Evaluation of the transitional inelastic behaviour of unsaturated clay–sand mixtures

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Blatz ◽  
David E.S Anderson ◽  
Greg Siemens

This paper examines and compares the mechanical behaviour of two different unsaturated clay mixtures comprised of bentonite clay (Saskatchewan or Wyoming) and quartz sand. The two mixtures have been proposed as compacted barrier materials for reducing groundwater flow in the vicinity of waste disposal repositories. Triaxial specimens were compacted to consistent properties, and then specified suction conditions were applied to the specimens using the vapour equilibrium technique. Following equilibrium at the specified initial suction, specimens were subjected to isotropic and shear loading in a conventional triaxial cell to measure the mechanical response under selected stress paths. The results are interpreted in terms of the yield, strength, and stiffness behaviour at the various suction levels. Results suggest that the clay component of the mixture dominates the behaviour at suctions less than approximately 30 MPa, and the sand component dominates the behaviour above approximately 30 MPa. The transition from clay- to sand-dominated behaviour is attributed to volume strain during application of the initial suction bringing the sand particles into contact. The discussion highlights how the results can be used to modify constitutive models to incorporate the transitional behaviour in numerical modeling.Key words: inelastic, yielding, unsaturated, stress–strain, triaxial testing.

Author(s):  
Huaning Zhu ◽  
Morteza M. Mehrabadi ◽  
Mehrdad Massoudi

The principal objective of this paper is to compare the mechanical response of a double shearing model with that of a hypoplastic model under biaxial compression and under cyclic shear loading. As the origins and nature of these two models are completely different, it is interesting to compare the predictions of these two models. The constitutive relations of the double shearing and the hypoplastic models are implemented in the finite element program ABACUS/Explicit. It is found that the hypoplastic and the double shearing constitutive models both show strong capability in capturing the essential behavior of granular materials. In particular, under the condition of non-cyclic loading, the stress ratio and void ratio predictions of the double shearing and the hypoplastic models are relatively close, while under the condition of cyclic loading, the predictions of these models are quite different. It is important to note that in the double shearing model employed in this comparison the shear rates on the two slip systems are assumed to be equal. Hence, the conclusions derived in this comparison pertain only to this particular double shearing model. Similarly, the hypoplasticity model considered here is that proposed by Wu, et al. [30] and the conclusions reached here pertain only to this particular hypoplasticity model.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 369
Author(s):  
Xintao Fu ◽  
Zepeng Wang ◽  
Lianxiang Ma

In this paper, some representative hyperelastic constitutive models of rubber materials were reviewed from the perspectives of molecular chain network statistical mechanics and continuum mechanics. Based on the advantages of existing models, an improved constitutive model was developed, and the stress–strain relationship was derived. Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on two types of filled tire compounds at different temperatures. The physical phenomena related to rubber deformation were analyzed, and the temperature dependence of the mechanical behavior of filled rubber in a larger deformation range (150% strain) was revealed from multiple angles. Based on the experimental data, the ability of several models to describe the stress–strain mechanical response of carbon black filled compound was studied, and the application limitations of some constitutive models were revealed. Combined with the experimental data, the ability of Yeoh model, Ogden model (n = 3), and improved eight-chain model to characterize the temperature dependence was studied, and the laws of temperature dependence of their parameters were revealed. By fitting the uniaxial tensile test data and comparing it with the Yeoh model, the improved eight-chain model was proved to have a better ability to predict the hyperelastic behavior of rubber materials under different deformation states. Finally, the improved eight-chain model was successfully applied to finite element analysis (FEA) and compared with the experimental data. It was found that the improved eight-chain model can accurately describe the stress–strain characteristics of filled rubber.


