DISCRETE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF THE RESPONSE OF GRANULAR MATERIALS DURING CYCLIC LOADING

In cold regions, ice pressure poses a serious threat to the safe operation of ship hulls and fixed offshore platforms. In this study, a discrete element method (DEM) with bonded particles was adapted to simulate the generation and distribution of local ice pressures during the interaction between level ice and vertical structures. The strength and failure mode of simulated sea ice under uniaxial compression were consistent with the experimental results, which verifies the accuracy of the discrete element parameters. The crushing process of sea ice acting on the vertical structure simulated by the DEM was compared with the field test. The distribution of ice pressure on the contact surface was calculated, and it was found that the local ice pressure was much greater than the global ice pressure. The high-pressure zones in sea ice are mainly caused by its simultaneous destruction, and these zones are primarily distributed near the midline of the contact area of sea ice and the structure. The contact area and loading rate are the two main factors affecting the high-pressure zones. The maximum local and global ice pressures decrease with an increase in the contact area. The influence of the loading rate on the local ice pressure is caused by the change in the sea ice failure mode. When the loading rate is low, ductile failure of sea ice occurs, and the ice pressure increases with the increase in the loading rate. When the loading rate is high, brittle failure of sea ice occurs, and the ice pressure decreases with an increase in the loading rate. This DEM study of sea ice can reasonably predict the distribution of high-pressure zones on marine structures and provide a reference for the anti-ice performance design of marine structures.

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A Finite Element Study on Compressive Resistance Degradation of Square and Circular Steel Braces under Axial Cyclic Loading

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11136094 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (13) ◽

pp. 6094

Author(s):

Hubdar Hussain ◽

Xiangyu Gao ◽

Anqi Shi

Keyword(s):

Finite Element Analysis ◽

Finite Element ◽

Cyclic Loading ◽

Slenderness Ratio ◽

Hysteretic Behavior ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Section Shape ◽

Axial Cyclic Loading ◽

Global Buckling ◽

Parametric Studies

In this study, detailed finite element analysis was conducted to examine the seismic performance of square and circular hollow steel braces under axial cyclic loading. Finite element models of braces were constructed using ABAQUS finite element analysis (FEA) software and validated with experimental results from previous papers to expand the specimen’s matrix. The influences of cross-section shape, slenderness ratio, and width/diameter-to-thickness ratio on hysteretic behavior and compressive-tensile strength degradation were studied. Simulation results of parametric studies show that both square and circular hollow braces have a better cyclic performance with smaller slenderness and width/diameter-to-thickness ratios, and their compressive-tensile resistances ratio significantly decreases from cycle to cycle after the occurrence of the global buckling of braces.

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Study on the effect of grain morphology on shear strength in granular materials via GPU based discrete element method simulations

Powder Technology ◽

10.1016/j.powtec.2021.04.038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 387 ◽

pp. 336-347

Author(s):

Nicolin Govender

Keyword(s):

Shear Strength ◽

Discrete Element Method ◽

Granular Materials ◽

Grain Morphology ◽

Discrete Element ◽

Element Method

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Discrete element analysis of the punching behaviour of a secured drapery system: from laboratory characterization to idealized in situ conditions

Acta Geotechnica ◽

10.1007/s11440-020-01119-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Pol ◽

Fabio Gabrieli ◽

Lorenzo Brezzi

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Response ◽

Steel Wire ◽

Discrete Element ◽

Wire Mesh ◽

Steel Plates ◽

Loading Conditions ◽

Element Analysis ◽

In Situ Conditions ◽

Wire Meshes

AbstractIn this work, the mechanical response of a steel wire mesh panel against a punching load is studied starting from laboratory test conditions and extending the results to field applications. Wire meshes anchored with bolts and steel plates are extensively used in rockfall protection and slope stabilization. Their performances are evaluated through laboratory tests, but the mechanical constraints, the geometry and the loading conditions may strongly differ from the in situ conditions leading to incorrect estimations of the strength of the mesh. In this work, the discrete element method is used to simulate a wire mesh. After validation of the numerical mesh model against experimental data, the punching behaviour of an anchored mesh panel is investigated in order to obtain a more realistic characterization of the mesh mechanical response in field conditions. The dimension of the punching element, its position, the anchor plate size and the anchor spacing are varied, providing analytical relationships able to predict the panel response in different loading conditions. Furthermore, the mesh panel aspect ratio is analysed showing the existence of an optimal value. The results of this study can provide useful information to practitioners for designing secured drapery systems, as well as for the assessment of their safety conditions.

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