• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.517-546
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• 2014

This paper proposes a refined electro-mechanical beam formulation. Lagrange-type polynomials are used to interpolate the unknowns over the beam cross section. Three- (L3), four- (L4), and nine-point(L9) polynomials are considered which lead to linear, bi-linear, and quadratic displacement field approximations over the beam cross-section. Finite elements are obtained by employing the principle of virtual displacements in conjunction with the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). The finite element matrices and vectors are expressed in terms of fundamental nuclei whose forms do not depend on the assumptions made. Additional refined beam models are implemented by introducing further discretizations, over the beam cross-section. Some assessments from bibliography have been solved in order to validate the electro-mechanical formulation. The investigations conducted show that the present formulation is able to detect the electro-mechanical interaction.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.579-596
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• 2016

This paper describes a method of the refined plastic hinge approach in the framework of the higher-order element formulation that can efficaciously evaluate the limit state capacity of a whole reinforced concrete structural system using least number of element(s), whereas the traditional design of a reinforced concrete structure (i.e. AS3600; Eurocode 2) is member-based approach. Hence, in regard to the material nonlinearities, the efficient and economical cross-section analysis is provided to evaluate the element section capacity of non-uniform and arbitrary concrete section subjected to the interaction effects, which is helpful to formulate the refined plastic hinge method. In regard to the geometric nonlinearities, this paper relies on the higher-order element formulation with element load effect. Eventually, the load redistribution can be considered and make full use of the strength reserved owing to the redundancy of an indeterminate structure. And it is particularly true for the performance-based design of a structure under the extreme loads, while the uncertainty of the extreme load is great that the true behaviour of a whole structural system is important for the economical design approach, which is great superiority over the conservative optimal strength of an individual and isolated member based on traditional design (i.e. AS3600; Eurocode 2).

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.191-213
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• 2011

This paper presents an improved 8-node shell element for the analysis of plates and shells. The finite element, based on a refined first-order shear deformation theory, is further improved by the combined use of assumed natural strain method. We analyze the influence of the shell element with the different patterns of sampling points for interpolating different components of strains. Using the assumed natural strain method with proper interpolation functions, the present shell element generates neither membrane nor shear locking behavior even when full integration is used in the formulation. Further, a refined first-order shear deformation theory, which results in parabolic through-thickness distribution of the transverse shear strains from the formulation based on the third-order shear deformation theory, is proposed. This formulation eliminates the need for shear correction factors in the first-order theory. Numerical examples demonstrate that the present element perform better in comparison with other shell elements.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.251-264
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• 2016

In this paper, a simple and refined nonlocal hyperbolic higher-order beam theory is proposed for bending and vibration response of nanoscale beams. The present formulation incorporates the nonlocal scale parameter which can capture the small scale effect, and it considers both shear deformation and thickness stretching effects by a hyperbolic variation of all displacements across the thickness without employing shear correction factor. The highlight of this formulation is that, in addition to modeling the displacement field with only two unknowns, the thickness stretching effect (${\varepsilon}_z{\neq}0$) is also included in the present model. By utilizing the Hamilton's principle and the nonlocal differential constitutive relations of Eringen, the equations of motion of the nanoscale beam are reformulated. Verification studies demonstrate that the developed theory is not only more accurate than the refined nonlocal beam theory, but also comparable with the higher-order shear deformation theories which contain more number of unknowns. The theoretical formulation proposed herein may serve as a reference for nonlocal theories as applied to the static and dynamic responses of complex-nanobeam-system such as complex carbon nanotube system.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2020

In this paper, free vibration finite element analysis of axially moving laminated composite beams subjected to axial tension is studied. It is assumed that the beam has a constant axial velocity and is subject to uniform axial tension. The analysis is based on higher-order theories that have been presented by Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). In the CUF technique, the three dimensional (3D) displacement fields are expressed as the approximation of the arbitrary order of the displacement unknowns over the cross-section. This higher-order expansion is considered in equivalent single layer (ESL) model. The governing equations of motion are obtained via Hamilton's principle. Finally, several numerical examples are presented and the effect of the ply-angle, travelling speed and axial tension on the natural frequencies and beam stability are demonstrated.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.219-235
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• 2017

