Papers by Author: Wen Yi Yan

Abstract: The Bi-directional Evolutionary Structural Optimisation (BESO) method had been used by many authors for the optimisation of structures. This work sets out to investigate the effect of key optimisation parameters utilized in the BESO method, the evolution rate and the filter radius, on the outcome of the optimisation. An understanding of the interaction of these factors in the optimisation process enables a more efficient way to produce optimised components that can fully capitalise on the capabilities of additive manufacturing.

Abstract: A plastic strain correction factor is used in a simplified elastic-plastic fatigue analysis of nuclear power plant components. Numerical investigation on the plastic strain correction factor is presented for the case of the primary and secondary stress range exceeding three times the design stress intensity value under thermal-mechanical loadings. The plastic strain correction factor was computed separately by following the RCC-M code and applying the elastic-plastic finite element analysis. The influence of loading ratio, loading controlled mode and ambient temperature on the plastic strain correction factor was discussed. It was shown that the plastic strain correction factor computed from the RCC-M code is not as conservative as that from the complete elastic-plastic finite element analysis when the primary plus secondary stress range is close to three times the design stress intensity value. However, it is too conservative when the primary plus secondary stress range is more than three times the design stress intensity value multiplying parameter m (use in RCC-M code). Additionally, a new formula of plastic strain correction factor was proposed to provide a complete envelope curve to the entire primary plus secondary stress range.

Abstract: Experiments on U75V rail steel were carried out to investigate the cyclic feature, ratcheting behavior and low-cycle fatigue under both strain- and stress-controlled loadings at room temperature. It was found that U75V rail steel shows strain amplitude dependent cyclic softening feature, i.e., the responded stress amplitude under strain-controlled decreases with the increasing number of cycles and reaches a stable value after about 20th cycle. Ratcheting strain increases with an increasing stress amplitude and mean stress, except for stress ratio, and the ratcheting strain in failure also increases with an increasing stress amplitude, mean stress and stress ratio. The low-cycle fatigue lives under cyclic straining decrease linearly with an increasing strain amplitude, the fatigue lives under cyclic stressing decrease with an increasing mean stress except for zero mean stress, and decrease with an increasing stress amplitude. Ratcheting behavior with a high mean stress reduces fatigue life of rail steel by comparing fatigue lives under stress cycling with those under strain cycling. Research findings are helpful to evaluate fatigue life of U75V rail steel in the railways with passenger and freight traffic.

Abstract: Glassy shape memory polymer materials are applied successfully in biomedical fields due to their large recovery deformation, excellent biocompatibility and unique biodegradability. To predict the thermo-mechanical behavior of glassy shape memory polymers in biomedical devices accurately, a reasonably three-dimensional thermo-mechanical constitutive model must be established firstly. A one-dimensional linear-elastic constitutive model proposed by Tobushi et. al. (1997) was extended to capture the loading level dependent degradation of shape memory effect by introducing new nonlinear evolution equations with threshold values. Comparisons between experiments and simulations were carried to validate the extended model. Simulation results agree with experiments well, especially for the high loading levels.

Abstract: A comprehensive continuum damage mechanics model [1] had been developed to capture the detailed behaviour of a composite structure under a crushing load. This paper explores some of the difficulties encountered in the implementation of this model and their mitigation. The use of reduced integration element and a strain softening model both negatively affect the accuracy and stability of the simulation. Damage localisation effects demanded an accurate measure of characteristic length. A robust algorithm for determining the characteristic length was implemented. Testing showed that this algorithm produced marked improvements over the use of the default characteristic length provided by Abaqus. Zero-energy or hourglass modes, in reduced integration elements, led to reduced resistance to bending. This was compounded by the strain softening model, which led to the formation of elements with little resistance to deformation that could invert if left unchecked. It was shown, through benchmark testing, that by deleting elements with excess distortions and controlling the mesh using inbuilt distortion/hourglass controls, these issues can be alleviated. These techniques contributed significantly to the viability and usability of the damage model.

