A four-node MITC finite element for magneto-electro-elastic multilayered plates

An isoparametric four-node finite element for multilayered magneto-electro-elastic plates analysis is presented. It is based on an equivalent single-layer model, which assumes the first order shear deformation theory and quasi-static behavior for the electric and magnetic fields. First, the electro-magnetic state of the plate is determined in terms of the mechanical primary variables, namely the generalized displacements, by solving the strong form of the magneto-electric governing equations coupled with the electro-magnetic interface continuity conditions and the external boundary conditions. In turn, this result is used into the layers constitutive law to infer the equivalent single-layer…

Slotted Blades Savonius Wind Turbine Analysis by CFD

In this paper a new bucket configuration for a Savonius wind generator is proposed. Numerical analyses are performed to estimate the performances of the proposed configuration by means of the commercial code COMSOL Multiphysics® with respect to Savonius wind turbine with overlap only. Parametric analyses are performed, for a fixed overlap ratio, by varying the slot position; the results show that for slot positioned near the blade root, the Savonius rotor improves performances at low tip speed ratio, evidencing a better starting torque. This circumstance is confirmed by static analyses performed on the slotted blades in order to investigate the starting characteristic of the proposed Savoni…

BEM analysis of a piezoelectric structural health monitoring system for delamination detection

In the present work a piezoelectric based structural health monitoring (SHM) system is analyzed with the aim of assessing the ability of the piezoelectric patch to detect both edge and embedded delaminations proper of flange-skin composite laminated structures. he boundary element model is developed for piezoelectric solids and is implemented by taking advantage of the multidomain technique to model laminated and cracked configurations. A non-linear spring model interface is then implemented in conjunction with an iterative procedure allowing for the simulation of the finite stiffness of the bonding layers as well as of the non-penetration condition of the delamination surfaces. he dynamic …

Numerical Analysis of Piezoelectric Active Repair in the Presence of Frictional Contact Conditions

The increasing development of smart materials, such as piezoelectric and shape memory alloys, has opened new opportunities for improving repair techniques. Particularly, active repairs, based on the converse piezoelectric effect, can increase the life of a structure by reducing the crack opening. A deep characterization of the electromechanical behavior of delaminated composite structures, actively repaired by piezoelectric patches, can be achieved by considering the adhesive layer between the host structure and the repair and by taking into account the frictional contact between the crack surfaces. In this paper, Boundary Element (BE) analyses performed on delaminated composite structures …

Boundary elements analysis of adhesively bonded piezoelectric active repair

Abstract This paper presents the analysis of active piezoelectric patches for cracked structures by the boundary element method. A two-dimensional boundary integral formulation based on the multidomain technique is used to model cracks and to assemble the multi-layered piezoelectric patches to the host damaged structures. The fracture mechanics behavior of the repaired structures is analyzed for both perfect and imperfect interface between patches and host beams. The imperfect interface, representing the adhesive between two different layers, is modeled by using a “spring model” that involves linear relationships between the interface tractions, in normal and tangential directions, and the …

Analytical solution for the transient response of symmetric magnetoelectric laminated beams

In this paper an analytical solution is presented for the forced vibration problem of magnetoelectric symmetric laminated beams. In deriving the mathematical model the Timoshenko’s beam theory is used and the electric and magnetic fields are assumed to be quasi-static. The model is written for a magnetoelectric sensing device by applying proper magnetoelectric boundary conditions on the beam top and bottom surfaces. The model highlights that the magneto-electro-mechanical couplings affect the bending stiffness and that the magnetoelectric inputs can be treated as equivalent bending moments. Forced vibration analyses are presented to assess the reliability of the solution.

Nonlocal analytical solution for multilayered composite shells

Abstract In this work, an advanced nonlocal analytical formulation for the static analysis of composite shell structures is proposed. The governing equations are derived from the Principle of Virtual Displacement (PVD) [1] and are solved by the use of the Navier solution [2]. Layer-Wise models related to linear up to fourth order variations of the unknown variables in the thickness direction are treated. The modelization of multilayered structure materials takes into account the composite material properties and the nonlocal behavior based on the work of Eringen [3]. In order to take into account the nonlocality of the material, the Eringen’s stress-gradient model is employed [4]. The novel…

An Aircraft Pilot Workload Sensing System

The workload evaluation is of great importance for human error avoidance training, particularly in the use of complex systems that requires different and concurrent activities. The excessive workload harms human performance even with adverse outcomes. In the aviation field, certain flight maneuvers, such as take-off and landing, are characterized by great attention and workload demand to the pilot. Thus, a system capable of measuring pilots’ workload levels during flight could be beneficial to increase pilots’ performance. This work aims to study the initial feasibility of a device called Cockpit Pilot Warning System that monitors the pilot workload level during flight. With this aim, an ex…

