A.Z. Lorbiecka¹, B. Šarler^1,2

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 69-104, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.018.069

Abstract The aim of this paper is simulation of thermally induced liquid-solid dendritic growth in two dimensions by a coupled deterministic continuum mechanics heat transfer model and a stochastic localized phase change kinetics model that takes into account the undercooling, curvature, kinetic and thermodynamic anisotropy. The stochastic model receives temperature information from the deterministic model and the deterministic model receives the solid fraction information from the stochastic model. The heat transfer model is solved on a regular grid by the standard explicit Finite Difference Method (FDM). The phase-change kinetics model is solved by the classical Cellular Automata (CA) approach and a… More >

C. Jiang¹, Y.C. Bai¹, X. Han^1,2, H.M. Ning¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 21-42, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.018.021

Abstract In this paper, an efficient interval optimization method based on a reliability-based possibility degree of interval (RPDI) is suggested for the design of uncertain structures. A general nonlinear interval optimization problem is studied in which the objective function and constraints are both nonlinear and uncertain. Through an interval order relation and a reliability-based possibility degree of interval, the uncertain optimization problem is transformed into a deterministic one. A sequence of approximate optimization problems are constructed based on the linear approximation technique. Each approximate optimization problem can be changed to a traditional linear programming problem, which can be easily solved by… More >

J. Wang¹, D. C. C. Lam²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 215-232, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.017.215

Abstract Selected elastic moduli of nanocomposites are higher than the elastic moduli of microcomposites. Molecular immobilization and crystallization at the interfaces had been proposed as potential causes, but studies suggested that these effects are minor and cannot be used to explain the magnitude observed in nanocomposites with >3nm particles. Alternately, molecular simulation of polymer deformation showed that rotation gradients can lead to additional molecular rotations and stiffen the matrix. The stiffening is characterized by the nanostiffening material parameter, l2. In this investigation, an analytical expression for nanostiffening in nanocomposites was developed using finite element analysis. The nanostiffening in nanocomposites was determined… More >

O. U. Ojeda¹ and T. Çagınˇ ¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.16, No.2, pp. 127-174, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.016.127

Abstract The large discrepancy in length and time scales at which characteristic processes of energetic materials are of relevance pose a major challenge for current simulation techniques. We present a systematic study of crystalline energetic materials of different sensitivity and analyze their properties at different theoretical levels. Information like equilibrium structures, vibrational frequencies, conformational rearrangement and mechanical properties like stiffness and elastic properties can be calculated within the density functional theory (DFT) using different levels of approximations. Dynamical properties are obtained by computations using molecular dynamics at finite temperatures through the use of classical force fields. Effect of defects on structure… More >

J. Zidek¹ , J. Kucera¹, J. Jancar¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 51-74, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.016.051

Abstract It has been shown that in particulate filled composites, a cross-property relationship exists between various transport properties (e.g., electrical conductivity, mechanical reinforcement, gas permeation) of a macroscale composite. Thus, knowledge of the effective mechanical properties of a composite immediately places bounds on its electrical conductivity or gas permeation behavior. Using these bounds allows us to predict the phase dispersion state that optimizes one or multiple properties of the composite and, thus, the knowledge of how spatial arrangement of filler particles at their given content affects physical properties of the composite can be valuable. In this paper, a new numerical model… More >

M. Vogler¹, G. Ernst¹, R. Rolfes¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 25-50, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.016.025

Abstract In this article, a constitutive formulation of a transversely-isotropic material and failure model for fiber-reinforced polymers is presented comprising pre-failure material nonlinearities, a novel invariant based quadratic failure criterion (IQC) as well as post failure material softening. The failure surface of the IQ criterion is assumed to take the influence of triaxiality on fracture into account. Further, a distinction between fiber failure and inter-fiber failure is conducted. Material softening is governed by a fracture energy formulation and the introduction of an internal length. The constitutive model is implemented into a programming user interface of the commercial finite element program Abaqus.… More >

F.Y.Li^1,2, G.Y.Li¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 199-220, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.015.199

Abstract In this paper, an uncertain multi-objective optimization method is suggested to deal with crashworthiness design problem of vehicle, in which the uncertainties of the parameters are described by intervals. Considering both lightweight and safety performance, structural weight and peak acceleration are selected as objectives. The occupant distance is treated as constraint. Based on interval number programming method, the uncertain optimization problem is transformed into a deterministic optimization problem. The approximation models are constructed for objective functions and constraint based on Latin Hypercube Design (LHD). Thus, the interval number programming method is combined with the approximation model to solve the uncertain… More >

Hamad F. Al-Harbi¹, Marko Knezevic^1,2, Surya R. Kalidindi^1,3

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 153-172, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.015.153

Abstract In recent work, we have demonstrated the viability and computational advantages of DFT-based spectral databases for facilitating crystal plasticity solutions in face-centered cubic (fcc) metals subjected to arbitrary deformation paths. In this paper, we extend and validate the application of these novel ideas to body-centered cubic (bcc) metals that exhibit a much larger number of potential slip systems. It was observed that the databases for the bcc metals with a larger number of slip systems were more compact compared to those obtained previously for fcc metals with a smaller number of slip systems. Furthermore, we demonstrate in this paper that… More >

Oliver K. Johnson¹, Calvin J. Gardner¹, David T. Fullwood¹, Brent L.Adams¹, Nathan Hansen², George Hansen²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 87-112, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.015.087

Abstract A novel nickel nanostrand-silicone composite material at an optimized 15 vol% filler concentration demonstrates a dramatic piezoresistive effect with a negative gauge factor (ratio of percent change in resistivity to strain). The composite volume resistivity decreases in excess of three orders of magnitude at a 60% strain. The piezoresistivity does decrease slightly as a function of cycles, but not significantly as a function of time. The material's resistivity is also temperature dependent, once again with a negative dependence.
The evidence indicates that nickel strands are physically separated by matrix material even at high volume fractions, and points to a charge… More >

Rasa Kazakevičiũtè-Makovska¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.15, No.1, pp. 27-44, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2010.015.027

Abstract The phenomenon of stress softening observed in the cyclic inflation of spherical balloons or membranes is quantitatively and qualitatively examined. A new measure of the stress softening extent is proposed which correctly captures the main feature of this phenomenon. This measure of the stress softening is related to the relevant response functions in the constitutive models proposed in the literature to describe this effect. Using these relationships, the predictive capability of the theoretical models is examined. It is shown that only those theoretical models which admit a non-monotone character of the stress softening can properly describe this phenomenon. More >