Papers by Author: Zhi Hua Wang

Abstract: In this paper the structure response of quasi-statically loaded sandwich beams made of aluminum skins with open-cell aluminum foam cores is investigated experimentally. The experimental programme was designed to investigate the deformation and failure modes of sandwich beams, so a large number of experiments have been conducted, and the experimental results are reported and discussed systematically. It is found that sandwich beams under quasi-static punching loads can fail in several modes: face yield, face wrinkling, core shear, the bottom face fracture and interfacial failure between the core and the faces. Moreover, the effects of face thickness, cell size of foam material on the failure and deformation modes were discussed. The experimental results are of worth to optimum design of cellular metallic sandwich structures.

Abstract: The local effect of “softening” at the crack location can be simulated by an equivalent spring connecting the two segments of the beam. As modelling the crack, the non-perfectly rigid clamp is also simulated as a torsional spring of unknown stiffness. Combined with the Bernoulli-Euler theories of beam, the present model is applied to derive the characteristic equation of the cantilever beam under uncertain end conditions related to the crack parameters, namely, the location and the depth of the crack. Based on this characteristic equation, an accurate crack identification method is developed to identify the location and the depth of the crack by minimizing the difference between the analytical and experimental frequency values. The proposed approach is verified by two cantilever beam experiments under ideal boundary conditions and uncertain end conditions. It is found that the location and the depth of the crack can be worked out when at least three natural frequencies are known. For crack identification of the cantilever beam under uncertain end conditions, the identified crack location of the proposed approach is more accurate than the Narkis’ method. Furthermore, the crack depth can also be obtained by the present method.

Abstract: The objective of this study is to show the potential of the crack detection method based on Wavelet Packet Transform (WPT), which is depending on the response at a single point on a beam subject to moving load. In this paper, an ANSYS model of a cracked beam is established. The moving load is transient analyzed by shifting the point of the concentrated force. The response at mid-span of the beam is calculated and wavelet packet transformed. The crack on the beam can be found by the abnormal signal in WPT branches. The size is also estimated by a defined damage index (Dindex) which relates to the energy of the abnormal signal. Finally, the effects of both crack location and wavelet selection on Dindex are discussed in detail.

Abstract: This paper presents a study of heat treatment on the quasi-static and dynamic compressive properties of the open cell aluminum alloy foams in as-fabricated (F), age-hardened (A) and T6-strengthened (T6) conditions. Although the strain rate and heat treatment of foams are different, all exhibit similar deformation behavior in the subsequent deformation. The yield stress of foams at different strain rates are improved by heat treatment, all exhibit some strain rate sensitivity. However, the densification strain of foams is not sensitive to heat treatment.

Abstract: The static and dynamic compressive behaviors of open-cell aluminum alloy foams with virtually the same relative density of 0.4 were investigated. The foams have different cell sizes (0.5mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm) but similar cell morphology and microstructure. The yield strength of these foams was characterized as a function of strain rate and cell morphology. The experimental results indicated that the mechanical responses of foams are sensitive to strain rate, and dependent of the cell size. The present results are compared in details with recent findings obtained from the aluminum foams.

Abstract: The dynamic compressive behavior of open-cell aluminum alloy foams with different length of specimens was investigated using the split Hopkinson pressure bar technique. Plastic strength was measured for aluminum alloy foam specimens having the three cell sizes but similar cell microstructure. Longer specimens exhibited lower mean strength and broader scattering of the strength values than the shorter ones. It can be observed that mechanical response of aluminum alloy foams appear to be dependent of the cell size for both the shorter and longer specimens.

Abstract: Many structures and buildings such as nuclear power station and chemical plant are often subjected to impact and explosive loadings. The understanding of material response to highamplitude, short-duration, impulse loads is very important, dynamic behavior of concrete under high strain rate has been paid much attention to. In the present paper, experimental study on the dynamic tension behavior of concrete is carried out. Based on the former theoretical introduction, dynamic splitting tensile tests at different strain rates are conducted on 74mm diameter concrete specimens in a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar to study the effect of strain rate on the dynamic tension behavior of concrete. The mechanism and speed of crack propagation of concrete cylinder planar surface in dynamic splitting tensile test are discussed briefly.

Abstract: The compressive deformation behavior of open-cell aluminum foams with different densities and morphologies was assessed under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. High strain rate experiments were conducted using a split Hopkinson pressure bar technique at strain rates ranging from 500 to 1 2000 − s . The experimental results shown that the compressive stress-strain curves of aluminum foams also have the “ three regions” character appeared in general foam materials, namely elastic region, collapse region and densification regions. It is found that density is the primary variable characterizing the modulus and yield strength of foams and the cell appears to have a negligible effect on the strength of foams. It also is found that yield strength and energy absorption is almost insensitive to strain rate and deformation is spatially uniform for the open-celled aluminum foams, over a wide range of strain rates.

Abstract: Damage detection using changes in global dynamic characteristics has been a hot research topic in recent years. In the present paper, based on natural frequencies and mode shapes, a numerical tudy locating and assessing damage in a circular cylindrical shell is presented. The axial position of the damage can be easily obtained by comparing the theoretical and measured frequency changes due to damage. Additional information of mode shapes is introduced to locate the exact damage position. And the damage extent can be estimated by the first order approximation method. The feasibility and practicality of the damage detection scheme are evaluated for several damage scenarios by locating and sizing damage in free-clamped shells. The results illustrate that the proposed detection scheme can confidently locate the single or multiple positions of damage. It is also observed that damage extent can be estimated with a relatively small error.

Abstract: In the present paper, the Damage Location Assurance Criterion (DLAC) is extended to locate and assess damage in a circular cylindrical shell based on natural frequencies and mode shapes. Frequency sensitivities computed from a defect-free finite element model are applied to calculate the theoretical frequency changes. The axial position of the damage can be easily obtained by comparing the theoretical and measured frequency changes due to damage. For the shell is axisymmetric, additional information of mode shapes is introduced to locate the exact damage position. The damage extent can be estimated by the first order approximation method. The feasibility and practicality of the damage detection scheme are evaluated for several damage scenarios by locating and sizing damage in the free–free, simply-supported and free-clamped shells, respectively. Results from simulation examples show that the proposed detection scheme can confidently locate the single or multiple positions of damage. It is also observed that damage extent can be estimated with a relatively small error.