Papers by Author: Dong Wei Shu

Abstract: Rock movement caused by external explosion loading can damage the nearby tunnel or cavern.To avoid damage, energy absorbing bolts with high load-displacement and large energy absorptioncapacities are required. The deformation and friction of the bolt absorb energy during the rock movementand preventing the structure from damage. To maximize the energy absorption capacity in the limitedspace inside the borehole, we developed a new bolt that utilizes the friction and plastic deformation ofthe sleeve. To develop the new bolt, FE simulation in Abaqus was used to improve designs beforefabrication. Two prototypes of the new design was fabricated and tested by static pull test. The resultsshowed the bolts yielded in the desired way. The experimental results prove the new bolt is capable ofabsorbing large amount of energy and accommodating large displacement.

Abstract: The specimen size has always been crucial in defining the materials behaviour and becomes more important when materials are subjected to high rates of loadings. In the current study, the effect of specimen size on the mechanical behaviour of AZ31B alloy has been investigated under dynamic compression using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) and results are presented. Specimens were made in different sizes with fixed slenderness ratio (l/d) of 0.5 and with bar to specimen diameter ratio varying between 0.47 and 0.79. When deformed at the same strain rate 1500±50s-1, the smaller specimens give higher stresses and smaller strains. The smaller size specimens give more uniform strain rate as compared to the larger size specimens. However, some spurious oscillations are observed in the stress-strain curves for smaller size specimens. The alloy shows higher hardening behavior for larger size specimen; the hardening exponent n is larger for larger size specimens.

Abstract: Lighter yet stronger magnesium alloys have become very attractive for applications where materials undergo larger strains such as crash events in vehicles and planes, penetration of projectiles in personal body armour and vehicle armours. Excellent combination of light weight and good mechanical properties put magnesium alloys ahead of other structural materials in applications where high specific properties are required. It is well anticipated that magnesium alloys have enormous potential as a whole or a part of protective structures.

Abstract: The anisotropic effects on the mechanical response of AZ31B sheet at high strain rates have been analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the stress-strain behaviour of the alloy is highly anisotropic and rate sensitive. However, anisotropy of the mechanical properties of the alloy is less significant at higher strain rates. Under tensile loading, the anisotropic behaviour of the alloy is less significant as compare to its behaviour under compression. In both compression and tensile loading the alloy shows significant rate sensitivity as compare to quasi-static strain rates but at higher rates it is less significant. The maximum stress is observed to reach nearly 600 MPa for transverse direction impact. The tension-compression asymmetry is observed in the alloy.

Abstract: Magnesium alloys have been increasingly used in automobile, aerospace, consumer electronics and communication industries due to their low density, high strength to weight ratio, good impact resistance and castability. Impact situations in vehicles and airplanes and high speed metal working are characterized with the high rates of loading. The dynamic properties of materials are critical to evaluate the materials’ response in impact situations. They are also useful to design various automotive and aerospace components that are subjected to high rates of loadings. In current study, the compressive behaviour of magnesium alloy AZ31B has been examined over a wide range of strain rate between 10³ and 3x10³ s^-1 in order to evaluate its potential in structural applications. Higher stresses are observed at higher strain rates. The peak stress increases about 10% for an increase in the strain rate from 980 s^-1 to 2450 s^-1. The hardening exponent n increases from 0.65 to 0.72 with increasing strain rate from 980 s^-1 to 2450 s^-1 indicating that the alloy is rate sensitive. However, the rate sensitivity of the alloy is negligible at lower strains and is significantly higher at higher strains. Energy absorption during deformation in general is increased with the strain rate.

Abstract: In this work analytical solutions are developed to study the free vibration of composite beams under axial loading. The beam with a single delamination is modeled as four interconnected Euler-Bernoulli beams using the delamination as their boundary. The continuity and the equilibrium conditions are satisfied between the adjoining beams. The studies show that the sizes and the locations of the delaminations significantly influence the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the beam. A monotonic relation between the natural frequency and the axial load is predicted.

