Variationally-based theories for buckling of partial composite beam-columns including shear and axial effects

International audienceThis paper is focused on elastic stability problems of partial composite columns: the conditions for the axial load not to introduce any pre-bending effects in composite columns; the equivalence, similarities and differences between different sandwich and partial composite beam theories with and without the effect of shear, with and without the effect of axial extensibility, and also the effect of eccentric axial load application. The basic modelling of the composite beam-column uses the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and a linear constitutive law for the slip. In the analysis of this reference model, a variational formulation is used in order to derive relevant boundary conditions. The specific loading associated with no pre-bending effects before buckling is geometrically characterized, leading to analytical buckling loads of the partial composite column. The equivalence between the Hoff theory for sandwich beam-columns, the composite action theory for beam-columns with interlayer slip and the corresponding Bickford-Reddy theory, is shown from the stability point of view. Special loading configurations including eccentric axial load applications and axial loading only on one of the sub-elements of the composite beam-column are investigated and the similarity of the behaviour to that of imperfect ordinary beam-columns is demonstrated. The effect of axial extensibility on kinematical relationships (according to the Reissner theory), is analytically quantified and compared to the classical solution of the problem. Finally, the effect of incorporating shear in the analysis of composite members using the Timoshenko theory is evaluated. By using a variational formulation, the buckling behaviour of partial composite columns is analysed with respect to both the Engesser and the Haringx theory. A simplified uniform shear theory (assuming equal shear deformations in each sub-element) for the partial composite beam-column is first presented, and then a refined differential shear theory (assuming individual shear deformations in each sub-element) is evaluated. The paper concludes with a discussion on this shear effect, the differences between the shear theories presented and when the shear effect can be neglected

Small length scale coefficient for Eringen's and lattice-based continualized nonlocal circular arches in buckling and vibration

This paper presents analytical buckling and vibration solutions for two nonlocal circular arch models. One model is based on Eringen's stress gradient theory while the other model is based on continualization of a lattice system. Both nonlocal arch models contain the unknown small length scale coefficient e. In order to calibrate e, exact buckling and vibration solutions for Hencky bar-chain model (HBM) are first obtained. On the basis of the phenomenological similarities between the HBM and the nonlocal arch models, the matching of buckling and vibration solutions for HBMs and those for nonlocal models allows one to calibrate the e values. It is found that e for Eringen's nonlocal circular arch (ENCA) varies with respect to geometrical property of the arch and boundary conditions. However, e for a continualized nonlocal circular arch (CNCA) is found to be a constant value, regardless of geometrical properties or boundary conditions

Bifurcation analysis of rotating axially compressed imperfect nano-rod

Static stability problem for axially compressed rotating nano-rod clamped at one and free at the other end is analyzed by the use of bifurcation theory. It is obtained that the pitchfork bifurcation may be either super- or sub-critical. Considering the imperfections in rod's shape and loading, it is proved that they constitute the two-parameter universal unfolding of the problem. Numerical analysis also revealed that for non-locality parameters having higher value than the critical one interaction curves have two branches, so that for a single critical value of angular velocity there exist two critical values of horizontal force

Quantum Smoluchowski equation: Escape from a metastable state

We develop a quantum Smoluchowski equation in terms of a true probability distribution function to describe quantum Brownian motion in configuration space in large friction limit at arbitrary temperature and derive the rate of barrier crossing and tunneling within an unified scheme. The present treatment is independent of path integral formalism and is based on canonical quantization procedure.Comment: 10 pages, To appear in the Proceedings of Statphys - Kolkata I

A nonlinear Lagrangian particle model for grains assemblies including grain relative rotations

International audienceWe formulate a discrete Lagrangian model for a set of interacting grains, which is purely elastic. The considered degrees of freedom for each grain include placement of barycenter and rotation. Further, we limit the study to the case of planar systems. A representative grain radius is introduced to express the deformation energy to be associated to relative displacements and rotations of interacting grains. We distinguish inter‐grains elongation/compression energy from inter‐grains shear and rotations energies, and we consider an exact finite kinematics in which grain rotations are independent of grain displacements. The equilibrium configurations of the grain assembly are calculated by minimization of deformation energy for selected imposed displacements and rotations at the boundaries. Behaviours of grain assemblies arranged in regular patterns, without and with defects, and similar mechanical properties are simulated. The values of shear, rotation, and compression elastic moduli are varied to investigate the shapes and thicknesses of the layers where deformation energy, relative displacement, and rotations are concentrated. It is found that these concentration bands are close to the boundaries and in correspondence of grain voids. The obtained results question the possibility of introducing a first gradient continuum models for granular media and justify the development of both numerical and theoretical methods for including frictional, plasticity, and damage phenomena in the proposed model

Higher-order shear beam theories and enriched continuum

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Higher-order shear beam theories and enriched continuum

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