A Finite Element Model for Compressive Ice Loads Based on a Mohr-Coulomb Material and the Node Splitting Technique

This paper presents a finite element model for the simulation of ice-structure interaction problems, which are dominated by crushing at low and medium confinement ratios. The failure mode of ice depends significantly on the strain rate. At very low impact velocities the ice behaves ductile, whereas at high velocities the ice reacts in brittle mode. This paper focuses on the brittle mode, which is the dominating mode for ship-ice interactions. A multitude of numerical approaches for the simulation of ice can be found in the literature. Nevertheless, the literature approaches do not seem suitable for the simulation of continuous ice-structure interaction processes at low and medium confinement ratios in brittle mode. Therefore, this paper seeks to simulate the ice-structure interaction with the FE method. To preserve mass and energy as much as possible, the node splitting technique is applied, instead of the often used element erosion technique. The intention of the presented model is not to reproduce individual cracks with high accuracy, because this is not possible with a reasonable element size, due to the large number of crack fronts forming during the ice-structure interaction process. The objective of the here introduced Mohr-Coulomb Nodal Split (MCNS) model is to represent the essential material behavior of ice in a efficient formulation. To validate the findings of the model, the simulated maximum ice forces and contact pressures are compared with experiments.

Modelling of High Velocity Impact on Concrete Structures Using a Rate-Dependent Plastic-Damage Microplane Approach at Finite Strains

Concrete is known as a quasi-brittle material and the microplane model has been proven to be a powerful method to describe its constitutive features. For some dynamic cases, however, numerous microplane models used successfully at small strains are not sufficient to predict the nonlinear behaviour of damaged concrete due to large deformations. In this contribution at hand, a combined plasticity-damage microplane model extended to the finite strain framework is formulated and regularised using implicit gradient enhancement to achieve mesh insensitivity and to obtain more stable finite element solutions. A modified smooth three surface Drucker–Prager yield function with caps is introduced within the compression-tension split. Moreover, a viscoplastic consistency formulation is implemented to deliver rate dependency at dynamic cases. In case of penetration into concrete materials, the proposed model is equipped with an element erosion procedure to yield a better approximation of crack patterns. Numerical examples on impact cases are performed to challenge the capability of the newly proposed model to existing experimental data.

Investigation of the Effect of Inhomogeneous Material on the Fracture Mechanisms of Bamboo by Finite Element Method

Bamboo is a remarkably strong and sustainable material available for construction. It exhibits optimized mechanical characteristics based on a hollow-inhomogeneous structure which also affects its fracture behavior. In this study, the aim is to investigate the effect of material composition and geometrical attributes on the fracture mechanisms of bamboo in various modes of loading by the finite element method. In the first part of the investigation, the optimized transverse isotropy of bamboo to resist transverse deformation was numerically determined to represent its noticeable orthotropic characteristics which prevail in the axial direction. In the second part of this study, a numerical investigation of fracture mechanisms in four fundamental modes of loading, namely bending, compression, torsion, and shear, were conducted by considering the failure criterion of maximum principal strain. A crack initiation stage was simulated and compared by implementing an element erosion technique. Results showed that the characteristics of bamboo’s crack initiation differed greatly from solid geometry and homogeneous material-type models. Splitting patterns, which were discerned in bending and shear modes, differed in terms of location and occurred in the outside-center position and inside-lowermost position of the culm, respectively. The results of this study can be useful in order to achieve optimized strength in bamboo-inspired bionic designs.

Treatment of Bending Deformations in Maritime Crash Analyses

This paper focuses on the bending deformation experienced by metallic materials and its characterization during the crash analysis of ship structures. These analyses are conducted with plane stress shell elements for computational reasons. The inherent nature of through thickness plane stress poses restrictions on how the bending associated stress and strain distribution are resolved. Namely, fracture criteria used in crash analysis account bending damage accumulation differently. Most criteria do not specifically address the issue as element erosion is activated once all through thickness integration points have reached the predefined failure condition. However, when elements are bent, material layers (top and bottom) display strong variations in mechanical field variables that are commonly used to control element deletion. Therefore, the focus of current analyses is to show how different fracture criteria account bending deformation and how sensitive are the results depending on the chosen element size.