Abstract: The Bi-directional Evolutionary Structural Optimisation (BESO) method is a numerical topology optimisation method developed for use in finite element analysis. This paper presents a particular application of the BESO method to optimise the energy absorbing capability of metallic structures. The optimisation objective is to evolve a structural geometry of minimum mass while ensuring that the kinetic energy of an impacting projectile is reduced to a level which prevents perforation. Individual elements in a finite element mesh are deleted when a prescribed damage criterion is exceeded. An energy absorbing structure subjected to projectile impact will fail once the level of damage results in a critical perforation size. It is therefore necessary to constrain an optimisation algorithm from producing such candidate solutions. An algorithm to detect perforation was implemented within a BESO framework which incorporated a ductile material damage model.

Abstract: To search for a single parameter to evaluate the stress state in rail head during wheel/rail rolling contact situations, the stress-based and the strain based phenomenological approaches for multiaxial fatigue analysis can be considered as the candidates. Following the stress-based approach, the maximum von Mises stress range can be applied as a single parameter to evaluate the stress state in the rail head. However, the von Mises stress range only relies on the stress field in the rail head for the fatigue analysis, which is not sufficient for assessing the fatigue resistance of the rail steel. The Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) method, the strain-based phenomenological approach for multiaxial fatigue analysis which considers stress, elastic strain and plastic strain components, is then adopted to study rolling contact fatigue in the rail head. Combining with the three-dimensional finite element modelling of a steady-state wheel/rail rolling contact, the numerical procedure to calculate the SWT parameter in the rail head is presented. The capability of the SWT method to predict the initiation of fatigue cracks in the rail head is confirmed in a case study. Consequently, the maximum SWT parameter is proposed as a single parameter to effectively evaluate the stress state in the rail head.

Abstract: The ratcheting behaviour of a hypereutectoid high strength rail steel with carbon content of 0.85% was experimentally studied under both uniaxial and bi-axial cyclic loadings recently by the authors. To numerically simulate the multiaxial ratcheting behaviour of the rail steel, the Abaqus built-in Lemaitre-Chaboche model was applied first in current study. Following Abaqus documentation, the material data for the Lemaitre-Chaboche model were calibrated from the uniaxial loading test results. Comparing with experimental data, the Lemaitre-Chaboche model with the calibrated data provides overpredictions for the ratcheting responses of the rail steel under both uniaxial and bi-axial loadings. After that, a modified cyclic plasticity model with a coupling multiaxial parameter in the isotropic and kinematic hardening rules was applied for the material. The material data for this modified model were calibrated from both uniaxial and bi-axial loading tests. Comparison between the simulated results and the experimental data show that this modified cyclic plasticity model has the capacity to simulate both uniaxial and multiaxial ratcheting behaviour of the hypereutectoid rail steel with an acceptable accuracy.

Abstract: Graphene, a flat monolayer of carbon atoms packed in a 2D honeycomb lattice, has outstanding mechanical properties and can be used as a reinforcement for developing composites, such as graphene/polymer composites. The interface properties between the reinforcing and the matrix phase influence significantly the performance of these new nanocomposites. Very limited experimental studies have been carried out to evaluate the interfacial characteristics of the nanocomposites due to difficulties in accessing individual interfaces. Evaluation of interfacial behaviour of the nanocomposites using numerical studies is available, but these studies mainly deal with separation in the shear (sliding) mode performed by pullout test. The purpose of this study is to develop a microscopic numerical model to simulate graphene/polymer peel test, where opening mode of fracture is dominated. A plane-strain model is developed using the finite element method (Abaqus). The interface bonding between the graphene and polymer matrix is described by using a cohesive zone model. The numerical results are compared with an experimental study published in literature.

Abstract: This paper discusses our recent research on wear at the die radius in sheet metal stamping. According to wear theory, contact pressure and sliding distance are the two dominant factors in determining sliding wear. We applied the finite element analysis to accurately quantify the contact pressure and sliding distance at the die radius in sheet metal stamping. The results were then applied to analyze sliding wear at the die radius. We found that a typical two-peak steady-state contact pressure response exists during a channel forming process. The steady-state contact pressure response was preceded by an initial transient response, which produced extremely large and localized contact pressures. We proposed a method to numerically quantify the sliding distance, which was applied to examine the contact sliding distance at the die radius. Correlating the contact pressure and sliding distance, a new insight into the wear/galling that occurs at the die radius in sheet metal stamping was gained. The results show that the region close to zero degrees on the die radius is likely to experience the most wear, with the identified transient stage contributing to a large proportion of the total wear.