Author(s):  
Aref Ghaderi ◽  
Vahid Morovati ◽  
Pouyan Nasiri ◽  
Roozbeh Dargazany

Abstract Material parameters related to deterministic models can have different values due to variation of experiments outcome. From a mathematical point of view, probabilistic modeling can improve this problem. It means that material parameters of constitutive models can be characterized as random variables with a probability distribution. To this end, we propose a constitutive models of rubber-like materials based on uncertainty quantification (UQ) approach. UQ reduces uncertainties in both computational and real-world applications. Constitutive models in elastomers play a crucial role in both science and industry due to their unique hyper-elastic behavior under different loading conditions (uni-axial extension, biaxial, or pure shear). Here our goal is to model the uncertainty in constitutive models of elastomers, and accordingly, identify sensitive parameters that we highly contribute to model uncertainty and error. Modern UQ models can be implemented to use the physics of the problem compared to black-box machine learning approaches that uses data only. In this research, we propagate uncertainty through the model, characterize sensitivity of material behavior to show the importance of each parameter for uncertainty reduction. To this end, we utilized Bayesian rules to develop a model considering uncertainty in the mechanical response of elastomers. As an important assumption, we believe that our measurements are around the model prediction, but it is contaminated by Gaussian noise. We can make the noise by maximizing the posterior. The uni-axial extension experimental data set is used to calibrate the model and propagate uncertainty in this research.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermioni D. Pasiou ◽  
Stavros K. Kourkoulis

AbstractThe mechanical response of the restored “connections” of the epistyles of the Parthenon Temple on the Acropolis of Athens is studied assuming that the interconnected epistyles are under shear loading mode. The study is implemented by taking advantage of a numerical model, properly validated on the basis of the data of a recent relative experimental protocol. The main difficulty while studying the specific problem is the co-existence of three materials of completely different mechanical behaviors, i.e. the brittle marble of the epistyles, the ductile titanium of the connector and the cement-based material filling the grooves of the marble in which the connector is placed. The interfaces of this three-material-complex are simulated as simple contact with friction, the coefficient of which is, also, experimentally determined. Taking advantage of the data provided by the numerical model the stress field developed in the connector and the surrounding marble volume is described. Moreover, the forces imposed by the connector on the surface of the groove are quantitatively determined. Furthermore, the model permits a quantitative comparison between the mechanical response of the interconnected epistyles in the presence or in the absence of the “relieving space”. It is definitely concluded that the alternative design of the “connections”, according to which a small portion of the connector’s web is left uncovered by the filling material (relieving space), offers serious advantages against the traditional design, in the direction of reducing the intensity of the stress field developed in the marble volume surrounding the connector, thus, contributing to the protection of the authentic building material of the monument in the case of overloading of the epistyles.


Author(s):  
Yue Liu ◽  
Weicheng Gao ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
Zhou Hua

This paper presents an investigation on the mechanical response of the Nomex honeycomb core subjected to flatwise compressive loading. Thin plate elastic in-plane compressive buckling theory is used to analyze the Nomex honeycomb core cell wall. A mesoscopic finite element (FE) model of honeycomb sandwich structure with the Nomex honeycomb cell walls is established by employing ABAQUS/Explicit shell elements. The compressive strength and compressive stiffness of Nomex honeycomb core with different heights and thickness of cell walls, i.e. double cell walls and single cell walls, are analyzed numerically using the FE model. Flatwise compressive tests are also carried out on bare honeycomb cores to validate the numerical method. The results suggest that the compressive strength and compression stiffness are related to the geometric dimensions of the honeycomb core. The Nomex honeycomb core with a height of 6 mm has a higher strength than that of 8 mm. In addition, the honeycomb core with lower height possesses stronger anti-instability ability, including the compressive strength and stiffness. The proposed mesoscopic model can effectively simulate the crushing process of Nomex honeycomb core and accurately predict the strength and stiffness of honeycomb sandwich panels. Our work is instructive to the practical applications in engineering.


Author(s):  
Sandeep Kulathu ◽  
David L. Littlefield

Computational simulations of brain injury mechanisms have advanced to a level of sophistication where in addition to capturing different anatomic regions, the computational mesh is capable of distinguishing white and grey matter in the brain. Brain tissue is typically modeled as an isotropic, viscoelastic material. Experiments have shown that the mechanical response of brain tissue to an external load varies depending on the location from which the tissue is harvested and also the direction of loading. Some researchers have developed anisotropic constitutive models by appealing to the composite material case wherein cylindrical axon fibers are immersed in a cellular matrix. Though such material models have been developed over a small sample, they have not been applied over the entire brain for simulation purposes.


