RNA secondary structure prediction using large margin methods

The secondary structure of RNA is essential for its biological role. Recently, Do, Woods, Batzoglou, (ISMB 2006) proposed a probabilistic approach that generalizes SCFGs using conditional maximum likelihood to estimate the model parameters. We propose an alternative approach to parameter estimation which is based on an SVM-like large margin method

An isotropic model for cyclic plasticity calibrated on the whole shape of hardening/softening evolution curve

This work presents a new isotropic model to describe the cyclic hardening/softening plasticity behavior of metals. The model requires three parameters to be evaluated experimentally. The physical behavior of each parameter is explained by sensitivity analysis. Compared to the Voce model, the proposed isotropic model has one more parameter, which may provide a better fit to the experimental data. For the new model, the incremental plasticity equation is also derived; this allows the model to be implemented in finite element codes, and in combination with kinematic models (Armstrong and Frederick, Chaboche), if the material cyclic hardening/softening evolution needs to be described numerically. As an example, the proposed model is applied to the case of a cyclically loaded copper alloy. An error analysis confirms a significant improvement with respect to the usual Voce formulation. Finally, a numerical algorithm is developed to implement the proposed isotropic model, currently not available in finite element codes, and to make a comparison with other cyclic plasticity models in the case of uniaxial stress and strain-controlled loading

numerical simulation of cyclic plasticity in mechanical components under low cycle fatigue loading accelerated material models

Abstract Numerical simulations of components subjected to low-cycle fatigue loading require an accurate modeling of the material cyclic plasticity behavior until complete stabilization. In some circumstances, especially in case of small plastic strains, it may happen that the material model needs a huge number of cycles to reach complete stabilization, which results into an unfeasible simulation time. An acceleration technique, based on a fictitious increase of the parameter that controls the speed of stabilization in the combined (kinematic and isotropic) model, may be used. To check the efficiency and the correctness of the acceleration technique, the case of a welded cruciform joint under low cycle fatigue, taken from the literature, is here considered. The joint can be analyzed with a two-dimensional finite element model, which permits a relatively fast simulation to be completed until stabilization even with a combined kinematic-isotropic plasticity model (reference case). A comparison of this reference case with accelerated models is performed. Results in term of equivalent total strain range show that the acceleration procedure does not alter the welded joint cyclic behavior at stabilization, whereas it drastically reduces the computational time

A dynamic programming setting for functionally graded thick-walled cylinders

Material property variation in non-homogeneous internally pressurized thick-walled cylinders is investigated within the context of dynamic programming theory. The material is assumed to be linear, elastic, isotropic, and functionally graded in the radial direction. Based on the plane stress hypothesis, a state space formulation is given and the optimal control problem is stated and solved by means of Pontryagin's Principle for different objective functionals. Optimal Young's modulus distribution is found to be piecewise linear along the radial domain. A brief digression on the possible existence of switching points is addressed. Finally, a numerical example is performed within a special class of derived optimal solutions, showing promising results in terms of equivalent stress reduction with respect to the most used variations in literature

experimental characterization of a cuag alloy for thermo mechanical applications non linear plasticity models and low cycle fatigue curves

Abstract The cyclic response and low-cycle fatigue strength of a CuAg0.1 alloy for thermo-mechanical applications are investigated by isothermal strain-controlled fatigue tests at three temperature levels (room temperature, 250°C, 300°C). Both cyclic and stabilized stress-strain responses are used for identifying the material parameters of non-linear kinematic (Armstrong-Frederick, Chaboche) and isotropic models. The identified material parameters are used in numerically simulated cycles, which are successfully compared to experiments. Linear regression analysis of experimental fatigue data allows the "mean" low-cycle fatigue curves to be estimated. Approximate statistical methods are finally adopted to evaluate the design low-cycle fatigue curves at prescribed failure probability and confidence levels

Techniques to accelerate thermo-mechanical simulations in large-scale FE models with nonlinear plasticity and cyclic input

A procedure is proposed to reduce the computation time of thermo-mechanical simulations with large nonlinear finite element (FE) models that involve cyclic plasticity. The procedure is helpful when it is practically unfeasible to simulate the huge amount of cycles needed to bring the material model to its fully stabilised state (an unfavourable situation that often occurs when small plastic strains are present), as required before assessing the structural durability. A "reference" test case, with combined kinematic and isotropic nonlinear model calibrated on actual material properties, is compared to accelerated models as well as pure kinematic models. Guidelines on how to set up the accelerated model are finally discussed