Search results for "Structural engineering"
showing 10 items of 1998 documents
Fatigue crack growth through particulate clusters in polycarbonate material
2011
The interaction of a crack with a perfectly bonded inclusion or a cluster of inclusions in polycarbonate matrix was investigated through both numerical simulations and fatigue tests. Stress intensity factors (K(I)) were evaluated by boundary element method for several particle sizes, position and finally for inclusion cluster as a precursor study for the experiments. The numerical simulation has shown the crack tendency to circumvent the inclusions with consequential reduction of the growth rate. Fatigue crack growth tests were carried out on several particle-filled specimens at constant value of the applied stress intensity factor range (Delta K(Iapp)) highlighting the crack delay due to t…
Thermo-Elasto-Hydrodynamic Analysis of a Crankshaft Journal Bearing
2006
This paper summarizes the essential parts of a numerical analysis activity in which the application of the Thermo-Elasto-Hydro-Dynamic (TEHD) lubrication theory to a crankshaft journal bearing is examined. The study is carried out through numerical computations performed by a commercial flexible-multibody code which simulates the lubricated contact between elastic bodies in large displacement motion. A multibody model has been created and its thermal behaviour has been validated by comparison with experimental temperatures. The validated model is used to perform two comparative analyses between the TEHD modelling and the Elasto-Hydro-Dynamic (EHD) modelling for max torque and max power cond…
Moment-Axial Domain of Corroded R.C. Columns
2018
In the present paper, a simplified model to determine the moment-axial force domain of the cross-section of reinforced concrete columns subjected to corrosion process is presented. The model considers members with square and rectangular cross-sections and it accounts for cover spalling, buckling of longitudinal reinforcing bars, loss of bond of bar in tension, reduction of confinement pressures (due to the reduction of the area of stirrups and cracking of concrete induced by rust formation). The analytical expressions for prediction of the area reduction of steel, bond strength and critical load of longitudinal bars utilized were verified against experimental data available literature.
Reliability Estimation of Optimal Viscoelastic Composite Shells in Critical-Time Calculations
2003
The problem of reliability estimation for optimal viscoelastic composite shells in critical-time calculations is considered. The weight minimization of a viscoelastic composite shell, with constraints on deflections at the critical time, leads to a system deforming unstably, whose deflections grow in time with an increasing rate. A method for estimating the reliability of such shells in calculating the critical time is discussed. This time is regarded as a random variable depending on many, roughly equivalent, factors. An analysis of the reliability is carried out for different values of coefficients of variation, occurring in practice.
Adaptive Planning in-Service Inspections of Fatigued Structures in Damage Tolerance Situations via Observations of Crack Growth Process
2017
From an engineering standpoint the fatigue life of a fatigued structure consists of two periods: (i) crack initiation period, which starts with the first load cycle and ends when a technically detectable crack is presented, and (ii) crack propagation period, which starts with a technically detectable crack and ends when the remaining cross section can no longer withstand the loads applied and fails statically. The main aim of this paper is to present more accurate innovative stochastic fatigue model for adaptive planning inspections of fatigued structures in damage tolerance situations via observations of crack growth process during a crack propagation period. A new crack growth equation is…
Biaxial deformation and ductility domains for engineered rectangular RC cross-sections: A parametric study highlighting the positive roles of axial l…
2016
Abstract Axial load and biaxial bending strongly influence the deformation capacity of column cross-sections, in most cases causing a non-negligible loss of curvature and ductility with respect to the case of pure bending along principal axes, commonly assumed as the basic condition to assess the inelastic capacity. In consideration of this the paper investigates the biaxial deformation performance of RC rectangular cross-sections belonging to one-dimensional elements, focusing on the influence of some parameters as the cross-section aspect ratio and the distribution of the rebars, as well as the mechanical characteristics of concrete and steel and the impact of biaxial/axial stresses. In t…
Analytical approach for the mix design optimisation of bituminous mixtures with crumb rubber
2018
The present paper provides a basis for defining a mix design method specifically tailored to rubberised asphalt that takes into account the behaviour of crumb rubber. An analytical approach to quantifying the recovered deformation of crumb rubber in the post-compaction phase has been developed in order to adjust the number of gyrations proposed by the Superpave method for compacting specimens of hot mix asphalt using a Superpave gyratory compactor. The maximum allowable amount of rubber has been calculated. Finally, a step-by-step protocol has been proposed in order to fabricate and compact crumb rubber modified mixtures with the gyratory compactor.
On the nuclear response of the helium-cooled lithium lead test blanket module in ITER
2005
Abstract The helium-cooled lithium lead (HCLL) concept has been recently selected as one of the two European reference designs foreseen for the breeding blanket of a demonstration fusion reactor. In particular, within the framework of the research and development activities on this blanket line, an HCLL test blanket module (TBM) has to be designed and manufactured to be implemented in ITER. At the Department of Nuclear Engineering (DIN) of the University of Palermo, a research campaign has been carried out to investigate the nuclear response of HCLL-TBM inside ITER by a numerical approach based on the Monte Carlo method. A realistic 3D heterogeneous model of HCLL-TBM has been set-up and ins…
A study of the potential influence of frame coolant distribution on the radiation-induced damage of HCLL-TBM structural material
2008
Abstract Within the European Fusion Technology Programme, the Helium-Cooled Lithium Lead (HCLL) breeding blanket concept is one of the two EU lines to be developed for a Long Term fusion reactor, in particular with the aim of manufacturing a Test Blanket Module (TBM) to be implemented in ITER. The HCLL-TBM is foreseen to be located in an ITER equatorial port, being housed inside a steel-supporting frame, actively cooled by pressurized water. That supporting frame has been designed to house two different TBMs, providing two cavities separated by a dividing Plate 20 cm thick. As the nuclear response of HCLL-TBM might vary accordingly to the supporting frame configuration and composition, at t…
Study of the helium-cooled lithium lead test blanket module nuclear behaviour under irradiation in ITER
2009
Abstract The present paper deals with the detailed investigation of the helium-cooled lithium lead test blanket module (HCLL-TBM) nuclear behaviour under irradiation in ITER, carried out at the Department of Nuclear Engineering of the University of Palermo adopting a numerical approach based on the Monte Carlo method. A realistic 3D heterogeneous model of the HCLL-TBM was set-up and inserted into an ITER 3D semi-heterogeneous model that realistically simulates the reactor lay-out up to the cryostat. A Gaussian-shaped neutron source was adopted for the calculations. The main features of the HCLL-TBM nuclear response were assessed, paying a particular attention to the neutronic and photonic d…