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1 – 10 of over 2000
Article
Publication date: 4 November 2014

ShiYang Zhao and Pu Xue

– The purpose of the paper is to improve the calculability of a continuum damage failure model of composite laminates based on Tsai-Wu criteria.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to improve the calculability of a continuum damage failure model of composite laminates based on Tsai-Wu criteria.

Design/methodology/approach

A technique based on viscous regularization, a characteristic element length and fracture energies of fiber and matrix are used in the model.

Findings

The calculability of the material model is improved. The modified model can predict the behavior of composite structure better.

Originality/value

The convergence problem and the mesh softening problem are main concern in the calculability of numerical model. In order to improve the convergence, a technique based on viscous regularization of damage variable is used. Meanwhile, characteristic element length and fracture energies of fiber and matrix are added into the damage constitutive equation to reduce the mesh sensitivity of numerical results. Finally, a laminated structure with damages is implemented using a User Material Subroutine in ABAQUS/Standard. Mesh sensitivity and value of viscosity are discussed.

Details

Multidiscipline Modeling in Materials and Structures, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1573-6105

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 May 2020

Jéderson da Silva, Jucélio Tomás Pereira and Diego Amadeu F. Torres

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new scheme for obtaining acceptable solutions for problems of continuum topology optimization of structures, regarding the distribution…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new scheme for obtaining acceptable solutions for problems of continuum topology optimization of structures, regarding the distribution and limitation of discretization errors by considering h-adaptivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The new scheme encompasses, simultaneously, the solution of the optimization problem considering a solid isotropic microstructure with penalization (SIMP) and the application of the h-adaptive finite element method. An analysis of discretization errors is carried out using an a posteriori error estimator based on both the recovery and the abrupt variation of material properties. The estimate of new element sizes is computed by a new h-adaptive technique named “Isotropic Error Density Recovery”, which is based on the construction of the strain energy error density function together with the analytical solution of an optimization problem at the element level.

Findings

Two-dimensional numerical examples, regarding minimization of the structure compliance and constraint over the material volume, demonstrate the capacity of the methodology in controlling and equidistributing discretization errors, as well as obtaining a great definition of the void–material interface, thanks to the h-adaptivity, when compared with results obtained by other methods based on microstructure.

Originality/value

This paper presents a new technique to design a mesh made with isotropic triangular finite elements. Furthermore, this technique is applied to continuum topology optimization problems using a new iterative scheme to obtain solutions with controlled discretization errors, measured in terms of the energy norm, and a great resolution of the material boundary. Regarding the computational cost in terms of degrees of freedom, the present scheme provides approximations with considerable less error if compared to the optimization process on fixed meshes.

Article
Publication date: 11 April 2020

Mohammad Rezaiee-Pajand, Nima Gharaei-Moghaddam and Mohammadreza Ramezani

This paper aims to propose a new robust membrane finite element for the analysis of plane problems. The suggested element has triangular geometry. Four nodes and 11 degrees of…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a new robust membrane finite element for the analysis of plane problems. The suggested element has triangular geometry. Four nodes and 11 degrees of freedom (DOF) are considered for the element. Each of the three vertex nodes has three DOF, two displacements and one drilling. The fourth node that is located inside the element has only two translational DOF.

Design/methodology/approach

The suggested formulation is based on the assumed strain method and satisfies both compatibility and equilibrium conditions within each element. This establishment results in higher insensitivity to the mesh distortion. Enforcement of the equilibrium condition to the assumed strain field leads to considerably high accuracy of the developed formulation.

Findings

To show the merits of the suggested plane element, its different properties, including insensitivity to mesh distortion, particularly under transverse shear forces, immunities to the various locking phenomena and convergence of the element are studied. The obtained results demonstrate the superiority of the suggested element compared with many of the available robust membrane elements.

