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The determination of the crack path is important for predicting the unexpected failures or assessing fatigue life in engineering material. To simulate the crack path under mixed mode loading using a finite element model, a new local element cracking technique was proposed. The waiting cracking element was divided into two units along crack propagation direction based on the maximum circumference ( K = 0) criterion. Then, the information of element number and nodal number was also modified and singular elements were avoided by the transfixion method. With advantages of small remeshing only on a local region, this method also examined three classic problems of stationary crack growth, i.e., edge crack propagation in double cantilever beam, mode I cracking in an asphalt concrete beam, a crack in typical longitudinal connection of large natural gas carriers. The calculated stress intensity factors and the predicted crack trajectories using this method agree well with the theoretical solutions existing in literature. Optimal design of structure against failure by fast fracture is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the study of the quantum tunneling through a vertical two-barrier structure sandwiching a graphene nanoribbon quantum object. Scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of the graphene nanoribbon show staircase I-U characteristics and oscillating dI/dU spectra. To identify the physical origin of the observed effect, we varied the tunneling resistance of the tip-ribbon junction and found a tip-to-ribbon distance dependent oscillating period change. Together with the numerical analysis, we confirm that the resonances in the spectroscopy arise from the Coulomb blockade effect. The study of the Coulomb blockade effect in graphene nanoribbons may be of potential usages for the fabrication of superthin quantum dot devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The tailoring of elastic moduli in the radial direction is studied to design a fiber-reinforced orthotropic linear elastic rotating disk with constant radial or hoop stress or constant in-plane shear stress. For fibers arranged in concentric circles the axes of material symmetry coincide with the radial and the circumferential directions. However, when fibers are aligned along helices, the orientation of material principal axes varies with the radial coordinate of a point. For a solid disk made of an orthotropic material with Young’s moduli proportional to each other, we give explicit expressions for the required variations of the elastic moduli with the radius to attain a given state of stress. For a rotating annular disk composed of a fiber-reinforced composite with fibers placed along concentric circles, the required radial variation of the volume fraction of fibers is calculated numerically and exhibited graphically. For fibers of known volume fraction laid along helices, the radial variation of the fiber orientation angle is determined. We have also analyzed the material tailoring problem for a disk of variable thickness. Results presented herein should help structural engineers and material scientists optimally design rotating disks composed of radially inhomogeneous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classical finite element method (FEM) fails to provide accurate results to the Helmholtz equation with large wave numbers due to the well-known “pollution error” caused by the numerical dispersion, i.e. the numerical wave number is always smaller than the exact one. This dispersion error is essentially rooted at the “overly-stiff” feature of the FEM model. In this paper, an alpha finite element method (α-FEM) is then formulated for the acoustic problems by combining the “smaller wave number” model of FEM and the “larger wave number” model of NS-FEM through a scaling factor $${a\in [0,1]}$$ . The motivation for this combined approach is essentially from the features of “overly-stiff” FEM model and “overly-soft” NS-FEM model, and accurate solutions can be obtained by tuning the α-FEM model. A technique is proposed to determine a particular alpha with which the α-FEM model can possess a very “close-to-exact” stiffness, which can effectively reduce the dispersion error leading to dispersion free solutions for acoustic problems. Theoretical and numerical studies shall demonstrate the excellent properties of the present α-FEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents efforts made on the computational modelling, simulation, and optimization of a new type of airbag, namely a sandwiched tube-type airbag, which deploys more rapidly than the traditional airbag using less gas mass inflow and can decrease the risk of head injury of an out-of-position passenger. The airbag is modelled using the finite element method with MADYMO. A static airbag deployment test is performed to support and validate the computational modelling efforts. The considered variables for airbag optimization design are as follows: the collocation of the tether, the length of the tether, the mass flowrate, and the size and location of the vent hole. The simulation is performed using an orthogonal array, within the range of given control levels. Finally, the simulation results are analysed by iSIGHT, and the relationships between the design variables could help to design the airbag cushion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proven by the authors that both the upper and lower bounds in energy norm of the exact solution to elasticity problems can now be obtained by using the fully compatible finite element method (FEM) and linearly conforming point interpolation method (LC-PIM). This paper examines the upper bound property of the linearly conforming radial point interpolation method (LC-RPIM), where the Radial Basis Functions (RBFs) are used to construct shape functions and node-based smoothed strains are used to formulate the discrete system equations. It is found that the LC-RPIM also provides the upper bound of the exact solution in energy norm to elasticity problems, and it is much sharper than that of LC-PIM due to the decrease of stiffening effect. An effective procedure is also proposed to determine both upper and lower bounds for the exact solution without knowing it in advance: