Arbitrary bi-dimensional finite strain crack propagation

In the past two decades numerous numerical procedures for crack propagation have been developed. Lately, enrichment methods (either local, such as SDA or global, such as XFEM) have been applied with success to simple problems, typically involving some intersections. For arbitrary finite strain propagation, numerous difficulties are encountered: modeling of intersection and coalescence, step size dependence and the presence of distorted finite elements. In order to overcome these difficulties, an approach fully capable of dealing with multiple advancing cracks and self-contact is presented (see Fig.1). This approach makes use of a coupled Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian method (ALE) and local tip remeshing. This is substantially less costly than a full remeshing while retaining its full versatility. Compared to full remeshing, angle measures and crack paths are superior. A consistent continuationbased linear control is used to force the critical tip to be exactly critical, while moving around the candidate set. The critical crack front is identified and propagated when one of the following criteria reaches a material limiting value: (i) the stress intensity factor; or (ii) the element-ahead tip stress. These are the control equations. The ability to solve crack intersection and coalescence problems is shown. Additionally, the independence from crack tip and step size and the absence of blade and dagger-shaped finite elements is observed. Classic benchmarks are computed leading to excellent crack path and load-deflection results, where convergence rate is quadratic

Element-wise fracture algorithm based on rotation of edges

We propose an alternative, simpler algorithm for FEM-based computational fracture in brittle, quasi-brittle and ductile materials based on edge rotations. Rotation axes are the crack front edges (respectively nodes in surface discretizations) and each rotated edge affects the position of only one or two nodes. Modified positions of the entities minimize the difference between the predicted crack path (which depends on the specific propagation theory in use) and the edge or face orientation. The construction of all many-to-many relations between geometrical entities in a finite element code motivates operations on existing entities retaining most of the relations, in contrast with remeshing (even tip remeshing) and enrichment which alter the structure of the relations and introduce additional entities to the relation graph (in the case of XFEM, enriched elements which can be significantly different than classical FEM elements and still pose challenges for ductile fracture or large amplitude sliding). In this sense, the proposed solution has algorithmic and generality advantages. The propagation algorithm is simpler than the aforementioned alternatives and the approach is independent of the underlying element used for discretization. For history-dependent materials, there are still some transfer of relevant quantities between meshes. However, diffusion of results is more limited than with tip or full remeshing. To illustrate the advantages of our approach, two prototype models are used: tip energy dissipation (LEFM) and cohesive-zone approaches. The Sutton crack path criterion is employed. Traditional fracture benchmarks and newly proposed verification tests are solved. These were found to be very good in terms of crack path and load/deflection accuracy

Mixed-mode fracture and load misalignment on the assessment of FRP-concrete bond connections

Considerable dispersion is usually found in experimental data concerning the material properties of FRP-concrete bond connections. In pure shear models, the direction of FRP loading is assumed to be parallel to the axis of the concrete specimen. However, in practice, it is very difficult to prevent load misalignment. This fact can have important consequences on the derivation of material properties from experimental data. This is why a parametric study is herein undertaken to thoroughly identify the role of the load misalignment in the behaviour of the connection. It is concluded that the load capacity of the connection significantly decreases in the case of a misaligned load pointing outwards the reinforced surface. It is also found that this effect is less relevant for thick laminates when compared to thin FRP sheets.Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DE150101703); Faculty of Engineering & Information Technologie

Partial safety factors for prestressed concrete girders 2 strengthened with CFRP laminates

This paper provides a framework for the calibration of partial safety factors in prestressed concrete (PC) girders strengthened in flexure with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. A hybrid approach was proposed to take advantage of comprehensive nonlinear numerical models in reliability analysis using a first-order reliability method (FORM) in conjunction with the response surface method (RSM). The PC girders selected for analyses were taken from real structures designed and built in the 1980s based on old standards that now require strengthening and upgrade due to partial corrosion of the prestressing strands. Using the proposed approach, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the most relevant variables and assess the area of CFRP laminates needed to restore capacity up to new design standards. A partial safety factor was proposed for strengthening PC girders using CFRP laminates. Sensitivity analysis showed that traffic loads and model uncertainties are the most important variables for calibration. (C) 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT)Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/76345/2011]Australian Research CouncilAustralian Research Council [DE150101703, LP140100591]FCT, within Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE) [UID/ECI/04029/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Partial safety factors for prestressed concrete girders strengthened with CFRP laminates

