Journal of Simulation and Analysis of Novel Technologies in Mechanical Engineering
Volume:6 Issue: 2, 2014

In inclined U-notches, the mixed mode (I + II) loading occurs and the mode ratio can be increased by varying the notch angle. In this paper, the effect of the inclined U-notch geometry, i.e. the notch depth, the notch angle, the notch root radius, and the position of the notch with respect to supports, on the mode ratio (KII/KI) have been studied. Three-point bending and plane strain condition have been considered in this study. Finite element results using ANSYS have shown that the mode ratio increases by increasing the notch root radius. Also, it has been found that the mode ratio decreases by increasing the distance of the notch from the supports, and by increasing the notch angle. However, it is seen that the notch depth has complicated effect on the mode ratio. The variation of the mode ratio with respect to the notch depth has a relative maximum and a relative minimum.

In human body movement simulation such as vertical jump by a forward dynamic model, optimal control theories must be used. In the recent years, new methods were created for solving optimization problems which they were adopted from animal behaviors and environment events such as Genetic algorithm, Particle swarm and Imperialism competitive. In this work, the skeletal model was constructed by Newton-Euler equation of motion. This 2D model has 4 rigid segments that include foot, shank, thigh and HAT (Head, Arm and Trunk) and all joints were assumed to be revolute and ideal. Also 20 effective muscles in vertical jump were constructed as joint actuator. The ground reaction force was simulated by a spring-damper element. Additionally, joints ligament were constructed to simulate the joint out of range motion. The Genetic algorithm was used to generate the best muscle excitation for maximum height in vertical jumping and the generated muscles excitations were converted to muscles activations. The muscles activations were applied to muscles model to generate muscles force. The maximum height of jump was considered as a criteria function of optimization problem. The designed genetic algorithm could control the musculoskeletal and simulate the vertical jump movement. The result showed that the height of center of mass was equal to 121.67 cm after 533 iterations. It is looks to be able to obtain better result provided to increase the iteration or combining clever algorithms together.

Fracture assessment of U- and V-notches is important in mechanical engineering. One can use the J-integral as fracture parameter in order to predict the critical fracture load in notches. The critical value of the J-integral in cracks is a function of the material properties. In notches, however, the material properties as well as the notch dimensions affect this critical value (named fracture toughness). So, one should carry out a complex and time-consuming experiment in order to find the fracture toughness. In this paper, a practical equation has been derived to evaluate the critical value of the J-integral in blunt V-notches under Mode I loading. By means this new expression, only the notch dimensions and the critical value of the J-integral in cracks should be known. In this paper, the effect of the notch angle, the control volume radius to the notch root radius ratio (Rc/ρ), and the Poisson’s ratio on the J-integral and the critical value of the J-integral have been studied. Results have shown that by increasing the notch angle and the Poisson’s ratio, the fracture toughness decreases. However, the fracture toughness increases by increasing the Rc/ρ ratio.

Application of impact energy absorption systems in different industries is of special significance. Thin-walled tubes, due to their lightness, high energy absorption capacity, long crushing length and the high ratio of energy absorption to weight, have found ever-increasing application as one of the most effective energy absorption systems. In this research, through carrying out experimental tests and finite element simulation, the crushing mechanism of hollow & solid (filled with polyurethane foam), sandwiched, thin-walled structures under the influence of axial, quasi-static loading has been studied. The tested cylindrical samples are made using extrusion method. These samples are compressed between two rigid plates under quasi-static loading conditions, and then the collapse mechanism, the crushing force fluctuations and absorbed energy are determined. A numerical model is presented based on the finite element analysis to simulate the collapse process, considering the non-linear responses of material behavior, contact surface and large deformation effects. Simulation of tested specimen has been executed by ABAQUS software in 3- dimensional models through explicit method. Comparison of numerical and experimental results showed that the present model provided an appropriate procedure to determine the collapse mechanism, crushing load and the amount of energy absorption. The model is used to evaluate the thickness effects of the tube, material quality, imperfection and density of the foam on the mean crush load, energy absorption capacity, and collapse mechanism of cylindrical shells. Research results showed that the existence of foam increases the amount of energy absorbtion in the structures. Increase of energy absorbtion and also increase of average crushing force, in foams with higher density is more evident.

Injection molding process is one of the most important methods of forming in the plastics manufacturing industry. Shrinkage and out of roundness are phenomenons that affect the final product quality. In this study, the effect of the thickness of cylindrical parts from polypropylene material on shrinkage and out of roundness has been investigated. For this purpose, injection molding process is simulated and analyzed with MOLDFLOW software. Then a five-cavity injection mold from hallow cylindrical parts with five different thicknesses is made. Using an injection molding machine least five samples of these parts are made. Then dimensions of samples are measured using 3D optical coordinate measuring machine and the amount of shrinkage of each sample is obtained. It can be concluded that with increasing part thickness, shrinkage and out of roundness are increased. It is because of being slower at melting material cools and having more time to make crystals. More crystallize caused to more shrinkage and more out of roundness. At the end, the simulation results are compared with the experimental results and showed a good agreement.

In this paper, vibration analysis of thick functionally graded beam with simply supported boundary condition under constant axial load is studied. The beam has a uniform cross-sectional area and the mechanical properties of the fungtionally graded beam are assumed to be vary through the thickness of the beam. Fundamental relations, the equilibrium and stability equations based on the displacement components are derived using the two-dimensional elasticity theory and hamilton's principle. Generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method is used to solve the system of coupled differential equations at equilibrium and moving condition. In this paper, the influences of axial loads, dimensionless geometric parameter, functionally graded index and ratio of thickness to length on the vibration of beam is presented. To study the accuracy of the present analysis, a compression is carried out between the present results and published results and also results obtained from ABAQUSE program. Results showed that the generalized differential quadrature method is quite good. Based on the results obtained by increasing the volume fraction of fibers in the functional graded beam, the natural frequency of the beam increases and for high volume fraction, it is not possible to see much change in the natural frequency. Also, by increasing the ratio of thickness to length in the absence of the critical load the natural frequency decreased.