• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.141-153
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• 2019

This research is comprised of virtually simulating behavior while experiencing low gravity effects in advance of real world testing in low gravity aboard Zero Gravity Corporation's (Zero-G) research aircraft (727-200F). The experiment simulated a drill rig penetrating a regolith simulant. Regolith is a layer of loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock on surfaces of the Earth' moon, asteroids and Mars. The behavior and propagation of space debris when drilled in low gravity was tested through simulations and visualization in a leading dynamic simulation software as well as discrete element modeling software and in preparation for comparing to real world results from flying the experiment aboard Zero-G. The study of outer space regolith could lead to deeper scientific knowledge of extra-terrestrial surfaces, which could lead us to breakthroughs with respect to space mining or in-situ resource utilization (ISRU). These studies aimed to test and evaluate the drilling process in low to zero gravity environments and to determine static stress analysis on the drill when tested in low gravity environments. These tests and simulations were conducted by a team from Texas A&M University's Department of Construction Science, the United States Air Force Academy's Department of Astronautical Engineering, and Crow Industries

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.185-191
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• 2021

A powder metallurgy process with granules is the manufacturing technology that can achieve higher-density sintered parts than conventional powder metallurgy processes. However, there is a disadvantage in that the production cost increases significantly due to the additional granulation step. High granule productivity must be guaranteed for affordable material costs in this manufacturing technology. This paper performed a series of scattering, collision, and adhesion simulations of agglomerated powders to investigate the characteristics of granulation process affecting the manufacturing yield rate. The results of this simulation-based convergence study can contribute to improving productivity in the metal powder spray granulation process.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2021

The effects of initial soil fabric and aspect ratio (AR) on the small-strain stiffness (G0) of granular soils are studied by employing discrete element method (DEM) numerical analysis. Elongated clumps composed of subspheres were adopted, and the G0 values were obtained by DEM simulations of drained triaxial tests under different densities and initial confining pressure (p0). The DEM simulations indicate that the initial soil fabric has an insignificant effect on G0. The effect of the AR on G0 is related to the initial density. Namely, for dense specimens, G0 first increases with increasing AR, reaching a plateau value when the AR ≥ 1.5. However, for loose specimens, G0 gradually increases as the AR increases. Microscopic examination reveals that G0 uniquely depends on the coordination number of the particles (CN-particle) rather than the subspheres (CN-sphere) at the particulate level for the effects of initial soil fabric and AR. Finally, Poisson's ratio ν0 is also determined by CN-particle. In addition, based on data in literature and this study, ν0 can be fitted as ν0 = 5.920(G0/(p0)1/3)-0.99, which can be used to predict ν0 of granular soils based on the measured G0.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-44
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• 2022

Gravelly soil is a kind of special geotechnical material, which is widely used in the subgrade engineering of railway, highway and airport. Its mechanical properties are very complex, and will greatly influence the stability of subgrade engineering. To investigate the mechanical properties and failure mechanism of gravelly soils, this paper introduced and verified a new discrete element method (DEM) of gravelly soils in large scale direct shear test, which considers the actual shape and broken characteristics of gravels. Then, the stress and strain characteristics, particle interaction, particle contact force, crack development and energy conversion in gravelly soils during the shear process were analyzed using this method. Moreover, the effects of gravel content (GC) on the mechanical properties and failure characteristics were discussed. The results reveal that as GC increases, the shear stress becomes more fluctuating, the peak shear stress increases, the volumetric strain tends to dilate, the average particle contact force increases, the cumulative number of cracks increases, and the shear failure plane becomes coarser. Higher GC will change the friction angle with a trend of "stability", "increase", and "stability". Differently, it affects the cohesion with a law of "increase", "stability" and "increase".

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.167-198
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• 2022

In this paper we deal with classical instability problems of heterogeneous Euler beam under conservative loading. It is chosen as the model problem to systematically present several possible solution methods from simplest deterministic to more complex stochastic approach, both of which that can handle more complex engineering problems. We first present classical analytic solution along with rigorous definition of the classical Euler buckling problem starting from homogeneous beam with either simplified linearized theory or the most general geometrically exact beam theory. We then present the numerical solution to this problem by using reduced model constructed by discrete approximation based upon the weak form of the instability problem featuring von Karman (virtual) strain combined with the finite element method. We explain how such numerical approach can easily be adapted to solving instability problems much more complex than classical Euler's beam and in particular for heterogeneous beam, where analytic solution is not readily available. We finally present the stochastic approach making use of the Duffing oscillator, as the corresponding reduced model for heterogeneous Euler's beam within the dynamics framework. We show that such an approach allows computing probability density function quantifying all possible solutions to this instability problem. We conclude that increased computational cost of the stochastic framework is more than compensated by its ability to take into account beam material heterogeneities described in terms of fast oscillating stochastic process, which is typical of time evolution of internal variables describing plasticity and damage.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.535-547
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• 2022

