the average annual strains over the past several years, and the variation in strain over the central Cascadia convergent margin. The North-South transects (composed of multiple baselines) show shortening. Along West-East transects some baselines show shortening and others extension. The direction of the principle strains calculated for two areas 100 km from the deformation front are close to per-pendicular to the deformation front. The North-South strains are 10?8 a?1, which is an order-of-magnitude less than the West-East strains (10?7 a?1). Along several West-East transects, the magnitude of the strain increases away from the deformation front. All West-East transects showed a change in strain 250 km inland from deformation front.

Circumferential variation in mechanical characteristics of porcine descending aorta

Arterial characterization of healthy descending thoracic aorta(DTA)is indispensable in determining stress distributions across wall thickness and different regions that may be responsible for aorta inhomogeneous dilation,rupture,and dissection when aneurysm occurs.Few studies have shown the inhomogeneity of DTA along the aorta tree considering changes in circumferential direction.The present study aims to clarify the circumferential regional characterization of DTA.Porcine DTA tissues were tested according to region and orientation using uniaxial tension.For axial test,results show that the difference in circumferential direction was mainly in collagen fiber modulus,where the anterior collagen fiber modulus was significantly lower than the posterior quadrant.For circumferential test,the difference in circumferential direction was mainly in the recruitment parameter,where the circumferential stiffness is significantly higher in the posterior region at physiological maximum stress.The proximal posterior quadrant and left quadrant showed significantly lower axial collagen fiber stiffness than the right and anterior quadrants,which may be a factor in aneurysm development.Furthermore,the constitutive parameters for similar detailed regions can be used by biomedical engineers to investigate improved therapies and thoroughly understand the initial stage of aneurysm development.The regional collagen fiber modulus can help improve our understanding of the mechanisms of arterial dilation and aortic dissection.

Late Stage Interseismic Strain Interval, Cascadia Subduction Zone Margin, USA and Canada

Modern horizontal strain (2006-2016) measured along 56 new and 108 previously published GPS station baselines are used to establish the length (800 km) and width (300 - 400 km) of the central Cascadia convergent margin seismogenic structure. Across-margin (west-east) annual rates of shortening range from 10﹣9 a﹣1 at the eastern (landward) limit of the central Cascadia seismogenic structure to 10﹣7 a﹣1 along the western onshore portion of the interplate zone. Relatively high shortening strain rates (10﹣8 a﹣1 to 10﹣7 a﹣1) are also measured in western transects from the northern (Explorer plate) and southern (Gorda plate) segments of the convergent margin, demonstrating that the full length of the margin (1300 km length) is currently capable of sustaining and/or initiating a major great earthquake. Vertical GPS velocities are averaged over the last decade at 321 stations to map patterns of uplift (0 - 5 mm yr﹣1) and subsidence (0 - 9 mm yr﹣1) relative to the study area mean. Along-margin belts of relative uplift and subsidence, respectively, are approximately associated with Coast Ranges and the Cascade volcanic arc. However, the vertical velocity data are locally heterogeneous, demonstrating patchy “anomalies” within the larger along-margin belts. A large coastal subsidence anomaly occurs in southwest Washington where the modern short-term trend is reversed from the long-term (~200 yr) tidal marsh record of coastal uplift since the last co-seismic subsidence event (AD1700). The modern vertical displacements represent a late stage of the current inter-seismic interval. If the horizontal strain is considered largely or fully elastic, extrapolating the modern strain rates over the last 100 years show the accumulated strains would be similar in magnitude to the observed co-seismic strains resulting from the Tōhoku, Japan, Mw 9.0 earthquake in 2011. We believe that the central Cascadia seismogenic structure has accumulated sufficient elastic strain energy, during the last 300 years, to yield a Mw 9.0 earthquake from a rupture of at least one-half (400 km) of its length.