Numerical Simulation on Cutting and Fracturing of Rock Plate with One Side Fixed and Three Sides Free

Conical pick is a rock cutting tool that is commonly used in roadway driving. Pick wear frequently happens in the course of breaking hard rock. The current paper shows a new method to solve the problem of pick wear. The rock is preslit with the saw blade and then broken by the conical pick. In order to study the cutting force and features of rock fragment, the numerical model is built between rock plate and conical pick. And element erosion is added in the code to obtain the fracture result. The rock plate cutting testbed is made to testify the correctness of numerical simulation. The width, height, and thickness of the rock plate, as well as cutting angle and cutting position, which influence cutting force and rock fracture are studied. According to the results, there exist exponential relationships between cutting force and width and thickness of rock plate. In addition, a linear relationship is found between the cutting force and the height of rock plate. Furthermore, both the cutting angle and cutting depth have an influence on cutting force. In particular, the factors of thickness and height or rock plate have the most obvious influence on cutting force. It is proven that what is beneficial to rock fracture is higher height and lower thickness of rock plate.

Aluminium plates with pre-formed slits subjected to blast loading

The dynamic response of thin, perforated aluminium plates subjected to blast loading was studied both experimentally and numerically. Two different blast intensities were used and the plates were pre-cut with four horizontal and vertical slits prior to testing. The applied AA6016-T4 plates had an exposed area of 0.3 m x 0.3 m and a thickness of 1.5 mm. Special focus was placed on the dynamic response and failure characteristics of the plates. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted in three different directions to determine the material behaviour and material parameters were found by inverse modelling using the optimization tool LSOPT. Finally, numerical simulations were performed in the finite element code Abaqus/Explicit where the plates were uniformly loaded with time-dependent pressure histories from similar tests on massive plates. The material behaviour was assumed to follow the J2 flow theory of plasticity and an uncoupled damage model was used in combination with element erosion to predict material failure. The numerical results were in good agreement with the experimental observations and predicted both the dynamic response and the complete tearing of the centre part of the plates.

Finite-Element and Residual Stress Analysis of Self-Pierce Riveting in Dissimilar Metal Sheets

The residual stress profile in dissimilar metal sheets joined by a self-piercing rivet is simulated and compared to experimental measurements. Simulation of joining aluminum alloy 6111-T4 and steel HSLA340 sheets by self-piercing riveting (SPR) is performed using a two-dimensional axisymmetric model with an internal state variable (ISV) plasticity material model. Strain rate and temperature dependent deformation of the base materials is described by the ISV material model and calibrated with experimental data. Using the LS-DYNA simulation package, an element erosion technique is adopted in an explicit analysis of the separation of the upper sheet with maximum shear strain failure criterion. An explicit analysis with dynamic relaxation technique was then used for springback and cooling down analysis following the riveting simulation. The residual stress profile of SPR experimental joint with same configuration is characterized using neutron diffraction, and good agreement was found between the simulation and residual stress measurements.

Improved Element Erosion Function for Concrete-Like Materials with the SPH Method

The subject of the paper is a description of a simple test from the field of terminal ballistics and the handling of issues arising during its simulation using the numerical techniques of the finite element method. With regard to the possible excessive reshaping of the finite element mesh there is a danger that problems will arise such as the locking of elements or the appearance of negative volumes. It is often necessary to introduce numerical extensions so that the simulations can be carried out at all. When examining local damage to structures, such as the penetration of the outer shell or its perforation, it is almost essential to introduce the numerical erosion of elements into the simulations. However, when using numerical erosion, the dissipation of matter and energy from the computational model occurs in the mathematical background to the calculation. It is a phenomenon which can reveal itself in the final result when a discrepancy appears between the simulations and the experiments. This issue can be solved by transforming the eroded elements into smoothed particle hydrodynamics particles. These newly created particles can then assume the characteristics of the original elements and preserve the matter and energy of the numerical model.

A Computational Study of Fracture in the Calcaneus Under Variable Impact Conditions

This preliminary study aims to computationally model and study the fracture patterns in the human calcaneus during variable impact loading conditions. A finite element model of the foot and ankle is used to understand the effect of loading rates and orientation of the foot on fracture patterns. Simulations are carried out by applying varying impact velocities of steel plate to the foot & ankle model in accordance with data regarding underbody blasts. These impact velocities are applied to reach a peak in 1.5 ms. Fracture of bone is represented using the plastic kinematic constitutive model with element erosion method, where elements are removed from the simulation after an inelastic failure strain is exceeded. The simulations last for 5 ms to observe the extent of fracture in the calcaneus. Following simulations, the resulting fracture patterns are compared to available images from experimental impact tests to qualitatively assess the simufutions. A mesh convergence study is performed to determine the level of refinement of mesh necessary to represent this problem. The mesh appears to converge at the refinement level of the medium coarse mesh. The effect of impact velocities on fracture is studied on unjlexed and flexed foot models. At lower velocities, fracture is observed in the form of a single continuous crack, and a pronounced branched type of network is observed at higher velocities. Finally, variation in fracture networks due to variability in strength of the bone is studied. For lower values of failure strain, significantly larger and branched networks of fracture are observed.