Wall Adhesion and Constitutive Modelling of Strong Colloidal Gels

Wall adhesion effects during batch sedimentation of strongly flocculated colloidal gels are commonly assumed to be negligible. In this study in-situ measurements of colloidal gel rheology and solids volume fraction distribution suggest the contrary, where significant wall adhesion effects are observed in a 110mm diameter settling column. We develop and validate a mathematical model for the equilibrium stress state in the presence of wall adhesion under both viscoplastic and viscoelastic constitutive models. These formulations highlight fundamental issues regarding the constitutive modeling of colloidal gels, specifically the relative utility and validity of viscoplastic and viscoelastic rheological models under arbitrary tensorial loadings. The developed model is validated against experimental data, which points toward a novel method to estimate the shear and compressive yield strength of strongly flocculated colloidal gels from a series of equilibrium solids volume fraction profiles over various column widths.Comment: 37 pages, 12 figures, submitted to Journal of Rheolog

Finite element analysis of structural components using viscoplastic models with application to a cowl lip problem

The viability of advanced viscoplastic models for nonlinear finite element analyses of structural components is investigated. Several uniaxial and a multiaxial problem are analyzed using the finite element implementation of Freed's viscoplastic model. Good agreement between the experimental and calculated uniaxial results validates the finite element implementation and gives confidence to apply it to more complex multiaxial problems. A comparison of results for a sample structural component (the cowl lip of a hypersonic engine inlet) with the earlier elastic, elastic-plastic, and elastic-plastic-creep analyses available in the literature shows that the elastic-viscoplastic analyses yield more reasonable stress and strain distributions. Finally, the versatility of the finite-element-based solution technology presented herein is demonstrated by applying it to another viscoplastic model

Viscoplastic constitutive models for zero-thickness interface elements, formulation and applications

An energy-based work-softening visco-plastic model for zero-thickness interface elements has been developed as an extension of an existing elastic-perfectly-viscoplastic formulation. In the inviscid limit the model also collapses into a well-established fracture mechanics-based elasto-plastic model. The new model is verified satisfactorily for common loading cases at interfaces such as pure tension (mode I) opening, and shear-compression (mixed-mode) sliding, with results that in the long term match the predictions of the fracture mechanics inviscid model.Postprint (published version

Experimental and mechanical characterizations of a lead free solder alloy for electronic devices

Electronic power modules devices are paramount components in the aeronautical,automotive and military applications. The solder layers are the most critical parts of the module and are usually subjected in their whole life to complex loading conditions. To improve the design task, realistic thermoelastoviscoplastic and lifetime prediction models which can describe efficiently the deformation-damage of the electrical device must be chosen carefully. Some of the most common behavior models are based on the separation between creep and plasticity deformations such as power law, Garofalo, Darveaux… So, to take into account the creep-plasticity interaction, the thermal cycling as well as the hardening-softening effects, unified viscoplastic models are increasingly being used to describe more efficiently the physical state of the material. We propose in this framework a survey of some unified viscoplastic models used in the electronic applications for the viscoplastic modeling of the solder as well as creep-fatigue life prediction rules. The models are used for the characterization of a SnAgCu solder and are briefly compared within tensile, creep data and stabilized responses

Numerical simulation of ram extrusion in short-fiber-reinforced fresh cementitious composites

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. First published in JoMMS in 4(10), 2009, published by Mathematical Sciences Publishers.A series of ram extrusion tests was carried out on a short-fiber-reinforced, semisolid, fresh cementitious composite. An elastoviscoplastic constitutive model is proposed for the extrudable fresh cementitious composite. It features the associative flow rule, a nonlinear strain rate-hardening law, and the von Mises yield criterion. The model is then implemented in ANSYS/LS-DYNA explicit finite element code. Various ram extrusion processes of the fresh cementitious composite were simulated. It has been found that the extrusion load versus imposed displacement predictions agree well with the experimental results. The fresh paste flow, through the die entry and the die-land, is then interpreted in light of the evolution of the deformation and distribution of state variables, mainly based on numerical results and the ram extrusion mechanism. The effects of extrusion ratio and extrusion velocity on extrusion load are also investigated, based on the mechanical properties of the fresh cementitious composite. The study indicates that the numerical procedure established, together with the constitutive model proposed, is applicable for describing ram extrusion of short-fiber-reinforced fresh cementitious composites, which might provide a numerical rheometric tool from which ram extrusion of elastoviscoplastic paste-like materials can be examined and quantified.Hong Kong Research Grant Council and China Ministry of Science and Technology

Numerical modeling of strain rate hardening effects on viscoplastic behavior of metallic materials

The main goal of the present work is to provide a finite strain elasticviscoplastic framework to numerically account for strain, strain rate hardening, and viscous effects in cold deformation of metallic materials. The aim is to provide a simple and robust numerical framework capable of modeling the main macroscopic behavior associated with high strain rate plastic deformation of metals. In order to account for strain rate hardening effects at finite strains, the hardening rule involves a rate dependent saturation hardening, and it accounts for linear hardening prevailing at latter deformation stages. The numerical formulation, finite element implementation, and constitutive modeling capabilities are assessed by means of decremental strain rate testing and constant strain rate loading followed by stress relaxation. The numerical results have demonstrated the overall framework can be an efficient numerical tool for simulation of plastic deformation processes where strain rate history effects have to be accounted for