• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2013

Recently, some fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems involving the fluid impact loads interacting with structures, such as sloshing, slamming, green-water, etc., have been considered, especially in the ocean engineering field. The governing equations for both an elastic solid model and flow model were originally derived from similar continuum mechanics principles. In this study, an elastic model based on a particle method, the MPS method, was developed for simulating the FSI problems. The developed model was first applied to a simple cantilever deflection problem for verification. Then, the model was coupled with the fluid flow model, the PNU (Pusan National University modified)-MPS method, and applied to the numerical investigation of the coupling effects between a cantilever and a mass of water, which has variable density, free-falling to the end of the cantilever.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.85-102
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• 1999

With the advent of computer, the finite element method has become a most powerful numerical method for structural analysis. However, bridge designers are reluctant to use it in their designs because of its complex nature and its being time consuming in the preparation of the input data and analyzing the results. This paper describes the development of a computer based finite element model using the idea of eccentric beam elements for the analysis of slab-on-girder bridges. The proposed method is supported by a laboratory test using a reinforced concrete bridge model. Other bridge analytical schemes are also introduced and compared with the proposed method. The main aim of the comparison is to prove the effectiveness of the shell and eccentric beam modelling in the studies of lateral load distribution of slab-on-girder bridges. It is concluded that the proposed finite element method gives a closer to real idealization and its developed computer program, SHECAN, is also very simple to use. It is highly recommended to use it as an analytical tool for the design of slab-on-girder bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.759-777
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• 2013

In this paper, a topology optimization method based on the element independent nodal density (EIND) is developed for continuum solids with multiple load cases and multiple constraints. The optimization problem is formulated ad minimizing the volume subject to displacement constraints. Nodal densities of the finite element mesh are used a the design variable. The nodal densities are interpolated into any point in the design domain by the Shepard interpolation scheme and the Heaviside function. Without using additional constraints (such ad the filtering technique), mesh-independent, checkerboard-free, distinct optimal topology can be obtained. Adopting the rational approximation for material properties (RAMP), the topology optimization procedure is implemented using a solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) method and a dual programming optimization algorithm. The computational efficiency is greatly improved by multithread parallel computing with OpenMP to run parallel programs for the shared-memory model of parallel computation. Finally, several examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed techniques.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.137-156
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• 2013

In this paper, a meshfree shell adaptive procedure is developed for the applications in the sheet metal forming simulation. The meshfree shell formulation is based on the first-order shear deformable shell theory and utilizes the degenerated continuum and updated Lagrangian approach for the nonlinear analysis. For the sheet metal forming simulation, an h-type adaptivity based on the meshfree background cells is considered and a geometric error indicator is adopted. The enriched nodes in adaptivity are added to the centroids of the adaptive cells and their shape functions are computed using a first-order generalized meshfree (GMF) convex approximation. The GMF convex approximation provides a smooth and non-negative shape function that vanishes at the boundary, thus the enriched nodes have no influence outside the adapted cells and only the shape functions within the adaptive cells need to be re-computed. Based on this concept, a multi-level refinement procedure is developed which does not require the constraint equations to enforce the compatibility. With this approach the adaptive solution maintains the order of meshfree approximation with least computational cost. Two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in the adaptive shell analysis.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2017

Prediction of the characteristics of both in-plane and out-of-plane elastic waves within conducting nanoplates in the presence of bidirectionally in-plane magnetic fields is of interest. Using Lorentz's formulas and nonlocal continuum theory of Eringen, the nonlocal elastic version of the equations of motion is obtained. The frequencies as well as the corresponding phase and group velocities pertinent to the in-plane and out-of-plane waves are analytically evaluated. The roles of the strength of in-plane magnetic field, wavenumber, wave direction, nanoplate's thickness, and small-scale parameter on characteristics of waves are discussed. The obtained results show that the in-plane frequencies commonly grow with the in-plane magnetic field. However, the transmissibility of the out-of-plane waves rigorously depends on the magnetic field strength, direction of the propagated transverse waves, small-scale parameter, and thickness of the nanoplate. The criterion for safe transferring of the out-of-plane waves through the conducting nanoplate immersed in a bidirectional magnetic field is also explained and discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.685-698
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• 2001

