Modeling of elasto-plastic behaviour of granular materials using multi-particle finite element simulations

The method of multi-particle finite element involving assemblies of meshed particles interacting through finite-element contact conditions is adopted to study the plastic flow of a granular material with highly deformable elastic-plastic grains. In particular, it is investigated whether the flow rule postulate applies for such materials. Using a spherical stress probing method, the influence of incremental stress on plastic strain increment vectors was assessed for numerical samples compacted along two different loading paths up to different values of relative density. Results show that the numerical samples studied behave reasonnably well according to an associated flow rule, except in the vicinity of the loading point where the influence of the stress increment proves to be very significant. The influence of relative density and initial loading path is discussed

Conditions for isotropic liquefaction of model granular materials

In the current understanding of soil mechanics, the liquefaction phenomenon is almost synonymous to the vanishing of the effective intergranular stress. It occurs only for fully saturated granular media deviatorically sheared in constant volume. In this article, we present an unexpected isotropic compressibility behaviour of model granular materials with a very simple experimental set-up. Loose granular assemblies experience multiple sudden collapses associated with volumetric compaction and axial contraction. Ultimately, spontaneous liquefaction is observed above a threshold void ratio e{30}^{liq}. We detail the three conditions for isotropic liquefaction of model granular assemblies to occur

Unexpected collapses during isotropic consolidation of model granular materials

AbstractThis paper reports the unexpected instantaneous instabilities of idealized granular materials under simple isotropic drained compression. Specimens of monosized glass beads submitted to isotropic compression exhibit a series of local collapses under undetermined external stress with partial liquefaction, experience sudden volumetric compaction and axial contraction of various amplitude. Short-lived excess pore water pressure vibrates like an oscillating underdamped system in the first dynamic transient phase and rapidly disperses in the subsequent longer dissipation phase. However, very dense samples maintain a collapse-free behaviour below a threshold void ratio e30col at 30 kPa of stress. The potential mechanisms that could explain these spontaneous collapses are discussed

Non-classical human leukocyte antigen class I in Tunisian children with autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are one of the most common childhood morbidities characterized by deficits in communication and social skills. Increasing evidence has suggested associations between immune genes located in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex and etiology of autism.In this study, we investigated whether the non-classical class I HLA-G, -E, and -F polymorphisms are associated with genetic predisposition to autism in Tunisia. We aimed to find a correlation between HLA-G genotypes and soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) levels. We have analyzed the HLA-G, -E, and -F genotypes of 15 autistic children and their parents. DNA typing of HLA class I genes was performed using PCR-SSP and PCR-RFLP methods. Also, we evaluated the serum levels of HLA-G (1 and 5) by a validated ELISA technique in autistic probands and their parents.No association was found between any polymorphism and autism in the study subjects. Additionally, we found no correlation between sHIA-G1 and sHLA-G5 and autism. Also, no significant difference in sHIA-G testing in parents and offspring was found. However, parents carrying [GG] genotype presented a higher sHLA-G levels than those carrying ([CC]+[GC]) genotypes (p = 0.037).From this preliminary study, we conclude that the investigated polymorphisms of HLA-G, -E, and -F genes did not lead to autism susceptibility in Tunisian children. However, the CGTIGA haplotype was found to be associated with the disease

Comportement élasto-plastique incrémental des poudres ductiles: Simulation de l’écoulement plastique par la méthode des éléments finis multi- particules