using the LC-RPIM to compute the upper bound, using the standard fully compatible FEM to compute the lower bound based on the same mesh for the problem domain. Numerical examples of 1D, 2D and 3D problems are presented to demonstrate these important properties of LC-RPIM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a neural network procedure is suggested to inversely determine the variable binder force in U-shaped forming from the deforming shape of the part. The finite element method (FEM) is used to simulate the forming process. The inputs of the neural network (NN) model come from the deformation shape of the part. The outputs of the NN are the stepped variable binder force parameters. To reach the desired deformation, the NN model will go through a progressive retraining process. A constant binder force simulation method is also recommended to obtain the desired deformation shape. The numerical result for model NUMISHEET’93 demonstrates the efficiency of the present procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A linearly conforming point interpolation method (LC-PIM) is developed for 2D solid problems. In this method, shape functions are generated using the polynomial basis functions and a scheme for the selection of local supporting nodes based on background cells is suggested, which can always ensure the moment matrix is invertible as long as there are no coincide nodes. Galerkin weak form is adopted for creating discretized system equations, and a nodal integration scheme with strain smoothing operation is used to perform the numerical integration. The present LC-PIM can guarantee linear exactness and monotonic convergence for the numerical results. Numerical examples are used to examine the present method in terms of accuracy, convergence, and efficiency. Compared with the finite element method (FEM) using linear triangle elements and the radial point interpolation method (RPIM) using Gauss integration, the LC-PIM can achieve higher convergence rate and better efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, the problem of a crack located in a functionally gradient piezoelectric interlayer between two dissimilar homogeneous piezoelectric half-planes being subjected to an anti-plane mechanical loading and an in-plane electric loading is considered. The material properties of the interlayer, such as the elastic stiffness, piezoelectric constant and dielectric constant, are assumed to vary continuously along the thickness of the interlayer, and the crack surface condition is assumed to be impermeable or permeable. By using the Fourier transform, the problem is first reduced to two pairs of dual integral equations and then into a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. Numerical calculations are carried out, and the effects of crack geometric parameters on the stress intensity factor and the energy release rate are shown graphically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An exact three-dimensional analysis is presented for a functionally gradient piezoelectric material rectangular plate that is simply supported and grounded along its four edges. The state equations of the functionally gradient piezoelectric material are developed based on the state space approach. Assuming that the mechanical and electric properties of the material have the same exponent-law dependence on the thickness-coordinate, we obtain an exact three-dimensional solution of the coupling electroelastic fields in the plate under mechanical, and electric loading on the upper and lower surfaces of the plate. The influences of the different functionally gradient material properties on the structural response of the plate to the mechanical and electric stimuli are then studied through examples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper is concerned with the issue of sampling clock synchronization and correction. First, we make an analysis of the cause of the sampling clock offset and its effect on the performance of communication systems. A novel time domain-based sampling clock offset estimation method is proposed with greatly decreased estimation delay time. A sampling clock adjusting model in time domain is proposed as well. Simulations and numerical analysis verify better mean square error performance of the proposed method and adjusting model in contrast to the conventional sampling clock synchronization methods. In addition, three types of methods to further improve the sampling clock offset estimation accuracy in burst packet transmission systems are simulated and analyzed with some conclusions drawn?. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper compares the numerical results obtained from various nuclear codes and nuclear data libraries with the YALINA Booster subcritical assembly (Minsk, Belarus) experimental results. This subcritical assembly was constructed to study the physics and the operation of accelerator-driven subcritical systems (ADS) for transmuting the light water reactors (LWR) spent nuclear fuel. The YALINA Booster facility has been accurately modeled, with no material homogenization, by the Monte Carlo codes MCNPX (MCNP/MCB) and MONK. The MONK geometrical model matches that of MCNPX. The assembly has also been analyzed by the deterministic code ERANOS. In addition, the differences between the effective neutron multiplication factor and the source multiplication factors have been examined by alternative calculational methodologies. The analyses include the delayed neutron fraction, prompt neutron lifetime, generation time, neutron flux profiles, and spectra in various experimental channels. The accuracy of the numerical models has been enhanced by accounting for all material impurities and the actual density of the polyethylene material used in the assembly (the latter value was obtained by dividing the total weight of the polyethylene by its volume in the numerical model). There is good agreement between the results from MONK, MCNPX, and ERANOS. The ERANOS results show small differences relative to the other results because of material homogenization and the energy and angle discretizations.The MCNPX results match the experimental measurements of the 3He(n,p) reaction rates obtained with the californium neutron source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]