On the dynamic behavior of piezoelectric active repair by the boundary element method

The dynamic behavior of piezoelectric active repair bonded on cracked structures is analyzed in this article. The boundary element code used to perform the simulations is implemented in the framework of piezoelectricity in order to model the coupling between the elastic and the electric fields, which represents the most important feature of piezoelectric media. The fracture mechanics problem, i.e. the crack, as well as the bonding layer between the host structure and the active patch is modeled by means of the multidomain technique provided with an interface spring model. More particularly, the spring interface model allows considering the bonding layer as a zero-thickness elastic ply char…

A smart composite-piezoelectric one-dimensional finite element model for vibration damping analysis

A one-dimensional finite element method for generally layered smart beams is presented in this paper. The model implements the first-order shear deformation beam theory and is based on the preliminary analytical condensation of the electric state to the mechanical state. This allows us to establish an effective mechanical beam kinematically equivalent to the original smart beam including the effects of electro-elastic couplings. The contributions of the external electric loads are included in both the equivalent stiffness properties and the equivalent mechanical boundary conditions. Hermite shape functions, which depend on parameters representative of the staking sequence through the equiv…

A Strain Sensing Structural Health Monitoring System for Delaminated Composite Structures

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for composite materials is becoming a primary task due to their extended use in safety critical applications. Different methods, based on the use of piezoelectric transducers as well as of fiber optics, has been successfully proposed to detect and monitor damage in composite structural components with particular attention focused on delamination cracks.In the present paper a Structural Health Monitoring model, based on the use of piezoelectric sensors, already proposed by the authors for isotropic damaged components, is extended to delaminated composite structures. The dynamic behavior of the host damaged structure and the bonded piezoelectric sensors is m…

Numerical analysis of a piezoelectric structural health monitoring system for composite flange-skin delamination detection

Abstract In this paper, a piezoelectric based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system is proposed to detect skin/stiffener debonding and delamination cracks proper of laminated composite structures. The SHM system is analyzed by means of a boundary element code implemented in the framework of piezoelectricity. The multidomain technique, coupled with an interface spring model, is used to model laminated composite structures as well as the bonding between the host delaminated structure and the piezoelectric sensor. Static sensitivity analyses are firstly performed on a drop-ply delaminated structure in order to identify a suitable configuration for the sensor. Then, the dynamic electromecha…

Application of the 3-D boundary element method to delaminated composite structures

A three-dimensional boundary element model for anisotropic solids is presented to study the fracture mechanics behavior of delaminated composite structures. The multi-domain technique is implemented to model the layered configurations and the cracks occurring at bi-material interface. The Modified Crack Closure Integral technique is implemented to characterize the fracture mechanics behavior of delaminations in terms of the total energy release rate and mode mix phase angles. Validating analyses, performed on different delaminated configurations, have shown the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Moreover, some original results are presented to investigate the effects of the stacking se…

Nonlinear model based particle swarm optimization of PID shimmy damping control

The present study aims to investigate the shimmy stability behavior of a single wheeled nose landing gear system. The system is supposed to be equipped with an electromechanical actuator capable to control the shimmy vibrations. A Proportional-Integrative-Derivative (PID) controller, tuned by using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) procedure, is here proposed to actively damp the shimmy vibration. Time-history results for some test cases are reported and commented. Stochastic analysis is last presented to assess the robustness of the control system.

Nonlinear Analysis of a Reinforced Panel undergoing Large Deflection

Modal and Structural FEM Analysis of a 50 ft Pleasure Yacht

In this paper a structural Finite Element analysis of a 50 ft pleasure vessel is presented. The study is performed under different loads conditions: modal analyses have been done in order to find the natural frequencies of the vessel, structural analyses to verify the strength of the vessel to design loads. The design loads for the vessel considered are computed according to RINA rules for the construction and classification of pleasure vessels [1]. Two different composites are used for the lamination: one is a monolithic sequence of short fibre and balanced glass lamina, used for the bottom of the vessel and for structural reinforcements, the other is a sandwich made of glass fibre composi…

Forced vibration analysis of magneto-electro-elastic beam

Analytical solution for the magneto-electro-elastic bimorph beam forced vibrations problem

Based on the Timoshenko beam theory and on the assumption that the electric and magnetic fields can be treated as steady, since elastic waves propagate very slowly with respect to electromagnetic ones, a general analytical solution for the transient analysis of a magneto-electro-elastic bimorph beam is obtained. General magneto-electric boundary conditions can be applied on the top and bottom surfaces of the beam, allowing us to study the response of the bilayer structure to electromagnetic stimuli. The model reveals that the magneto-electric loads enter the solution as an equivalent external bending moment per unit length and as time-dependent mechanical boundary conditions through the def…

