Collisions in shape memory alloys

We present here a model for instantaneous collisions in a solid made of shape memory alloys (SMA) by means of a predictive theory which is based on the introduction not only of macroscopic velocities and temperature, but also of microscopic velocities responsible of the austenite-martensites phase changes. Assuming time discontinuities for velocities, volume fractions and temperature, and applying the principles of thermodynamics for non-smooth evolutions together with constitutive laws typical of SMA, we end up with a system of nonlinearly coupled elliptic equations for which we prove an existence and uniqueness result in the 2 and 3 D cases. Finally, we also present numerical results for a SMA 2D solid subject to an external percussion by an hammer stroke

Distributed Programming of Smart Systems with Event-Condition-Action Rules (Short Paper)

In recent years, event-driven programming languages, e.g. those based on Event Condition Action (ECA) rules, have emerged as a promising paradigm for implementing smart systems, such as IoT devices. Still, actual implementations are bound to a centralized infrastructure, limiting scalability and security. In this work, we present attribute-based memory updates (AbU), a new interaction mechanism aiming to extend the ECA programming paradigm to distributed systems. It relies on attribute-based communication, that is similar to broadcast, but receivers are selected "on the fly" by means of predicates over their attributes. With AbU, smart devices can be easily programmed via ECA rules and, at the same time, they can be deployed to a distributed network. Hence, a centralized infrastructure is not needed anymore: the computation is moved on the edge, improving reliability, scalability, privacy and security

Local Reasoning and Attribute-Based Memory Updates for Enforcing Global Invariants in Collective Adaptive Systems

We address the problem of enforcing global invariants, i.e., system-level properties, in Collective Adaptive Systems, such as distributed and decentralized Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. In particular, we propose a novel approach adopting Attribute-based memory Updates (AbU), a calculus modeling declarative, event-driven systems with attribute-based communication. Our methodology leverages a combination of precise node-level scheduling and local reasoning, with local invariants derived from the system-level property to guarantee. This distributed and decentralized approach promotes efficient enforcing while ensuring desired system-wide behavior, without the need for a central controlling authority

Computational model of damage-induced growth in soft biological tissues considering the mechanobiology of healing

Healing in soft biological tissues is a chain of events on different time and length scales. This work presents a computational framework to capture and couple important mechanical, chemical and biological aspects of healing. A molecular-level damage in collagen, i.e., the interstrand delamination, is addressed as source of plastic deformation in tissues. This mechanism initiates a biochemical response and starts the chain of healing. In particular, damage is considered to be the stimulus for the production of matrix metalloproteinases and growth factors which in turn, respectively, degrade and produce collagen. Due to collagen turnover, the volume of the tissue changes, which can result either in normal or pathological healing. To capture the mechanisms on continuum scale, the deformation gradient is multiplicatively decomposed in inelastic and elastic deformation gradients. A recently proposed elasto-plastic formulation is, through a biochemical model, coupled with a growth and remodeling description based on homogenized constrained mixtures. After the discussion of the biological species response to the damage stimulus, the framework is implemented in a mixed nonlinear finite element formulation and a biaxial tension and an indentation tests are conducted on a prestretched flat tissue sample. The results illustrate that the model is able to describe the evolutions of growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases following damage and the subsequent growth and remodeling in the respect of equilibrium. The interplay between mechanical and chemo-biological events occurring during healing is captured, proving that the framework is a suitable basis for more detailed simulations of damage-induced tissue response. © 2021, The Author(s)

A finite-element approach for the analysis of pin-bearing failure of composite laminates

In this paper, a numerical home-made finite element model for the failure analysis of bolted joints between fiber-reinforced composite laminates is presented. The model is based on an incremental displacement-based approach, it is hinged on the laminate theory and on a progressive material degradation governed by the failure of composite constituents. The model has been applied to a pin-plate system comprising a mono-directional fiber-reinforced laminated plate, and numerical results in terms of the bearing failure load have been successfully compared with available experimental data. Aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of Rotem's and Huang's failure criteria in predicting the pin-bearing failure of bolted joints. The selected criteria act at different material scale: the former operating at the laminate level, while the latter at the constituent's scale. Proposed results seems to suggest that failure criteria accounting for micro-structural stress-strain localization mechanisms (for instance, Huang's criterion) give a more accurate estimate in terms of pin-bearing failure load

Computational modeling of hydrogel cross‐linking based on reaction‐diffusion theory

Alginate-based hydrogel is widely used as bio-ink in 3D bioprinting. For producing the bio-ink and stabilizing the polymer network, the hydrogel shall undergo a gelation process which can be obtained by adding an ionic cross-linker agent, such as Calcium ions for alginate. The diffusion of the crosslinker in the alginate stabilizes the polymeric network thanks to the reaction of Calcium ions with alginate monomers. This work presents a reaction-diffusion computational model of the gelation mechanism in alginate hydrogels. The coupled chemical system is solved using finite element discretizations considering the inhomogeneous evolution of the gelation process in time and space

Lectures on Solid Mechanics

This volume presents the theoretical basics of solid mechanics collecting the lectures held by the Authors for the course of Mechanics of Solids to environmental engineering students at the University of Florence. Lectures on Solid Mechanics is organized in two parts. The first one introduces the theory of three-dimensional elasticity where, after a preparatory synthesis of the basic concepts of mathematics and geometry, the fundamental framework of strain and stress in elastic bodies are introduced. Then the classical law of linear elasticity is presented and finally the part concludes with the "Principle of Virtual Work and variational methods". Moreover, at the end of selected chapters the essential notions of the theory of shells are discussed. The second part concerns the traditional theory of beams focusing on the four fundamental cases: beam under axial forces, terminal couples, torsion, bending and shear. The Readers addressed by this volume are mainly the undergraduate students of Engineering Schools

A Computational Model for Biological Tissues Considering the Influence of Injury on Growth and Remodelling

Biological tissues adapt to changed loading conditions through growth and remodelling (G&R) to reestablish a so-called homeostatic state. On the other hand, loading conditions above their physiological limits, as during trauma or surgical procedures, cause injury and can initiate pathological G&R. Herein, a modelling approach for G&R influenced by injury is presented combining the theories of plasticity and homogenised constrained mixtures. The results show that injury has a significant impact on the G&R behaviour and thus on the accomplishment of homeostasis

Multiple paternity and hybridization in two smooth-hound sharks

Multiple paternity appears to be a common trait of elasmobranch mating systems, with its occurrence likely driven by convenience, due to females seeking to minimize the stress of male harassment. Here we use molecular markers to analyse the frequency of multiple paternity in two related viviparous sharks, Mustelus mustelus and Mustelus punctulatus. We first applied molecular methods to assign pregnant females, embryos and additional reference adults (N\u2009=\u2009792) to one of the two species. Paternity analysis was performed using a total of 9 polymorphic microsatellites on 19 females and 204 embryos of M. mustelus, and on 13 females and 303 embryos of M. punctulatus. Multiple paternity occurs in both species, with 47% of M. mustelus and 54% of M. punctulatus litters sired by at least two fathers. Female fecundity is not influenced by multiple mating and in 56% of polyandrous litters paternity is skewed, with one male siring most of the pups. Genetic analyses also revealed hybridization between the two species, with a M. punctulatus female bearing pups sired by a M. mustelus male. The frequency of polyandrous litters in these species is consistent with aspects of their reproductive biology, such as synchronous ovulation and possible occurrence of breeding aggregations