Search results for "Mechanical engineering"
showing 10 items of 4245 documents
Determination of absolute retardations by vectorial reconstruction
1977
In this paper is described the application of the vectorial reconstruction to the holographic determination of absolute retardation fringes. The method requires a double-exposure hologram recorded with two reference beams. During the reconstruction process the image emerging from the hologram is viewed through a linear polarizer. Where the polarization direction is parallel to one of the principal stresses, only the corresponding family of absolute retardations is observed. By rotating the polarizer it is possible to observe the fringes over the whole model. The method is demonstrated experimentally using a deep beam centrally loaded.
Shakedown analysis for a class of strengthening materials within the framework of gradient plasticity
2010
Abstract The classical shakedown theory is extended to a class of perfectly plastic materials with strengthening effects (Hall–Petch effects). To this aim, a strain gradient plasticity model previously advanced by Polizzotto (2010) is used, whereby a featuring strengthening law provides the strengthening stress, i.e. the increase of the yield strength produced by plastic deformation, as a degree-zero homogeneous second-order differential form in the accumulated plastic strain with associated higher order boundary conditions. The extended static (Melan) and kinematic (Koiter) shakedown theorems are proved together with the related lower bound and upper bound theorems. The shakedown limit loa…
Maximum Displacement Variability of Stochastic Structures Subject to Deterministic Earthquake Loading
1998
The variability of the maximum response displacement of random frame structures under deterministic earthquake loading are examined in this paper using stochastic finite element techniques. The elastic modulus and the mass density are assumed to be described by cross-correlated stochastic fields. Specifically, a variability response function formulation is used for this problem, which allows for calculation of spectral-distribution-free upper bounds of the maximum displacement variance. Further, under the assumption of prespecified correlation functions describing the spatial variation of the material properties, variability response functions are used to calculate the corresponding maximum…
Shakedown of elastic—plastic solids with frictionless unilateral contact boundary conditions
1997
Abstract Elastic perfectly plastic solids (or structures) in frictionless unilateral contact with a rigid obstacle and subjected to quasi-statically variable loads within a given domain are considered. In the hypothesis that the structure undergoes small displacements and complies with a d -stability requisite herein introduced, a Melantype shakedown theorem is presented. This theorem is conceptually similar to the classical one; namely, it requires that the unilateral-contact elastic stress response to the loads and to some initial plastic strains be plastically admissible everywhere in the body and for all load conditions. A method for evaluating the shakedown load boundary is also discus…
Probabilistic models for the fatigue resistance of welded steel joints subjected to constant amplitude loading
2022
Abstract S-N curves found in various rules and regulations are the basic tool for the practicing engineer when carrying out life predictions for welded details in dynamically loaded structures. The present work is investigating the expected fatigue life and associated scatter for welded steel joints subjected to Constant Amplitude (CA) loading. The objective is to obtain more reliable life predictions based on advancements in the probabilistic model fitted to collected life data. A Random Fatigue Limit Model (RFLM) is proposed to obtain fatigue resistance curves at given probability levels of survival. As a distinction to more conventional statistical methods, the model is treating both the…
Trace compounds of biogas from different biogas production plants
2007
Biogas composition and variation in three different biogas production plants were studied to provide information pertaining to its potential use as biofuel. Methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sulphur compounds were measured in samples of biogases from a landfill, sewage treatment plant sludge digester and farm biogas plant. Methane content ranged from 48% to 65%, carbon dioxide from 36% to 41% and nitrogen from <1% to 17%. Oxygen content in all three gases was <1%. The highest methane content occurred in the gas from the sewage digester while the lowest methane and highest nitrogen contents were found in the landfill gas during winter. The amoun…
Stochastic seismic analysis of offshore towers
1984
After a brief review of the main problems and the most common analysis methods for offshore structures, a method of analysis for offshore towers submerged in water and subjected to strong earthquake motions is proposed. Nonlinear drag effects as well as random non-stationary seismic excitations are considered by means of a linearization technique based on a particular step-by-step procedure. Using a discrete lumped-mass model, the standard deviations of nodal displacements and velocities are evaluated. The probability of not exceeding a defined threshold of nodal displacements is also computed.
The benefits of inclusive education: new challenges for university teachers
2017
Inclusive education is a child’s right, not a privilege. The amount of current attention given to children and to childhood is unprecedented. In a world affected by financial crises, attitudes about children’s needs are very important. Recent years have seen innovations in the focus of research, as political moves that challenge the ways different children have been excluded and silenced. Inclusive education is a real and urgent need for all educational systems around the world. Inside our university, the Teachers Training Department needs to take serious measures to create a professional environment for all the students involved in the initial training for becoming teachers at all levels. …
Optimal die Design for Cold Extrusion Processes
1999
The design of cold extrusion processes requires the optimisation of several process variables in order to obtain a defect free product. The fulfilment of different objectives, such as the minimisation of forming loads or the homogeneity of the deformations, is highly requested. Nevertheless, several other relevant aspects of extrusion processes have to be taken into account and require a suitable optimisation of the process parameters and in particular of the die shape. In this paper, tool life has been assumed as the most relevant goal and an effective die design procedure as been setup. It is well known that fatigue cracking of the dies is the principal cause of dies failure in cold extru…
Computer-Aided Simulation of Die Filling Processes
1989
Summary A numerical method for analysing the filling of axisymmetrical dies of complex shape is proposed. The method, which is a further development of a LP finite element model, is able to take into account the contact conditions directly in the mathematical formulation of the problem. In such a way the solution of the die filling process is obtained by solving a LP problem, avoiding problems of numerical convergence and the heavier calculations requested by other iterative methods.