Key Engineering Materials Vol. 681

Abstract: A three-dimensional boundary element methodology to study frictionless indentation response of piezoelectric (PE) materials is presented. The boundary element method (BEM) is used in order to compute the electro-elastic influence coeffcients of fully anisotropic piezoelectric solids. The proposed contact formulation is based on the augmented Lagrangian method presented in [33, 34, 35] and makes it possible to consider piezoelectric materials under different mechanical and electrical boundary conditions (i.e. insulating indenter and conducting indenter). The methodology is validated by comparison with theoretical solutions presented in the literature.

Abstract: Post-tensioned tanks for nuclear and energy storage applications are small radius cylindrical concrete structures in most cases. A large pre-compression force must be applied to withstand the high levels of tension produced by both the inner pressure and the temperature gradient between the inner and outer faces of the wall (regardless of the inhomogeneous material alteration due to the latter). Hence, high curvature horizontal (circumferential) tendons with a large number of strands, heavily post-tensioned, must be placed with the smallest possible vertical separation. The resultant radial post-tensioning force is transmitted to the net concrete section through its interface with the duct. The strands however pile up pushing inside the duct producing vertical pressure components along an arc, as well as the flattening out of the duct. The duct detaches then of the concrete leading to a crack initiation. This study presents a strongly non-linear model that attempts to account for all these factors. The results show that the concrete-duct contact must be modeled in order to prevent a crack sewing effect that may greatly overestimate the section capacity to withstand the post-tensioning, not to say the service mechanical and thermal loads. It also shows that these structures require higher tensile concrete strengths, and Ultra High Performance Concrete and Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete must be considered in order to make these tanks viable.

Abstract: One of the key issues in solving contact problems is the correct choice of the contact parameters. The contact stiffness, the penetration limit and the contact algorithm are some of the parameters that have to be adjusted. There are no methodologies available in the literature for choosing the contact parameters, relying only on the user experience for this important task. In this work we investigate how the contact parameters behave in a commercial finite element analysis software. We will show that while the contact stiffness has great influence on the finite element analysis, other parameters will not affect it significantly. Some contact examples are shown to illustrate the performance of the contact parameters during the solution of a contact problem.

Abstract: Although in terms of conservation wear is undesirable, however, running-in wear is encouraged rather than avoided. Running-in is rather complex and most of the studies related to the change in micro-geometry have been conducted statistically. The purpose of this study was to characterize the running-in of sliding contacts using finite element analysis based on measured micro-geometries. The developed model combines the finite element simulation, Archard’s wear equation and updated geometry to calculate the contact pressure distribution and wear depth. Results show that the proposed model is able to predict the running-in phase of sliding contact system.