Syh-Tsang Jenq^1,2, Yuen-Sheng Chiu²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 33-58, 2009, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2009.011.033

Abstract Current work studies the transient hydroplaning behavior of 200 kPa inflated pneumatic radial tires with various types of tread patterns. Tires were numerically loaded with a quarter car weight of 4 kN, and then accelerated from rest rolling over a water film with a thickness of 5, 10 and 15 mm on top of a flat pavement. Tire structure is composed of outer rubber tread and inner fiber reinforcing composite layers. The Mooney-Rivlin constitutive law and the classical laminated theory (CLT) were, respectively, used to describe the mechanical behavior of rubber material and composite reinforcing… More >

Busso CA

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.77, pp. 327-350, 2008, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2008.77.327

Abstract Advantages, disadvantages and precautions of using the pressure chamber and thermocouple psychrometers for determinations of plant water potential, and osmotic and turgor pressures are discussed. Comparison of results obtained with both instruments will be influenced by the sampling technique, consistency in both sampling and measurement procedures, and errors inherent to the method itself. In-situ readings of either plant or soil water potential with thermocouple psychrometers are perhaps worthless, or worse (they may even be misleading). Use of thermocouple psychrometers is strictly limited to the laboratory where isothermal conditions can be obtained. The method to determine the More >

S. Wong, Y. Shie

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.36, No.2, pp. 97-118, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.036.097

Abstract In this paper, we propose a Galerkin-based smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) formulation with moving least-squares meshless approximation, applied to solid mechanics and large deformation. Our method is truly meshless and based on Lagrangian kernel formulation and stabilized nodal integration. The performance of the methodology proposed is tested through various simulations, demonstrating the attractive ability of particle methods to handle severe distortions and complex phenomena. More >

H. Nguyen-Van¹, N.Mai-Duy¹, T. Tran-Cong¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.36, No.1, pp. 65-96, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.036.065

Abstract A novel node-based smoothing element for triangular and quadrilateral meshes is presented for static analysis of planar piezoelectric structures. In contrast to the smoothed finite element formulation that was based on sub-cells within an original quadrilateral element, this new method transforms a general original finite element mesh into a mesh of new smoothing cells individually associated with a single node which is termed as node-based elements. The displacement fields of the element are approximated by the linear interpolation functions of the original mesh while the approximations of mechanical strains and electric potential fields are normalized More >

X.Y. Cui^1,2, G. R. Liu^2,3, G. Y. Li^1,4, G. Zheng¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.38, No.3, pp. 217-230, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.038.217

Abstract In this paper, a gradient smoothed formulation is proposed to deal with a fourth-order differential equation of Bernoulli-Euler beam problems for static and dynamic analysis. Through the smoothing operation, the C¹ continuity requirement for fourth-order boundary value and initial value problems can be easily relaxed, and C⁰ interpolating function can be employed to solve C¹ problems. In present thin beam problems, linear shape functions are employed to approximate the displacement field, and smoothing domains are further formed for computing the smoothed curvature and bending moment field. Numerical examples indicate that very accurate results can be yielded when More >

M. Steffen¹, P.C. Wallstedt², J.E. Guilkey^2,3, R.M. Kirby¹, M. Berzins¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 107-128, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.031.107

Abstract The Material Point Method (MPM) has shown itself to be a powerful tool in the simulation of large deformation problems, especially those involving complex geometries and contact where typical finite element type methods frequently fail. While these large complex problems lead to some impressive simulations and solutions, there has been a lack of basic analysis characterizing the errors present in the method, even on the simplest of problems. The large number of choices one has when implementing the method, such as the choice of basis functions and boundary treatments, further complicates this error analysis.\newline In More >

X.Y. Cui^1,2, G. R. Liu^2,3, G. Y. Li¹, X. Zhao², T.T. Nguyen², G.Y. Sun¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 109-126, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.028.109

Abstract A smoothed finite element method (SFEM) is presented to analyze linear and geometrically nonlinear problems of plates and shells using bilinear quadrilateral elements. The formulation is based on the first order shear deformation theory. In the present SFEM, the elements are further divided into smoothing cells to perform strain smoothing operation, and the strain energy in each smoothing cell is expressed as an explicit form of the smoothed strain. The effect of the number of divisions of smoothing cells in elements is investigated in detail. It is found that using three smoothing cells for bending More >

H. Nguyen-Van¹, N. Mai-Duy², T. Tran-Cong³

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.23, No.3, pp. 209-222, 2008, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2008.023.209

Abstract This paper reports a study of linear elastic analysis of two-dimensional piezoelectric structures using a smoothed four-node piezoelectric element. The element is built by incorporating the strain smoothing method of mesh-free conforming nodal integration into the standard four-node quadrilateral piezoelectric finite element. The approximations of mechanical strains and electric potential fields are normalized using a constant smoothing function. This allows the field gradients to be directly computed from shape functions. No mapping or coordinate transformation is necessary so that the element can be used in arbitrary shapes. Through several examples, the simplicity, efficiency and reliability More >

Christopher J. Hunter^∗,†, Sophia Bianchi^*, Phil Cheng^‡, Ken Muldrew^∗,‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.4, No.4, pp. 227-238, 2007, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2007.004.227

Abstract The nucleus pulposi of many species contain residual cells from the embryonic notochord, which exhibit a very unusual appearance (large vacuoles occupying ~80% of the cell volume, surrounded by an actin cytoskeleton). While the vacuoles have been qualitatively described, their composition and function has remained elusive. Given that these cells are believed to generate and experience significant osmotic pressures in both the notochord and intervertebral disc, we hypothesized that the vacuoles may serve as osmoregulatory organelles. Using both experimental and theoretical means, we demonstrated that the vacuoles contain a low-osmolality solution, generated via ion pumps More >

Anat Ratnovsky^∗,†, Matthew Mellema^*, Steven S. An^∗,‡, Jeffrey J. Fredberg^*, Stephanie A. Shore^*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.4, No.3, pp. 143-158, 2007, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2007.004.143

Abstract Obesity is a risk factor for asthma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether metformin, an agent used in the treatment of an obesity-related condition (type II diabetes), might have therapeutic potential for modifying the effects of obesity on airway smooth muscle (ASM) function. Metformin acts via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular sensor of energy status. In cultured murine ASM cells, metformin (0.2--2 mM) caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation induced by PDGF (10^-8 M) and serotonin (10^-4 M). Another AMPK activator, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-ß-D-riboruranoside (AICAR), also inhibited PDGF-induced proliferation. Furthermore, cells More >