Originality/value

According to the attained results, the proposed element performs better than the well-known displacement-based elements such as linear strain triangular element, Q4 and Q8 and even is comparable with robust modified membrane elements.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 37 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 March 2023

Jordi Vila-Pérez, Matteo Giacomini and Antonio Huerta

This study aims to assess the robustness and accuracy of the face-centred finite volume (FCFV) method for the simulation of compressible laminar flows in different regimes, using…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to assess the robustness and accuracy of the face-centred finite volume (FCFV) method for the simulation of compressible laminar flows in different regimes, using numerical benchmarks.

Design/methodology/approach

The work presents a detailed comparison with reference solutions published in the literature –when available– and numerical results computed using a commercial cell-centred finite volume software.

Findings

The FCFV scheme provides first-order accurate approximations of the viscous stress tensor and the heat flux, insensitively to cell distortion or stretching. The strategy demonstrates its efficiency in inviscid and viscous flows, for a wide range of Mach numbers, also in the incompressible limit. In purely inviscid flows, non-oscillatory approximations are obtained in the presence of shock waves. In the incompressible limit, accurate solutions are computed without pressure correction algorithms. The method shows its superior performance for viscous high Mach number flows, achieving physically admissible solutions without carbuncle effect and predictions of quantities of interest with errors below 5%.

Originality/value

The FCFV method accurately evaluates, for a wide range of compressible laminar flows, quantities of engineering interest, such as drag, lift and heat transfer coefficients, on unstructured meshes featuring distorted and highly stretched cells, with an aspect ratio up to ten thousand. The method is suitable to simulate industrial flows on complex geometries, relaxing the requirements on mesh quality introduced by existing finite volume solvers and alleviating the need for time-consuming manual procedures for mesh generation to be performed by specialised technicians.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 May 2017

Rim Chtourou, Nicolas Leconte, Bassem Zouari, Fahmi Chaari, Eric Markiewicz and Bertrand Langrand

This paper aims to propose a macro modeling approach to simulate the mechanical behavior and the failure of spot welded joints in structural crashworthiness computations.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a macro modeling approach to simulate the mechanical behavior and the failure of spot welded joints in structural crashworthiness computations.

Design/methodology/approach

A connector element is proposed to simulate the behavior and failure of spot weld joints. An elastic-plastic damageable model is used to describe the non-linear response and rupture. The connector model involves several parameters that have to be defined. Some are directly identified based on mechanical interpretations and experimental tests characteristics. The remaining parameters are identified through a finite element model updating approach using Arcan tests. Resulting from a sensitivity analysis, an original two steps optimization methodology, using the Modes I and II Arcan tests results sequentially, has been implemented to identify the remaining model parameters.

Findings

The numerical results for Arcan tests in mixed Modes I/II are in a good agreement with the experimental ones. The model is also validated on tensile pull-out, single lap shear and coach-peel tests.

Originality/value

By comparison with previous published results, the proposed model brings a significant improvement. The main innovative aspects of this work are as follows: the proposed formulation, a reduced number of parameters to optimize, an original sequential optimization methodology based on physical and mechanical analyses and a mesh size independent connector element.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 34 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2001

Carlos A. Felippa

Teaches by example the application of finite element templates in constructing high performance elements. The example discusses the improvement of the mass and geometric stiffness…

Abstract

Teaches by example the application of finite element templates in constructing high performance elements. The example discusses the improvement of the mass and geometric stiffness matrices of a Bernoulli‐Euler plane beam. This process interweaves classical techniques (Fourier analysis and weighted orthogonal polynomials) with newer tools (finite element templates and computer algebra systems). Templates are parameterized algebraic forms that uniquely characterize an element population by a “genetic signature” defined by the set of free parameters. Specific elements are obtained by assigning numeric values to the parameters. This freedom of choice can be used to design “custom” elements. For this example weighted orthogonal polynomials are used to construct templates for the beam material stiffness, geometric stiffness and mass matrices. Fourier analysis carried out through symbolic computation searches for template signatures of mass and geometric stiffness that deliver matrices with desirable properties when used in conjunction with the well‐known Hermitian beam material stiffness. For mass‐stiffness combinations, three objectives are noted: high accuracy for vibration analysis, wide separation of acoustic and optical branches, and low sensitivity to mesh distortion and boundary conditions. Only the first objective is examined in detail.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 18 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 8 May 2018