The large container ships and fast patrol boats are complex marine structures. Therefore, their global mechanical behaviour has long been modeled mostly by refined beam theories. Important issues of cross section warping and bending-torsion coupling have been addressed by introducing special functions in these theories with inherent assumptions and thus compromising their robustness. The 3D solid Finite Element (FE) models, on the other hand, are accurate enough but pose high computational cost. In this work, different marine vessel structures have been analysed using the well-known Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). According to CUF, the governing equations (and consequently the finite element arrays) are written in terms of fundamental nuclei that do not depend on the problem characteristics and the approximation order. Thus, refined models can be developed in an automatic manner. In the present work, a particular class of 1D CUF models that was initially devised for the analysis of aircraft structures has been employed for the analysis of marine structures. This class, which was called Component-Wise (CW), allows one to model complex 3D features, such as inclined hull walls, floors and girders in the form of components. Realistic ship geometries were used to demonstrate the efficacy of the CUF approach. With the same level of accuracy achieved, 1D CUF beam elements require far less number of Degrees of Freedom (DoFs) compared to a 3D solid FE solution.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.633-644
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• 2023

Taking a look at the previously published papers, it is revealed that there is a porosity index limitation (around 0.35) for the mechanical behavior analysis of the functionally graded porous (FGP) structures. Over mentioned magnitude of the porosity index, the elastic modulus falls below zero for some parts of the structure thickness. Therefore, the current paper is presented to analyze the vibrational behavior of the FGP Timoshenko beams (FGPTBs) using a novel refined formulation regardless of the porosity index magnitude. The silica aerogel foundation and various hydrothermal loadings are assumed as the source of external forces. To obtain the FGPTB's properties, the power law is hired, and employing Hamilton's principle in conjunction with Navier's solution method, the governing equations are extracted and solved. In the end, the impact of the various variables as different beam materials, elastic foundation parameters, and porosity index is captured and displayed. It is revealed that changing hygrothermal loading from non-linear toward uniform configuration results in non-dimensional frequency and stiffness pushing up. Also, Al - Al2O3 as the material composition of the beam and the porosity presence with the O pattern, provide more rigidity in comparison with using other materials and other types of porosity dispersion. The presented computational model in this paper hopes to help add more accuracy to the structures' analysis in high-tech industries.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.427-437
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• 2019

In this study, an alternative solution procedure presented by using variational methods for analysis of shear deformable functionally graded material (FGM) beams with mixed formulation. By using the advantages of $G{\hat{a}}teaux$ differential approaches, a refined complex general functional and boundary conditions which comprises seven independent variables such as displacement, rotation, bending moment and higher-order bending moment, shear force and higher-order shear force, is derived for general thick-thin FGM beams via shear deformation beam theories. The mixed-finite element method (FEM) is employed to obtain a beam element which have a 2-nodes and total fourteen degrees-of-freedoms. A computer program is written to execute the analyses for the present study. The numerical results of analyses obtained for different boundary conditions are presented and compared with results available in the literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.203-216
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• 1999

A previously proposed finite element formulation method is refined and modified to generate a new type of elements. The method is based on selecting a set of general solution modes for element formulation. The constant strain modes and higher order modes are selected and the formulation method is designed to ensure that the element will pass the basic single element test, which in turn ensures the passage of the basic patch test. If the element is to pass the higher order patch test also, the element stiffness matrix is in general asymmetric. The element stiffness matrix depends only on a nodal displacement matrix and a nodal force matrix. A symmetric stiffness matrix can be obtained by either modifying the nodal displacement matrix or the nodal force matrix. It is shown that both modifications lead to the same new element, which is demonstrated through numerical examples to be more robust than an assumed stress hybrid element in plane stress application. The method of formulation can also be used to arrive at the conforming displacement and hybrid stress formulations. The convergence of the latter two is explained from the point of view of the proposed method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.545-554
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• 2020

The present paper explores nonlinear dynamical properties of piezo-magnetic beams based on a nonlocal refined higher-order beam formulation and piezoelectric phase effect. The piezoelectric phase increment may lead to improved vibrational behaviors for the smart beams subjected to magnetic fields and external harmonic excitation. Nonlinear governing equations of a nonlocal intelligent beam have been achieved based upon the refined beam model and a numerical provided has been introduced to calculate nonlinear vibrational curves. The present study indicates that variation in the volume fraction of piezoelectric ingredient has a substantial impact on vibrational behaviors of intelligent nanobeam under electrical and magnetic fields. Also, it can be seen that nonlinear free/forced vibrational behaviors of intelligent nanobeam have dependency on the magnitudes of induced electrical voltages, magnetic potential, stiffening elastic substrate and shear deformation.