Abstract: There is a fast moving trend towards using lightweight materials in automotive, aerospace, building and construction, body armour and protection, sports and leisure goods. The dynamic industrial development puts higher demands for lighter and yet stronger materials. Magnesium alloys potentially met the present demands for lighter and reliable construction. With comparable specific stiffness, higher specific strength and energy absorption magnesium alloys have the potential to replace steel and aluminum alloys. Magnesium alloys are very useful for applications where materials are subjected to variable or dynamic loads such as crash events in vehicles and planes, buildings and structures against projectiles penetration etc. To know the materials’ response to impacts and their resistance to blast and shock, it is necessary to understand their behaviour under static as well as dynamic conditions. In current study, magnesium alloys AZ91D and AM50 have been studied at dynamic loading conditions and compared with aluminum alloy AA6061-T6. With significant mass saving, higher specific properties and higher energy absorption under dynamic loadings, magnesium alloys are promising candidates to replace conventional materials not only aluminum but steel as well in structural applications.

Abstract: In this paper, dynamic response of 1-inch hard disk drive (HDD) head arm assembly (HAA) against an impact load is obtained by means of a 3D non-linear finite element model in ANSYS/LS-DYNA and experiments using Optical method. A mass is modeled as a rigid body and is made to collide with the arm. The velocity, displacement, acceleration and the inertial force of the mass are obtained from the time- history of finite element analysis (FEA). In the experiment, a mass that is levitated with an aerostatic linear bearing, and hence encounters negligible friction, is made to collide with the HAA and the dynamic bending test for the arm is realized. During the collision the Doppler frequency shift of the laser beam reflecting from the mass is accurately measured using an optical interferometer. The velocity, the position, the acceleration and the inertial force of the mass are calculated from the measured time-varying Doppler frequency shift. A good correlation between the experimental data and FEA results is observed.

Abstract: Magnesium alloys have been increasingly used in the automobile, aerospace and communication industries due to their low density, high strength to weight ratio, good impact resistance and castability. Magnesium alloys, previously not used in load bearing components and structural parts are strongly being considered for use in such applications. Impact events in vehicles and airplanes as well as developments in weaponry and high speed metal working are all characterized by high rates of loading. Understanding of the dynamic behaviour of materials is critical for proper design and use in different applications. In the current study, a cast magnesium alloy AZ91D has been investigated at quasi-static and higher strain rates in the range between 300 s-1 and 1500 s-1. The INSTRON machine was used to perform the quasi-static tests. High strain rate tests have been performed using the Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB), a very useful and widely used tool to study the dynamic behaviour of variety of engineering materials. The results of a tensile testing indicate that the tensile properties including yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and the elongation at fracture (Ef) are affected by the strain rate variation. Higher stresses are associated with higher strain rates. The alloy AZ91D displays approximately 45% higher tensile stresses at an average strain rate of approximately 1215/s than at quasi-static strain rate. The dependence of the yield stress and tensile strength on the strain rate in the range of high strain rate above 1000 s-1 is larger than that at lower strain rates. The alloy AZ91D is observed to be more strain rate sensitive for strain rate higher than 1000 s-1. A decrease in the strain rate sensitivity is also observed with the increasing strain in the specimen. It is observed that the hardening behaviour of the alloy is affected with increasing the strain rate. At high strain rates, the fracture of magnesium alloy AZ91D tends to transit from ductile to brittle.

Abstract: The effect of specimen’s mean radius to average wall-thickness ratio rs/t, has been studied using the Split Hopkinson Torsional Bar. The rs/t ratio was varied between 6.5 and 39 keeping the outer diameter and the gauge length of the specimen constant. Higher strain rates and strains are observed for specimens with larger specimen radius to wall-thickness ratio rs/t. However no monotonic trend of the shear stress with rs/t variation is found. A sharp decrease in the torsional stiffness of the specimen is observed with increasing the specimen’s rs/t ratio. The rs/t ratio can also be used as a useful dimension to enhance the strain rate in tubular specimens.