Improved contact algorithm for the material point method and application to stress propagation in granular material

Journal ArticleContact between deformable bodies is a difficult problem in the analysis of engineering systems. A new approach to contact has been implemented using the Material Point Method for solid mechanics, Bardenhagen, Brackbill, and Sulsky (2000a). Here two improvements to the algorithm are described. The first is to include the normal traction in the contact logic to more appropriately determine the free separation criterion. The second is to provide numerical stability by scaling the contact impulse when computational grid information is suspect, a condition which can be expected to occur occasionally as material bodies move through the computational grid. The modifications described preserve important properties of the original algorithm, namely conservation of momentum, and the use of global quantities which obviate the need for neighbor searches and result in the computational cost scaling linearly with the number of contacting bodies. The algorithm is demonstrated on several examples. Deformable body solutions compare favorably with several problems which, for rigid bodies, have analytical solutions. A much more demanding simulation of stress propagation through idealized granular material, for which high fidelity data has been obtained, is examined in detail. Excellent qualitative agreement is found for a variety of contact conditions. Important material parameters needed for more quantitative comparisons are identified

Shear deformation in granular materials

An investigation into the properties of granular materials is undertaken via numerical simulation. These simulations highlight that frictional contact, a defining characteristic of dry granular materials, and interfacial debonding, an expected deformation mode in plastic bonded explosives, must be properly modeled. Frictional contact and debonding algorithms have been implemented into FLIP, a particle in cell code, and are described. Frictionless and frictional contact are simulated, with attention paid to energy and momentum conservation. Debonding is simulated, with attention paid to the interfacial debonding speed. A first step toward calculations of shear deformation in plastic bonded explosives is made. Simulations are performed on the scale of the grains where experimental data is difficult to obtain. Two characteristics of deformation are found, namely the intermittent binding of grains when rotation and translation are insufficient to accommodate deformation, and the role of the binder as a lubricant in force chains

On higher order gradient continuum theories in 1-D nonlinear elasticity. Derivation from and comparison to the corresponding discrete models

Higher order gradient continuum theories have often been proposed as models for solids that exhibit localization of deformation (in the form of shear bands) at sufficiently high levels of strain. These models incorporate a length scale for the localized deformation zone and are either postulated or justified from micromechanical considerations. Of interest here is the consistent derivation of such models from a given microstructure and the subsequent comparison of the solution to a boundary value problem using both the exact microscopic model and the corresponding approximate higher order gradient macroscopic model.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42682/1/10659_2004_Article_BF00043251.pd

Viscoelastic models for explosive binder materials

An improved model of the mechanical properties of the explosive contained in conventional munitions is needed to accurately simulate performance and accident scenarios in weapons storage facilities. A specific class of explosives can he idealized as a mixture of two components: energetic crystals randomly suspended in a polymeric matrix (binder). Strength characteristics of each component material are important in the macroscopic behavior of the composite (explosive). Of interest here is the determination of an appropriate constitutive law for a polyurethane binder material. This paper is a continuation of previous work in modeling polyurethane at moderately high strain rates and for large deformations. Simulation of a large deformation (strains in excess of 100%) Taylor Anvil experiment revealed numerical difficulties which have been addressed. Additional experimental data have been obtained including improved resolution Taylor Anvil data, and stress relaxation data at various strain rates. A thorough evaluation of the candidate viscoelastic constitutive model is made and possible improvements discussed

The Seniors’ Outdoor Survey (SOS Tool) : comparing ratings and reliability between Italy and the USA

To test applicability of an environmental assessment instrument in new settings, the ratings and reliability of the SOS Tool were compared in diverse settings with a similar climate: Milan, Italy; and Bryan/College Station, Texas, USA. This instrument evaluates physical environment support for outdoor usage by residents at senior facilities. Two trained raters assigned ratings (using a 1\u20137 scale) to the 60 instrument items at each setting (Italy: 94 outdoor spaces, 67 facilities; US: 22 outdoor spaces, 12 facilities). Overall mean ratings were similar across both sites (6% difference), and three of the five domains had comparable mean ratings. Mean inter-rater reliability was good in both settings but higher in Italy (ICC\ua0=\ua0.97 versus.82). Despite geographic/cultural differences, mean ratings for most items and domains were surprisingly similar between Italy and the US. This finding, and the high inter-rater reliability found in both settings, suggest this instrument may be useful in a wide range of settings