R. Lamloumi^1,2, L. Hassini¹, G. L. Lecomte-Nana², M. A. Elcafsi¹, D. Smith²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.43, No.3, pp. 137-152, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.043.137

Abstract A mathematical model was developed to simulate in 2D the spatiotemporal evolution of the moisture content, the temperature and the mechanical stress within a deformable and saturated product during convective drying. A comprehensive hydro-thermal model had been merged with a Maxwell model with two branches, assuming a viscoelastic material, a plane deformation and an isotropic hydric-shrinkage of the sample. A long sample of clay mixture with a square section was chosen as an application case. The transport and equilibrium properties of the product required for the modeling were determined from previous experiments which were independent of the drying trials. In… More >

Ananthalakshmi K. Iyer¹, A. Rama Chra Murthy², Smitha Gopinath², Nagesh R. Iyer³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.42, No.3, pp. 227-244, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.042.227

Abstract A non-linear fracture mechanics based approach is proposed to depict a typical fracture mechanism from initiation to growth, eventually leading to failure. This concept is developed for a lightly reinforced beam in flexure. The proposed model integrates the existing methodology of a Stress Intensity Factor equilibrium equation with the bridging forces developed in concrete cover and rebar. The model and solution algorithm outlined presents an elaborate understanding of the mechanism involved and is significant in predicting the behaviour of flexural members. The analysis is performed using MATLAB programming. The proposed approach ensures a maximum tolerable crack length and crack width… More >

K.B. Mustapha ^1,2

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.42, No.2, pp. 141-174, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.042.141

Abstract This study investigates the sensitivity of the flexural response of a ribconnected system of coupled micro-panels with traction-free surfaces. Idealized as a two-dimensional elastic continuum with a finite transverse stiffness, each micropanels’ behavior is examined within the framework of the biharmonic mathematical model derived from the higher-order, size-dependent strain energy formulation. The model incorporates the material length scale, which bears an associative relationship with the underlying polymer’s averaged Frank elastic constant. Upper estimates of the eigenvalue of the system, under fully clamped edges and simplysupported edges, are determined by the Rayleigh method. The adopted theory for the micro-panel’s behavior takes… More >

M. Negin¹, S. D. Akbarov^2,3, M. E. Erguven¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.42, No.1, pp. 25-62, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.042.025

Abstract Within the framework of the piecewise homogeneous body model the influence of the shear-spring type imperfect contact conditions on the dispersion relation of the generalized Rayleigh waves in the system consisting of the initially stressed covering layer and initially stressed half plane is investigated. The second version of the small initial deformation theory of the three-dimensional linearized theory of elastic waves in initially stressed bodies is applied and the elasticity relations of the materials of the constituents are described by the Murnaghan potential. The magnitude of the imperfectness of the contact conditions is estimated through the shear-spring type parameter. Consequently,… More >

Leiting Dong^1,2, Ahmed S. El-Gizawy³, Khalid A. Juhany³, Satya N. Atluri²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.41, No.3, pp. 163-192, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.041.163

Abstract Following previous work of [Dong, El-Gizawy, Juhany, Atluri (2014)], a simple locking-alleviated 3D 8-node mixed-collocation C0 finite element (denoted as CEH8) is developed in this study, for the modeling of functionally-graded or laminated thick-section composite plates and shells, without using higher-order or layer-wise zig-zag plate and shell theories which are widely popularized in the current literature. The present C0 element independently assumes an 18-parameter linearly-varying Cartesian strain field. The independently assumed Cartesian strains are related to the Cartesian strains derived from mesh-based Cartesian displacement interpolations, by exactly enforcing 18 pre-defined constraints at 18 pre-selected collocation points. The constraints are rationally… More >

Chih-Ping Wu^1,2, Ruei-Yong Jiang¹, Sheng-Yao Tu¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.41, No.2, pp. 111-152, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.041.111

Abstract Exact three-dimensional stability and free vibration analyses of simply-supported, multilayered functionally graded material (FGM) circular hollow cylinders and laminated composite ones under axial compression are presented. The material properties of each FGM layer are assumed to obey a power-law distribution of the volume fractions of constituents through the thickness coordinate. The Pagano method, which is based on the principle of virtual displacement and is conventionally used for the analysis of laminated composite structures, is modified to be feasible for the study of multilayered FGM cylinders, in which Reissner's mixed variational theorem, the successive approximation and transfer matrix methods, and the… More >

Leiting Dong¹, Ahmed S. El-Gizawy², Khalid A. Juhany², Satya N. Atluri³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 49-78, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.040.049

Abstract In this study, a simple 4-node locking-alleviated mixed finite element (denoted as CEQ4) is developed, for the modeling of homogeneous or functionally graded or laminated thick-section composite beam structures, without using higher-order (in the thickness direction) or layer-wise zig-zag theories of composite laminates which are widely popularized in current literature. Following the work of [Dong and Atluri (2011)], the present element independently assumes a 5-parameter linearly-varying Cartesian strain field. The independently assumed Cartesian strains are related to the Cartesian strains derived from mesh-based Cartesian displacement interpolations, by exactly enforcing 5 pre-defined constraints at 5 pre-selected collocation points. The constraints are… More >

Da-Guang Zhang^1,*, Hao-Miao Zhou¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.40, No.1, pp. 21-34, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.040.021

Abstract Nonlinear symmetric free vibration analyses are first presented for super elliptical isotropic thin plates with simply supported edge and clamped edge based on classical plate theory. Approximate solutions of super elliptical thin plates are obtained by Ritz method, and the validity can be confirmed by comparison with related researchers’ results. Numerical results confirm that the characteristics of nonlinear vibration behaviors are significantly influenced by different boundary conditions, vibration amplitudes, the power of the super ellipse, as well as ratio of major to minor axis. More >

J. Aubry¹, P. Navarro¹, S. Marguet¹, J.-F. Ferrero¹, O. Dorival², L. Sohier³, J.-Y. Cognard³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.39, No.1, pp. 21-47, 2014, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2014.039.021

Abstract In this paper a numerical model dedicated to the simulation of the mechanical behaviour of polymeric Rohacell foams is presented. The finite elements model is developed at the scale of the microstructure idealized by a representative unit cell: the truncated octahedron. Observations made on micrographs of Rohacell lead to mesh this representative unit cell as a lattice of beam elements. Each beam is assigned a brittle linear elastic mechanical behaviour in tension and an elastoplastic behaviour in compression. The plasticity in compression is introduced as a way to mimic the buckling of the edges of the cells observed in experimental… More >

E. Ferretti¹

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.36, No.3, pp. 293-322, 2013, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2013.036.293

Abstract The Cell Method is applied in order to model the debonding mechanism in ceramic floor tiles subjected to positive thermal variation. The causes of thermal debonding, very usual in radiant heat floors, have not been fully clarified at the moment. There exist only a few simplified analytical approaches that assimilate this problem to an eccentric tile compression, but these approaches introduce axial forces that, in reality, do not exist. In our work we have abandoned the simplified closed form solution in favor of a numerical solution, which models the interaction between tiles and sub-base more realistically, when the positive thermal… More >