Dielectrophoresis of nanocolloids: a molecular dynamics study

Dielectrophoresis (DEP), the motion of polarizable particles in non-uniform electric fields, has become an important tool for the transport, separation, and characterization of microparticles in biomedical and nanoelectronics research. In this article we present, to our knowledge, the first molecular dynamics simulations of DEP of nanometer-sized colloidal particles. We introduce a simplified model for polarizable nanoparticles, consisting of a large charged macroion and oppositely charged microions, in an explicit solvent. The model is then used to study DEP motion of the particle at different combinations of temperature and electric field strength. In accord with linear response theory, the particle drift velocities are shown to be proportional to the DEP force. Analysis of the colloid DEP mobility shows a clear time dependence, demonstrating the variation of friction under non-equilibrium. The time dependence of the mobility further results in an apparent weak variation of the DEP displacements with temperature

General dynamical equations of motion for elastic body systems

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76290/1/AIAA-11407-643.pd

A hysteretic multiscale formulation for validating computational models of heterogeneous structures

A framework for the development of accurate yet computationally efficient numerical models is proposed in this work, within the context of computational model validation. The accelerated computation achieved herein relies on the implementation of a recently derived multiscale finite element formulation, able to alternate between scales of different complexity. In such a scheme, the micro-scale is modelled using a hysteretic finite elements formulation. In the micro-level, nonlinearity is captured via a set of additional hysteretic degrees of freedom compactly described by an appropriate hysteric law, which gravely simplifies the dynamic analysis task. The computational efficiency of the scheme is rooted in the interaction between the micro- and a macro-mesh level, defined through suitable interpolation fields that map the finer mesh displacement field to the coarser mesh displacement field. Furthermore, damage related phenomena that are manifested at the micro-level are accounted for, using a set of additional evolution equations corresponding to the stiffness degradation and strength deterioration of the underlying material. The developed modelling approach is utilized for the purpose of model validation; firstly, in the context of reliability analysis; and secondly, within an inverse problem formulation where the identification of constitutive parameters via availability of acceleration response data is sought

Performance of CUF approach to analyze the structural behavior of slender bodies

This paper deals with the accurate evaluation of complete three-dimensional (3D) stress fields in beam structures with compact and bridge-like sections. A refined beam finite-element (FE) formulation is employed, which permits any-order expansions for the three displacement components over the section domain by means of the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). Classical (Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko) beam theories are considered as particular cases. Comparisons with 3D solid FE analyses are provided. End effects caused by the boundary conditions are investigated. Bending and torsional loadings are considered. The proposed formulation has shown its capability of leading to quasi-3D stress fields over the beam domain. Higher-order beam theories are necessary for the case of bridge-like sections. Various theories are also compared in terms of shear correction factors on the basis of definitions found in the open literature. It has been confirmed that different theories could lead to very different values of shear correction factors, the accuracy of which is subordinate to a great extent to the section geometries and loading conditions. However, an accurate evaluation of shear correction factors is obtained by means of the present higher-order theories

A hysteretic multiscale formulation for nonlinear dynamic analysis of composite materials

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.A new multiscale finite element formulation is presented for nonlinear dynamic analysis of heterogeneous structures. The proposed multiscale approach utilizes the hysteretic finite element method to model the microstructure. Using the proposed computational scheme, the micro-basis functions, that are used to map the microdisplacement components to the coarse mesh, are only evaluated once and remain constant throughout the analysis procedure. This is accomplished by treating inelasticity at the micro-elemental level through properly defined hysteretic evolution equations. Two types of imposed boundary conditions are considered for the derivation of the multiscale basis functions, namely the linear and periodic boundary conditions. The validity of the proposed formulation as well as its computational efficiency are verified through illustrative numerical experiments

On the prediction of topology and local properties for optimal trussed structures

A new formulation is presented for mathematical modelling to predict the distribution of material, material properties, and topology for the optimal design of trussed structures. The design problem is cast in a form to minimize a measure of generalized compliance , which is calculated as a sum over the structure of weighted displacement. Member stiffnesses appear as design variables and, starting with a given ground structure, the solution predicts the optimal layout and distribution of stiffness. The isoperimetric constraint in the reformulated problem measures total cost in generalized form , based on independently specified unit relative cost factors for each truss element. One or another form of optimal design is generated via a process where designated elements in the unit relative cost field are adjusted systematically at each cycle. The generalized cost feature provides as well for the introduction of certain technical constraints into the design problem, e.g. the facility to design around obstacles. Results for each cycle of an algorithm for computational treatment are identified as the solution to a properly posed optimization problem. Computational procedures are demonstrated by the prediction of optimal designs for a variety of truss problems in 2D.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46074/1/158_2005_Article_BF01197558.pd

Longhunter, Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society Newsletter Volume 22, Number 2

summary:The incremental finite element method is applied to find the numerical solution of the plasticity problem with strain-hardening. Following Watwood and Hartz, the stress field is approximated by equilibrium triangular elements with linear functions. The field of the strain-hardening parameter is considered to be piecewise linear. The resulting nonlinear optimization problem with constraints is solved by the Lagrange multipliers method with additional variables. A comparison of the results obtained with an experiment is given