This thesis is concerned with the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of ductile powders during cold compaction process. A numerical method was implemented, in which a powder sample was assimilated to an assembly of 50 meshed particles in a cubic box which was submitted to compressive loadings simulated by means of the finite element method. Each particle was meshed and assigned an elastic-plastic constitutive behaviour. Particles interacted through mechanical, frictional contact and underwent large transformation during loading.The method developped in the thesis consisted in imposing boundary conditions as displacements or forces on the bounding walls of the numerical sample. The mechanical response of the sample was averaged to obtain the equivalent response of a continuum in terms of stress and strain. Various loading paths, including loading paths that are technically not attainable by experimental means, were applied up to different values of relative densities, from low (60%) to high values (98%). Much information on the phenomeno- logical behaviour of the numerical sample could be obtained, in relation with the morphology of deformed particles and the evolution of contact surfaces.The results were interpreted based on the concepts of classical elasto- plasticity, i.e., yield surface and flow rule. The main focus of the study was the analysis of incremental plastic flow and the existence of a plastic po- tential. Results showed that the flow rule postulate, based in the plastic potential, could be considered as valid for stress states relatively far from the loading point. In the vicinity of the loading point, the direction of the plas- tic strain increment vector ceases to be unique. This behaviour, which is an original feature of ductile powders mechanical behaviour, was attributed to the anisotropic strain-hardening processes at stake, related to the anisotro- pic formation of contact surfaces between particles. The drop in mechanical properties related to dilatancy was also studied.Cette thèse concerne la modélisation du comportement mécanique de poudres ductiles au cours de leur mise en forme par le procédé de com- pression à froid. L’approche utilisée consiste à modéliser la poudre par un échantillon numérique de 50 particules sphériques distribuées aléatoirement. Chaque particule est maillée en éléments finis avec un comportement élasto- plastique et interagit par contact avec ses voisines. Sous l’effet du chargement, les particules se déforment et subissent de grandes transformations.La méthode développée consiste à imposer aux frontières de l’échantillon numérique des conditions aux limites en déplacement ou en force afin de si- muler une réponse continue équivalente en termes de contrainte-déformation pour plusieurs chemins de chargement depuis les faibles valeurs de densité relative jusqu’aux fortes valeurs. Outre le fait que la méthode permet d’ap- pliquer par la simulation des chemins de chargement inaccessibles aux tech- niques expérimentales, elle fournit de nombreuses indications sur la phéno- ménologie du comportement aux frontières de l’échantillon en relation avec la morphologie des particules déformées plastiquement et l’évolution des sur- faces de contact inter-particules.Cette réponse obtenue sera étudiée au moyen des notions de l’élasto- plasticité classique, à savoir la surface de charge et la loi d’écoulement. L’ac- cent est mis sur l’analyse de l’écoulement plastique et l’existence du potentiel plastique. Les résultats montrent que la direction d’écoulement est approxi- mativement unique pour les états de contrainte éloignés du point de charge- ment. En revanche, la direction d’écoulement cesse d’être unique à proximité de point de chargement, ce qui révèle le caractère anisotrope de l’écrouissage. Ce comportement, propre aux poudres ductiles, est intimement lié à la dé- formation des grains. La dégradation anisotrope des propriétés mécaniques résultant du mécanisme de dilatance est également étudiée

Comportement élasto-plastique incrémental des poudres ductiles : simulation de l'écoulement plastique par la méthode des éléments finis multi-particules

This thesis is concerned with the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of ductile powders during cold compaction process. A numerical method was implemented, in which a powder sample was assimilated to an assembly of 50 meshed particles in a cubic box which was submitted to compressive loadings simulated by means of the finite element method. Each particle was meshed and assigned an elastic-plastic constitutive behaviour. Particles interacted through mechanical, frictional contact and underwent large transformation during loading.The method developped in the thesis consisted in imposing boundary conditions as displacements or forces on the bounding walls of the numerical sample. The mechanical response of the sample was averaged to obtain the equivalent response of a continuum in terms of stress and strain. Various loading paths, including loading paths that are technically not attainable by experimental means, were applied up to different values of relative densities, from low (60%) to high values (98%). Much information on the phenomenological behaviour of the numerical sample could be obtained, in relation with the morphology of deformed particles and the evolution of contact surfaces.The results were interpreted based on the concepts of classical elasto-plasticity, i.e., yield surface and flow rule. The main focus of the study was the analysis of incremental plastic flow and the existence of a plastic potential. Results showed that the flow rule postulate, based in the plastic potential, could be considered as valid for stress states relatively far from the loading point. In the vicinity of the loading point, the direction of the plastic strain increment vector ceases to be unique. This behaviour, which is an original feature of ductile powders mechanical behaviour, was attributed to the anisotropic strain-hardening processes at stake, related to the anisotropic formation of contact surfaces between particles. The drop in mechanical properties related to dilatancy was also studied.Cette thèse concerne la modélisation du comportement mécanique de poudres ductiles au cours de leur mise en forme par le procédé de compression à froid. L’approche utilisée consiste à modéliser la poudre par un échantillon numérique de 50 particules sphériques distribuées aléatoirement. Chaque particule est maillée en éléments finis avec un comportement élasto-plastique et interagit par contact avec ses voisines. Sous l’effet du chargement, les particules se déforment et subissent de grandes transformations.La méthode développée consiste à imposer aux frontières de l'échantillon numérique des conditions aux limites en déplacement ou en force afin de simuler une réponse continue équivalente en termes de contrainte-déformation pour plusieurs chemins de chargement depuis les faibles valeurs de densité relative jusqu'aux fortes valeurs. Outre le fait que la méthode permet d’appliquer par la simulation des chemins de chargement inaccessibles aux techniques expérimentales, elle fournit de nombreuses indications sur la phénoménologie du comportement aux frontières de l'échantillon en relation avec la morphologie des particules déformées plastiquement et l’évolution des surfaces de contact inter-particules.Cette réponse obtenue sera étudiée au moyen des notions de l'élasto-plasticité classique, à savoir la surface de charge et la loi d'écoulement. L'accent est mis sur l’analyse de l’écoulement plastique et l'existence du potentiel plastique. Les résultats montrent que la direction d’écoulement est approximativement unique pour les états de contrainte éloignés du point de chargement. En revanche, la direction d’écoulement cesse d’être unique à proximité de point de chargement, ce qui révèle le caractère anisotrope de l’écrouissage. Ce comportement, propre aux poudres ductiles, est intimement lié à la déformation des grains. La dégradation anisotrope des propriétés mécaniques résultant du mécanisme de dilatance est également étudiée

