CVBEM solution for De Saint-Venant orthotropic beams under coupled bending and torsion

The aim of this paper is to provide a solution for the coupled flexure–torsion De Saint Venant problem for orthotropic beams taking full advantage of the complex variable boundary element method (CVBEM) properly extended using a complex potential function whose real and imaginary parts are related to the shear stress components, the orthotropic ratio and the Poisson coefficients. The proposed method returns the complete stress field and the unitary twist rotation of the cross section at once by performing only line integrals. Numerical applications have been reported to show the validity and the efficiency of the proposed modified CVBEM to handle shear stress problems in the presence of ort…

Comparison among three boundary element methods for torsion problems: CPM, CVBEM, LEM

This paper provides solutions for De Saint-Venant torsion problem on a beam with arbitrary and uniform cross-section. In particular three methods framed into complex analysis have been considered: Complex Polynomial Method (CPM), Complex Variable Boundary Element Method (CVBEM) and Line Element-less Method (LEM), recently proposed. CPM involves the expansion of a complex potential in Taylor series, computing the unknown coefficients by means of collocation points on the boundary. CVBEM takes advantage of Cauchy’s integral formula that returns the solution of Laplace equation when mixed boundary conditions on both real and imaginary parts of the complex potential are known. LEM introduces th…

Complex analysis for the solution of torsion problems: a comparison among three methods

CVBEM application to a novel potential function providing stress field and twist rotation at once

AbstractIn this paper, complex variable boundary element method (CVBEM) is used for the solution of de Saint-Venant’s torsion problem in homogenous isotropic elastic beams with a generic cross section, considering a complex potential function related to the stress field. Generally, CVBEM, when used for torsion problems, leads to evaluation of the stress field divided by the twist rotation. The latter has been evaluated by performing a domain integral. In this paper, taking advantage of the aforementioned potential function, it is possible, by applying CVBEM, to evaluate the complete stress distribution and the twist rotation of the cross section and the torsional stiffness factor, performin…

Viscoelastic bearings with fractional constitutive law for fractional tuned mass dampers

Abstract The paper aims at studying the effects of the inherent fractional constitutive law of viscoelastic bearings used as devices for tuned mass dampers. First, the proper constitutive law of the viscoelastic supports is determined by the local constitutive law. Then, the characteristic force–displacement relationship at the top of the bearing is found. Taking advantage of the whole bearing constitutive laws, the tuning of the mass damper is proposed by defining the damped fractional frequency, which is analogous to the classical damped frequency. The effectiveness of the optimal tuning procedure is validated by a numerical application on a system subjected to a Gaussian white noise.

Low stiffness variation in structural systems: identification and localization

When a very low damage occurs, the undamaged structural response totally overlaps the damaged one either in time domain or in frequency domain; on the other hand, by considering some characteristics of the analytical signal, such as the phase, it has been possible to develop a damage identification procedure that allows the identification and localization of damage even if the structure experiences multiple damages at the same time. This procedure is also robust with respect to the presence of measuring noise. In order to assess the validity of the proposed damage identification procedure, numerical applications on single degree of freedom and 2 DOF and 4 DOF are presented using data record…

CVBEM for solving De Saint-Venant solid under shear forces

Abstract Evaluation of shear stresses distribution due to external shear forces applied to De Saint-Venant beams has been solved through Complex Variable Boundary Element Method properly extended, to benefit from advantages of this method, so far widely used for twisted solids. Extending the above method, further simplifications have been introduced such as those of performing line integrals only, instead of domain integrals. Numerical applications confirm accuracy and efficiency of the proposed extended version of the method, since the good agreement with results proposed in literature.

Probabilistic response of linear structures equipped with nonlinear damper devices (PIS method)

Passive control introducing energy absorbing devices into the structure has received considerable attention in recent years. Unfortunately the constitutive law of viscous fluid dampers is highly nonlinear, and even supposing that the structure behaves linearly, the whole system has inherent nonlinear properties. Usually the analysis is performed by a stochastic linearization technique (SLT) determining a linear system equivalent to the nonlinear one, in a statistical sense. In this paper the effect of the non-Gaussianity of the response due to the inherent nonlinearity of the damper device will be studied in detail via the Path Integral Solution (PIS) method. A systematic study is conducted…