This paper provides a framework for the calibration of partial safety factors in prestressed concrete (PC) girders strengthened in flexure with carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates. A hybrid approach was proposed to take advantage of comprehensive non-linear numerical models in reliability analysis using a first order reliability method (FORM) in conjunction to the response surface method (RSM). The PC girders selected for analyses were taken from real structures designed and built since the 1980s, based on old standards, now requiring strengthening and upgrade due to partial corrosion of prestressing strands. Using the proposed approach, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the most relevant variables and assess the area of CFRP laminates needed to restore the capacity to new design standards. Following this study, a partial safety factor was proposed for strengthening PC girders using CFRP laminates. A sensitivity analysis also showed the traffic loads and model uncertainties to be the most important variables for calibration

Kinetics and thermodynamics of poly (9,9-dioctylfluorene) beta-phase formation in dilute solution

Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) adopts a particular type of conformation in dilute solutions of the poor solvent methylcyclohexane (MCH) below 273 K, which is revealed by the appearance of a red-shifted absorption peak at 437−438 nm. The formation of this ordered conformation depends on the temperature but is independent of polymer concentration over the range studied (3−25 μg/mL). On the basis of absorption, steady-state, and time-resolved fluorescence data, the new absorption peak at 437−438 nm is assigned to a highly ordered conformation of PFO chains, analogous to the so-called β-phase first identified in PFO films. From the study of PFO solutions in MCH as a function of temperature, we conclude that these ordered segments (β-conformation) coexist with less ordered domains in the same chain. When the ordered domains are present, they act as efficient energy traps and the fluorescence from the disordered regions is quenched. The transition between the disordered and the ordered PFO conformations is adequately described by a mechanism that involves two steps:  a first, essentially intramolecular, one from a relatively disordered (α) to an ordered conformation (β), followed by aggregation of chains containing β-conformation into anisotropic ordered domains. From the temperature dependence of the 437−438 nm peak intensity, the transition temperature Tβ = 261 K, enthalpy ΔHβ = −18.0 kcal mol-1, and entropy ΔSβ = −68.4 cal K-1 mol-1 were obtained. The formation of the β-conformation domains were also followed as a function of time at 260 K. The rate constants at 260 K were determined, showing an order of magnitude around 10-3 s-1 (kα→β = 5.9 × 10-4 s-1; kβ→α = 9 × 10-4 s-1; kagg = 2.3 × 10-3 M-1 s-1; kdiss = 4.4 × 10-4 s-1). This small magnitude explains the long times required for a “complete” conversion to the β-conformation

Time-dependent reliability analyses of prestressed concrete girders strengthened with CFRP laminates

This paper presents a time-dependent reliability analysis of prestressed concrete girders subjected to degradation caused by pitting corrosion. The procedure presented includes the effects of both spatial and temporal pitting corrosions on prestressing steel, as well as the degradation of the strengthening CFRP laminate used for the rehabilitation of the member. Results indicate that the correlation of corrosion in different segments of the prestressing tendons impacts on the computed safety index for the deteriorated structure. Ditlevsen bounds are proposed for a better approximation of the correlation between failure modes in the spatial discretisation. Results show that such approach produces adequate estimates of the reliability index over the full range of analysis in comparison with other tested models. It is also observed that the degradation of the CFRP laminates does not affect the reliability as significantly as corrosion, and that traffic loads, models uncertainties, corrosion error and corrosion rate are the most relevant variables in the analysis, followed by prestressing strength and concrete cover. The significance of the variables changes with time: the corrosion rate, corrosion model error and concrete cover increase in importance with the development of corrosion, whereas traffic loads become gradually less important

Resultados preliminares da avaliação da profundidade de semeadura na emergência de plântulas de carnauba (Copernicia cerifera. Mart - Arecaceae).

O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na Embrapa Semi-Árido, município de Petrolina-PE (9°9?S, 40°22?W), com objetivo de verificar a emergência de plântulas de carnaúba, quanto à influência da profundidade de semeio

Observação dos visitantes florais de Myracroduon urundeuva M. Allem. (Anacardiaceae) em Petrolina-PE.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo contribuir com informações sobre os visitantes florais desta espécie. O trabalho foi realizado em uma população de vinte indivíduos de M. urundeuva, sendo 10 femininas e 10 masculinas, localizados em área de caatinga, pertencente a Embrapa Semi-Árido, em Petrolina-PE (9º9?S,40º22?W)

Estudo da profundidade de sementes de Pseudobombax simplicifolium A. Robyns (Bombacaceae).

O presente trabalho teve por objetivos verificar o efeito da profundidade na germinação de sementes de imbiruçu, visando a produção de mudas