Incremental elasto-plastic behaviour of ductile powders : Discrete simulation of the plastic flow

Cette thèse concerne la modélisation du comportement mécanique de poudres ductiles au cours de leur mise en forme par le procédé de compression à froid. L’approche utilisée consiste à modéliser la poudre par un échantillon numérique de 50 particules sphériques distribuées aléatoirement. Chaque particule est maillée en éléments finis avec un comportement élasto-plastique et interagit par contact avec ses voisines. Sous l’effet du chargement, les particules se déforment et subissent de grandes transformations.La méthode développée consiste à imposer aux frontières de l'échantillon numérique des conditions aux limites en déplacement ou en force afin de simuler une réponse continue équivalente en termes de contrainte-déformation pour plusieurs chemins de chargement depuis les faibles valeurs de densité relative jusqu'aux fortes valeurs. Outre le fait que la méthode permet d’appliquer par la simulation des chemins de chargement inaccessibles aux techniques expérimentales, elle fournit de nombreuses indications sur la phénoménologie du comportement aux frontières de l'échantillon en relation avec la morphologie des particules déformées plastiquement et l’évolution des surfaces de contact inter-particules.Cette réponse obtenue sera étudiée au moyen des notions de l'élasto-plasticité classique, à savoir la surface de charge et la loi d'écoulement. L'accent est mis sur l’analyse de l’écoulement plastique et l'existence du potentiel plastique. Les résultats montrent que la direction d’écoulement est approximativement unique pour les états de contrainte éloignés du point de chargement. En revanche, la direction d’écoulement cesse d’être unique à proximité de point de chargement, ce qui révèle le caractère anisotrope de l’écrouissage. Ce comportement, propre aux poudres ductiles, est intimement lié à la déformation des grains. La dégradation anisotrope des propriétés mécaniques résultant du mécanisme de dilatance est également étudiée.This thesis is concerned with the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of ductile powders during cold compaction process. A numerical method was implemented, in which a powder sample was assimilated to an assembly of 50 meshed particles in a cubic box which was submitted to compressive loadings simulated by means of the finite element method. Each particle was meshed and assigned an elastic-plastic constitutive behaviour. Particles interacted through mechanical, frictional contact and underwent large transformation during loading.The method developped in the thesis consisted in imposing boundary conditions as displacements or forces on the bounding walls of the numerical sample. The mechanical response of the sample was averaged to obtain the equivalent response of a continuum in terms of stress and strain. Various loading paths, including loading paths that are technically not attainable by experimental means, were applied up to different values of relative densities, from low (60%) to high values (98%). Much information on the phenomenological behaviour of the numerical sample could be obtained, in relation with the morphology of deformed particles and the evolution of contact surfaces.The results were interpreted based on the concepts of classical elasto-plasticity, i.e., yield surface and flow rule. The main focus of the study was the analysis of incremental plastic flow and the existence of a plastic potential. Results showed that the flow rule postulate, based in the plastic potential, could be considered as valid for stress states relatively far from the loading point. In the vicinity of the loading point, the direction of the plastic strain increment vector ceases to be unique. This behaviour, which is an original feature of ductile powders mechanical behaviour, was attributed to the anisotropic strain-hardening processes at stake, related to the anisotropic formation of contact surfaces between particles. The drop in mechanical properties related to dilatancy was also studied

Thrombosis-Related DNA Polymorphisms

Venous and arterial thrombosis are complex disorders involving several genetic inherited thrombotic and environmental risk factors as well as many mechanistic pathways including those of hemostatic, inflammatory and oxidative homeostasis. To provide an overview of genetic polymorphisms associated with thrombotic disorders, we studied related pathways and mechanisms of venous and arterial thrombosis along with their genetic polymorphisms in association with their clinical significance. We considered classical polymorphisms in the coagulation pathway factors, particularly the thrombophilia predisposition factors: Factor V, Prothrombin and MTHFR as well as PROC, PROS and antithrombin III. Other known and novel genetic polymorphisms having an impact on the pathogenesis of and the susceptibility to venous and/or arterial thrombotic disorders, in particular those involving inflammatory, immune and oxidant/antioxidant/redox signaling systems, were reviewed