Failure patterns of rock specimens represent valuable information about the mechanical properties and crack evolution mechanism of rock. Several kinds of research have been conducted regarding the failure mechanism of brittle material, however; the influence of brittleness on the failure mechanism of rock specimens has not been precisely considered. In the present study, experimental and numerical examinations have been made to evaluate the physical and mechanical phenomena associated with rock failure mechanisms through the uniaxial compression test. In the experimental part, Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests equipped with Acoustic Emission (AE) have been conducted on rock samples with three different brittleness. Then, the numerical models have been calibrated based on experimental test results for further investigation and comparing the micro-cracking process in experimental and numerical models. It can be perceived that the failure mode of specimens with high brittleness is tensile axial splitting, based on the experimental evidence of rock specimens with different brittleness. Also, the crack growth mechanism of the rock specimens with various brittleness using discrete element modeling in the numerical part suggested that the specimens with more brittleness contain more tensile fracture during the loading sequences.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.89-105
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• 2022

The behavior of the soil subgrade is complex and irregular against loads. When modeling, the soil is often replaced by a more straightforward system called a subgrade model. The Winkler method of linear elastic springs is a popular method of soil modeling in which the spring constant shows the modulus of subgrade reaction. In this research, the factors affecting the distribution of the modulus of subgrade reaction of elastoplastic subgrades are examined. For this purpose, critical theories about the modulus of subgrade reaction were examined. A square raft foundation on a sandy soil subgrade with was analyzed at different internal friction angles and Young's modulus values using ABAQUS software. To accurately model the actual soil behavior, the elastic, perfectly plastic constitutive model was applied to investigate a foundation on discrete springs. In order to increase the accuracy of soil modeling, equations have been proposed for the distribution of the subgrade reaction modulus. The constitutive model of the springs is elastic, perfectly plastic. It was observed that the modulus of subgrade reaction under an elastic load decreased when moving from the corner to the center of the foundation. For the ultimate load, the modulus of subgrade reaction increased as it moved from the corner to the center of the foundation.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2022

Three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA) models have been used to evaluate the shock-resistance responses of various equipments, including armaments mounted on a warship caused by underwater explosion (UNDEX). This paper aims to check the possibility of using one-dimensional (1D) FEA models for the shock-resistance responses. A frigate was chosen for the evaluation of the shock-resistance responses by the UNDEX. The frigate was divided into the thirteen discrete segments along the length of the ship. The 1D Timoshenko beam elements were used to model the frigate. The explosive charge mass and the stand-off distance were determined based on the ship length and the keel shock factor (KSF), respectively. The UNDEX pressure fields were generated using the Geers-Hunter doubly asymptotic model. The pseudo-velocity shock response spectrum (PVSS) for the 1D-FEA model (1D-PVSS) was calculated using the acceleration history at a concerned equipment position where the digital recursive filtering algorithm was used. The 1D-PVSS was compared with the 3D-PVSS that was taken from a reference, and a relatively good agreement was found. In addition, the 1D-PVSS was compared with the design criteria specified by the German Federal Armed forces, which is called the BV043. The 1D-PVSS was proven to be relatively reasonable, reducing the computing cost dramatically.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.393-404
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• 2023

This paper presents the application of hybrid-simulation-based adapter elements for the non-linear two-scale analysis of reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills under seismic-like demands. The approach provides communication and distribution of the computations carried out by two or more remote or locally distributed numerical models connected through the OpenFresco Framework. The modeling consists of a global analysis formed by macro-elements to represent frames and walls, and to reduce global degrees of freedom, portions of the structure that require advanced analysis are substituted by experimental elements and dimensional couplings acting as interfaces with their respective sub-assemblies. The local sub-assemblies are modeled by solid finite elements where the non-linear behavior of concrete matrix and masonry infill adopt a continuum damage representation and the reinforcement steel a discrete one, the conditions at interfaces between concrete and masonry are considered through a contact model. The methodology is illustrated through the analysis of a frame-wall system subjected to lateral loads comparing the results of using macro-elements, finite element model and experimental observations. Finally, to further assess and validate the methodology proposed, the paper presents the pushover analysis of two more complex structures applying both modeling scales to obtain their corresponding capacity curves.

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.529-536
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• 2023

The Morlet wavelet transform method is proposed to analyze a single interferogram with spatial carrier frequency that is captured by an optical interferometer. The method can retain low frequency components that contain the phase information of a measured optical surface, and remove high frequency disturbances by wavelet decomposition and reconstruction. The key to retrieving the phases from the low-frequency wavelet components is to extract wavelet ridges by calculating the maximum value of the wavelet transform amplitude. Afterwards, the wrapped phases can be accurately solved by multiple iterative calculations on wavelet ridges. Finally, we can reconstruct the wave-front of the measured optical element by applying two-dimensional discrete cosine transform to those wrapped phases. Morlet wavelet transform does not need to remove the spatial carrier frequency components manually in the processing of interferogram analysis, but the step is necessary in the Fourier transform algorithm. So, the Morlet wavelet simplifies the process of the analysis of interference fringe patterns compared to Fourier transform. Consequently, wavelet transform is more suitable for automated programming analysis of interference fringes and avoiding the introduction of additional errors compared with Fourier transform.