Structural Health Monitoring of Cracked Beam by the Dual Reciprocity Boundary Element Method

In this paper a 2D boundary element model is used to characterize the transient response of a piezoelectric based structural health monitoring system for cracked beam. The BE model is written for piezoelectric non-homogeneous problem employing generalized displacements. The dual reciprocity method is used to write the mass matrix in terms of boundary parameters only. The multidomain boundary element technique is implemented to model non-homogeneous and cracked configuration, unilateral interface conditions are also considered to prevent the physical inconsistence of the overlapping between interface nodes belonging to the crack surfaces. To assess the reliability and the effectiveness of th…

Analytical solution for composite layered beam subjected to uniformly distributed load

ABSTRACTThe article presents an analytical theory for multilayered composite beams subjected to transverse uniformly distributed loads. The formulation is based on a layerwise model characterized by third-order approximation of the axial displacements and fourth-order approximation of the transverse displacements. The layerwise kinematical model is rewritten in terms of generalized variables. The beam equilibrium equations, expressed in terms of stress resultant, allow writing the boundary value governing problem. The layerwise fields are obtained by postprocessing steps. The main advantage is to ensure the accuracy level associated to the layerwise formulations preserving the computational…

Analysis of composite laminates with imperfect bonding conditions

A multidomain boundary integral formulation for the analysis of composite laminates with imperfect interlaminar interfaces is presented. An imperfect interface refers to a zero-thickness interfacial layer across which displacement discontinuity may occur while interlaminar tractions must remain continuous. The displacement discontinuity is considered through a spring model in order to model the adhesive layer among two adjacent laminae. No auxiliary elements are needed to implement the imperfect interface since the spring coefficients, characterizing the different bonding interface conditions, are taken into account inside the assembled influence matrices. To assess the reliability and the …

On the Effect of Slotted Blades on Savonius Wind Generator Performances by CFD Analysis

In this paper a new bucket configuration for Savonius wind generator is proposed. With the aim to increase the effect of the overlap ratio RS on the wind turbine performances and to increase the amount of lift force able to produce torque and power, slotted blades are investigated by means of the Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis. The numerical analyses are performed by Comsol Multiphysics® and the results obtained for a Savonius wind turbine with overlap only are compared to numerical and experimental benchmarks. Parametric analyses are performed, for fixed overlap ratio, by varying the slot angle β and the results show that for low angle β the Savonius rotor exploits improved performa…

Human Heart-Related Indexes Behavior Study for Aircraft Pilots Allowable Workload Level Assessment

This study aimed to evaluate workload by detecting Heart Rate Variability (HRV) indexes in a sample of 34 pilots (with a mean age of 33 years) while performing simulated flight exercises. A one-way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to assess the changes of the physiological measures in five standard maneuvers associated with different workload levels. The results show that all the indexes, but the Low Frequency to High Frequency ratio index (LF/HF), have a well-defined trend between the baseline and the en-route phase and with the three phases takeoff, steady turn, and landing. This study, as main findings, provides evidence of a differentiation among low, medium, and high workload…

Active repair technology applied to delaminated composite structures

The main target of the present paper is represented by the fracture mechanics charac-terization of delaminated composite structures actively repaired through piezoelectric patches. A boundary element code, formulated for anisotropic piezoelectric solids, including, as limiting case, the applicability to linear elastic anisotropic materials has been then imple-mented. The modeling of the delaminated composite structures as well as of the assembled structures, made of the damaged components and the patches, has been achieved through the multidomain technique. Moreover, to take into account for the adhesive layer between the host structures and the piezoelectric patches, a "spring-model" has b…

A finite element formulation for large deflection of multilayered magneto-electro-elastic plates

An original finite element formulation for the analysis of large deflections in magneto-electro-elastic multilayered plates is presented. The formulation is based on an equivalent single-layer model in which first order shear deformation theory with von Karman strains and quasi-static behavior for the electric and magnetic fields are assumed. To obtain the plate model, the electro-magnetic state is firstly determined and condensed to the mechanical primary variables, namely the generalized displacements. In turn, this result is used to obtain laminate effective stiffness coefficients that allow to express the plate mechanical stress resultants in terms of the generalized displacements and a…

Nonlocal model for a magneto-electro-elastic nanoplate

A mathematical model based on nonlocal third-order shear deformation plate theory has been developed to evaluate the mechanical and electromagnetic behavior of magneto-electro-elastic nanoplates. Two types of magneto-electro-elastic composites have been considered, all of them combination of Barium Titanate sheets, that represents the piezoelectric phase, and Cobalt Ferrite, that is the piezomagnetic component. Setting magneto-electric boundary conditions on each laminate, it has been possible to extrapolate and to analyze free vibrations frequencies for all considered plates, allowing to do objective assessments on what factors influence laminate modes and, especially, how these vary in th…