Interfacial shear stress optimization in sandwich beams with polymeric core using non-uniform distribution of reinforcing ingredients

in Composite Structures (2015)

Core shearing and core/face debonding are two common failure states of sandwich beams which are mainly the result of excessive shear stresses in the core. Generally, the core made of homogeneous Fiber ... [more ▼]

Core shearing and core/face debonding are two common failure states of sandwich beams which are mainly the result of excessive shear stresses in the core. Generally, the core made of homogeneous Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) shows better shear resistance in comparison with that made of pure polymer. Usually, this enhancement is however somewhat limited. This paper proposes a methodology to decrease interfacial stresses by presenting the optimal distribution of reinforcing ingredients in the polymeric matrix. For this purpose, a Non-Uniform Rational Bspline (NURBS) based reinforcement distribution optimizer is developed. This technique aims at the local stress minimization within any arbitrary zone of the design domain. In our methodology, optimization and model analysis (calculation of the objective function and the design constraints) have common data sets. The quadratic NURBS basis functions smoothly define the reinforcement distribution function as a NURBS surface. The core and face sheets are modeled as multi-patches and compatibility in the displacement field is enforced by the penalty method. An adjoint sensitivity method is devised to minimize the objective function within areas of interest defined over arbitrary regions in the design domain. It is also used for efficient updating of design variables through optimization iterations. The method is verified by several examples. [less ▲]

Three-dimensional crack initiation, propagation, branching and junction in non-linear materials by an extended meshfree method without asymptotic enrichment

in Engineering Fracture Mechanics (2008), 75(5), 943-960

This paper presents a three-dimensional, extrinsically enriched meshfree method for initiation, branching, growth and coalescence of an arbitrary number of cracks in non-linear solids including large ... [more ▼]

This paper presents a three-dimensional, extrinsically enriched meshfree method for initiation, branching, growth and coalescence of an arbitrary number of cracks in non-linear solids including large deformations, for statics and dynamics. The novelty of the methodology is that only an extrinsic discontinuous enrichment and no near-tip enrichment is required. Instead, a Lagrange multiplier field is added along the crack front to close the crack. This decreases the computational cost and removes difficulties involved with a branch enrichment. The results are compared to experimental data, and other simulations from the literature to show the robustness and accuracy of the method. [less ▲]

A three-dimensional meshfree method for continuous multiple-crack initiation, propagation and junction in statics and dynamics

in Computational Mechanics (2007), 40(3), 473-495

This paper proposes a three-dimensional meshfree method for arbitrary crack initiation and propagation that ensures crack path continuity for non-linear material models and cohesive laws. The method is ... [more ▼]

This paper proposes a three-dimensional meshfree method for arbitrary crack initiation and propagation that ensures crack path continuity for non-linear material models and cohesive laws. The method is based on a local partition of unity. An extrinsic enrichment of the meshfree shape functions is used with discontinuous and near-front branch functions to close the crack front and improve accuracy. The crack is hereby modeled as a jump in the displacement field. The initiation and propagation of a crack is determined by the loss of hyperbolicity or the loss of material stability criterion. The method is applied to several static, quasi-static and dynamic crack problems. The numerical results very precisely replicate available experimental and analytical results. [less ▲]