Aidan Jungo, Mengmeng Zhang, Jan B. Vos and Arthur Rizzi

The purpose of this paper is to present the status of the on-going development of the new computerized environment for aircraft synthesis and integrated optimization methods…

2145

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the status of the on-going development of the new computerized environment for aircraft synthesis and integrated optimization methods (CEASIOM) and to compare results of different aerodynamic tools. The concurrent design of aircraft is an extremely interdisciplinary activity incorporating simultaneous consideration of complex, tightly coupled systems, functions and requirements. The design task is to achieve an optimal integration of all components into an efficient, robust and reliable aircraft with high performance that can be manufactured with low technical and financial risks, and has an affordable life-cycle cost.

Design/methodology/approach

CEASIOM (www.ceasiom.com) is a framework that integrates discipline-specific tools like computer-aided design, mesh generation, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), stability and control analysis and structural analysis, all for the purpose of aircraft conceptual design.

Findings

A new CEASIOM version is under development within EU Project AGILE (www.agile-project.eu), by adopting the CPACS XML data-format for representation of all design data pertaining to the aircraft under development.

Research limitations/implications

Results obtained from different methods have been compared and analyzed. Some differences have been observed; however, they are mainly due to the different physical modelizations that are used by each of these methods.

Originality/value

This paper summarizes the current status of the development of the new CEASIOM software, in particular for the following modules: CPACS file visualizer and editor CPACSupdater (Matlab) Automatic unstructured (Euler) & hybrid (RANS) mesh generation by sumo Multi-fidelity CFD solvers: Digital Datcom (Empirical), Tornado (VLM), Edge-Euler & SU2-Euler, Edge-RANS & SU2-RANS Data fusion tool: aerodynamic coefficients fusion from variable fidelity CFD tools above to compile complete aero-table for flight analysis and simulation.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 90 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2017

Alain Fossi and Alain DeChamplain

Safety improvement and pollutant reduction in many practical combustion systems and especially in aero-gas turbine engines require an adequate understanding of flame ignition and…

Abstract

Purpose

Safety improvement and pollutant reduction in many practical combustion systems and especially in aero-gas turbine engines require an adequate understanding of flame ignition and stabilization mechanisms. Improved software and hardware have opened up greater possibilities for translating basic knowledge and the results of experiments into better designs. The present study deals with the large eddy simulation (LES) of an ignition sequence in a conical shaped bluff-body stabilized burner involving a turbulent non-premixed flame. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of spark location on ignition success. Particular attention is paid to the ease of handling of the numerical tool, the computational cost and the accuracy of the results.

Design/methodology/approach

The discrete particle ignition kernel (DPIK) model is used to capture the ignition kernel dynamics in its early stage of growth after the breakdown period. The ignition model is coupled with two combustion models based on the mixture fraction-progress variable formulation. An infinitely fast chemistry assumption is first done, and the turbulent fluctuations of the progress variable are captured with a bimodal probability density function (PDF) in the line of the Bray–Moss–Libby (BML) model. Thereafter, a finite rate chemistry assumption is considered through the flamelet-generated manifold (FGM) method. In these two assumptions, the classical beta-PDF is used to model the temporal fluctuations of the mixture fraction in the turbulent flow. To model subgrid scale stresses and residual scalars fluxes, the wall-adapting local eddy (WALE) and the eddy diffusivity models are, respectively, used under the low-Mach number assumption.

Findings

Numerical results of velocity and mixing fields, as well as the ignition sequences, are validated through a comparison with their experimental counterparts. It is found that by coupling the DPIK model with each of the two combustion models implemented in a LES-based solver, the ignition event is reasonably predicted with further improvements provided by the finite rate chemistry assumption. Finally, the spark locations most likely to lead to a complete ignition of the burner are found to be around the shear layer delimiting the central recirculation zone, owing to the presence of a mixture within flammability limits.