In this paper, a general method for the automatic search for Strut-and-Tie (S&T) models representative of possible resistant mechanisms in reinforced concrete elements is proposed. The representativeness criterion here adopted is inspired to the principle of minimum strain energy and requires the consistency of the model with a reference stress field. In particular, a highly indeterminate pin-jointed framework of a given layout is generated within the assigned geometry of the concrete element and an optimum truss is found by the minimisation of a suitable objective function. Such a function allows us to search the optimum truss according to a reference stress field deduced through a F.E.A. and assumed as representative of the given continuum. The theoretical principles and the mathematical formulation of the method are firstly explained; the search for a S&T model suitable for the design of a deep beam shows the method capability in handling the reference stress path. Finally, since the analysis may consider the structure as linear-elastic or cracked and non-linear in both the component materials, it is shown how the proposed procedure allows us to verify the possibilities of activation of the design model, oriented to the serviceability condition and deduced in the linear elastic field, by following the evolution of the resistant mechanisms in the cracked non-linear field up to the structural failure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.581-602
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• 2005

In this paper the accumulation of local damage during the cyclic loading in reinforced high-strength concrete columns is experimentally investigated. Two identical column specimens with annular cross-section and spiral reinforcement were designed and two tests, up to failure, under the action of a constant vertical concentrated force and a time-dependent concentrated horizontal force, were carried out at the LNEC shaking tables facility. Sine type signals, controlled in amplitude, frequency and time duration were used for these experiments. The concept of local damage based on local stiffness degradation is considered in detail and illustrated by experimental results. The specimens were designed and reinforced in such a way that the accumulation of damage was predicted by dominating deformations (cracking and crushing of the concrete) while the increasing of the loading values was a dominating factor of damage. It was observed that the local damage of HSC columns has exposed their anisotropic local behaviour. The damage accumulation was slightly different from the expected in accordance with the continuum damage concept, and a partial random character was observed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 1996

This paper describes a continuum variational formulation for design optimization of nonlinear structures in the elastic-plastic domain, where unloading and reloading of the structures are allowed to occur. The Total Lagrangian procedure is used for the description of the structural deformation. The direct differentiation approach is used to derive the sensitivities of the various structural response measures with respect to the design parameters. Since the material goes into the inelastic range and unloading and reloading of the structure are allowed to occur, the structural response is path dependent and an additional step is needed to integrate the constitutive equations. It can be shown, consequently, that design sensitivity analysis is also path-dependent. The theory has been discretized by the finite element technique and implemented in a structural analysis code. Mathematical programming approach is used for the optimization process. Numerical applications on trusses are performed, where cross-sectional areas and nodal point coordinates are treated as design variables. Optimal designs have been obtained and compared by using two different strategies: a two level strategy where the levels are defined accordingly the type of design variables, cross sectional areas or node coordinates, and optimizing simultaneously with respect to both types of design variables.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.727-741
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• 2014

The functionally graded beam (FGB) is investigated in this study on both dynamic and static loading in case of resting on a soil medium rather than on the usual Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundation. The powerful ABAQUS software was used to model the problem applying finite element method. In the present study, two different soil models are taken into account. In the first model, the soil is assumed to be an elastic plane stress medium. In the second soil model, the Drucker-Prager yield criterion, which is one of the most well-known elastic-perfectly plastic constitutive models, is used for modelling the soil medium. The results are shown to evaluate the effects of the different soil models, stiffness values of the elastic soil medium on the normal and shear stress and free vibration properties. A comparison was made to those from the existing literature. Numerical results show that considering real soil as a continuum space affects the results of the bending and the modal properties significantly.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 1996

Back analysis model, capable of calculating the mechanical properties and the in-situ stresses of jointed rock mass, was developed based on the inverse method using a continuum theory. Constitutive equation for the behavior of jointed rock contains two unknown parameters, elastic modulus of intact rock and stiffness of joint, hence algorithm which determines both parameters simultaneously cannot be established. To avoid algebraic difficulties elastic modulus of intact rock was assumed to be known, since the representative value of which would be quite easily determined. Then, the ratio ($\beta$) of joint stiffness to elastic modulus of intact rock was assigned and back analysis for the behavior of jointed rock was carried-out. The value $\beta$ was repeatedly modified until the elastic modulus from back analysis became very comparable to the predetermined value. The joint stiffness could be calculated by multipling the ratio $\beta$ to the final result of elastic modulus. Accuracy and reliability of back analysis procedure was successfully testified using a sample model simulating the underground opening in the jointed rock mass. Applicability of back analysis model for the underground excavation in practice was also verified by analyzing the mechanical properties of jointed rock in which underground oil storage cavern were under construction.