Author(s):  
Pavana Sirimamilla ◽  
Ahmet Erdemir ◽  
Antonie J. van den Bogert ◽  
Jason P. Halloran

Experimental testing of cadaver specimens is a useful means to quantify structural and material response of tissue and passive joint properties against applied loading[1,4]. Very often, specific material response (i.e., stress-strain behavior of a ligament or plantar tissue) has been the goal of experimental testing and is accomplished with uniaxial and/or biaxial tests of prepared tissue specimens with uniform geometries[2,5]. Material properties can then be calculated directly and if testing data involves individual sets of multiple loading modes (e.g. compression only, shear only, volumetric) an accurate representation of the global response of the specimen may be possible. In foot biomechanics, however, it is practically impossible to perform isolated mechanical testing in this manner. The structural response, therefore the stiffness characteristics, of the foot have been quantified, usually using a dominant loading mode: e.g., whole foot compression [6], heel pad indentation [3]. This approach ignores the complexity of most in vivo loading conditions, in which whole foot deformation involves interactions between compression, shear (e.g. heel pad) and tension (e.g. ligaments). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the mechanical response of a cadaver foot specimen subjected to compression and anterior-posterior (AP) shear loading of isolated heel and forefoot regions as well as whole foot compression. Results from the experimental tests represent a novel methodology to quantify a complete structural biomechanical response. Combined with medical imaging, followed by inverse finite element (FE) analysis, the data may also serve for material characterization of foot tissue.


2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (31n32) ◽  
pp. 5957-5964 ◽  
Author(s):  
WENYI YAN ◽  
QINGPING SUN ◽  
HONG-YUAN LIU

The mechanical response of spherical indentation of superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) was theoretically studied in this paper. Firstly, the friction effect was examined. It was found that the friction influence is negligibly small. Secondly, the influence of the elasticity of the indenter was investigated. Numerical results indicate that this influence can not be neglected as long as the indentation depth is not very small. After that, this paper focused on the effect of transformation volume contraction. Our results show that the transformation volume contraction due to forward martensitic transformation can reduce the maximum indentation force and the spherical indentation hardness. These research results enhance our understanding of the spherical indentation responses, including the hardness of the smart material SMAs.


2000 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 748-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestino Rampino ◽  
Claudio Mancuso ◽  
Filippo Vinale

This paper reports the experimental study and modelling of the mechanical response of a silty sand used in the core of the Metramo dam, Italy. Specimens were prepared by compacting the soil at optimum water content conditions using the modified Proctor technique. Tests were performed under suction-controlled conditions by a stress path triaxial cell and an oedometer. The experimental program consists of 23 tests carried out in the suction range of 0-400 kPa. The findings indicate the strong influence of suction on compressibility, stiffness, and shear strength. The mechanical properties of the soil improve with suction following an exponential law with decreasing gradient. Furthermore, the soil exhibited collapsible behaviour upon wetting even at low stress levels. Interesting results were also achieved in elastoplastic modelling as well. The results led to characterization of soil behaviour with reference to widely accepted modelling criteria for unsaturated soils, providing noteworthy suggestions about their applicability for granular materials with a non-negligible fine component. Finally, some remarks are made for the extension under unsaturated conditions of the "Nor sand" model for saturated granular soils. The proposed approach yields improved predictions of deviator soil response of the tested soil when Cambridge-type frameworks prove invalid.Key words: unsaturated soils, stress state variables, triaxial tests, oedometer tests, constitutive model.


2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeike A. Taylor ◽  
Karol Miller

An important and longstanding field of research in orthopedic biomechanics is the elucidation and mathematical modeling of the mechanical response of cartilaginous tissues. Traditional approaches have treated such tissues as continua and have described their mechanical response in terms of macroscopic models borrowed from solid mechanics. The most important of such models are the biphasic and single-phase viscoelastic models, and the many variations thereof. These models have reached a high level of maturity and have been successful in describing a wide range of phenomena. An alternative approach that has received considerable recent interest, both in orthopedic biomechanics and in other fields, is the description of mechanical response based on consideration of a tissue's structure—so-called microstructural modeling. Examples of microstructurally based approaches include fibril-reinforced biphasic models and homogenization approaches. A review of both macroscopic and microstructural constitutive models is given in the present work.


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