Research limitations/implications

Some discrepancies are found in the radial profiles of the radial velocity and consequently in those of the mixture fraction, owing to a mismatch of the radial velocity at the inlet section of the computational domain. Also, unlike FGM methods, the BML model predicts the overall ignition earlier than suggested by the experiment; this may be related to the overestimation of the reaction rate, especially in the zones such as flame holder wakes which feature high strain rate due to fuel-air mixing.

Practical implications

This work is adding a contribution for ignition modeling, which is a crucial issue in various combustion systems and especially in aircraft engines. The exclusive use of a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code widely used by combustion system manufacturers allows a direct application of this simulation approach to other configurations while keeping computing costs at an affordable level.

Originality/value

This study provides a robust and simple way to address some ignition issues in various spark ignition-based engines, namely, the optimization of engines ignition with affordable computational costs. Based on the promising results obtained in the current work, it would be relevant to extend this simulation approach to spray combustion that is required for aircraft engines because of storage volume constraints. From this standpoint, the simulation approach formulated in the present work is useful to engineers interested in optimizing the engines ignition at the design stage.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 27 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 January 2024

Inamul Hasan, Mukesh R., Radha Krishnan P., Srinath R. and Boomadevi P.

This study aims to find the characteristics of supercritical airfoil in helicopter rotor blades for hovering phase using numerical analysis and the validation using experimental…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to find the characteristics of supercritical airfoil in helicopter rotor blades for hovering phase using numerical analysis and the validation using experimental results.

Design/methodology/approach

Using numerical analysis in the forward phase of the helicopter, supercritical airfoil is compared with the conventional airfoil for the aerodynamic performance. The multiple reference frame method is used to produce the results for rotational analysis. A grid independence test was carried out, and validation was obtained using benchmark values from NASA data.

Findings

From the analysis results, a supercritical airfoil in hovering flight analysis proved that the NASA SC rotor produces 25% at 5°, 26% at 12° and 32% better thrust at 8° of collective pitch than the HH02 rotor. Helicopter performance parameters are also calculated based on momentum theory. Theoretical calculations prove that the NASA SC rotor is better than the HH02 rotor. The results of helicopter performance prove that the NASA SC rotor provides better aerodynamic efficiency than the HH02 rotor.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper is it proved the aerodynamic performance of supercritical airfoil is performing better than the HH02 airfoil. The results are validated with the experimental values and theoretical calculations from the momentum theory.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 July 2015

Stephan Klomberg, Ernst Farnleitner, Gebhard Kastner and Oszkár Bíró

The purpose of this paper is to present a new computational fluid dynamics model for large electrical machines to simulate the heat transfer at specific components to the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new computational fluid dynamics model for large electrical machines to simulate the heat transfer at specific components to the appropriate ventilation method. The most damageable parts for overheating in generators are the end winding bars, pole windings and stator ducts.

Design/methodology/approach

The reduced model introduced is basically derived from the state-of-the-art pole section model (PSM) and enables faster computations for heat transfer and cooling simulations of electrical machines. The fundamentals of the two methods and the grid generation are described. Two PSMs and four different reduced models are presented and compared among each other to tune the reduced model.

Findings

As a topic of outstanding interest in large hydro generators, the heat transfer at the end winding bars is solved with the aid of the reduced model. This slot sector model (SSM) has been validated and the computation time has been reduced enormously in comparison to the state-of-the-art PSM.

Research limitations/implications

The heat transfer has been carried out only for the end winding region of large hydro generators. The effect of the reduced model on the pole sections and stator ducts has not been investigated. Nevertheless, the reduced model is also valid for large motors.

Practical implications

This reduced model can finally be used for parametric studies with different cooling schemes and boundary conditions in the design process.

Originality/value

The comparison of various SSMs to PSMs shows an acceptable accuracy of the reduced model in combination with a rather low computation time. Due to modeling one slot only, the MFR-MP approach is an adequate and fast analyzing method for this kind of model structure.

Details

COMPEL: The International Journal for Computation and Mathematics in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, vol. 34 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

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