Search

The aim of the present work is to develop a new finite element model for the finite strain analysis of plate structures constituted of shape memory alloy (SMA) material. A three-dimensional constitutive model for shape memory alloys able to reproduce the special thermomechanical behavior of SMA characterized by pseudoelasticity and shape memory effects is adopted. The finite strain constitutive model is thermodynamically consistent and is completely formulated in the reference configuration. A two-dimensional plate theory is proposed based on a tensor element shape function formulation. The displacement field is expressed in terms of increasing powers of the transverse coordinate. The equilibrium statement is formulated on the basis of the virtual displacement principle in a total Lagrangian format. The proposed displacement formulation is particularly suitable for the simple derivation of high-order finite elements. Numerical applications are performed to assess the efficiency and locking performance of the proposed plate finite element. Some additional numerical examples are carried out to study the accuracy and robustness of the proposed computational technique and its capability of describing the structural response of SMA devices.

The aim of the present paper is to propose a phenomenological thermodynamically consistent 3D model for shape memory alloys (SMA) in the finite strain range. In particular, a model able to predict the main features of SMA materials, such as the superelastic and the shape-memory effects, is proposed. The model is based on the assumption of the local multiplicative split of the deformation gradient into an elastic and a phase transformation part. The governing state and evolutive equations are written in the undeformed configuration. The material parameters of the model are characterized by a clear physical meaning so that they can be determined by simple experimental tests. The finite deformation SMA model is also reformulated in the framework of small strain, linearizing the strain and stress measures in order to obtain a consistent constitutive model preserving the nonlinear material response. A robust algorithm is adopted in order to integrate the nonlinear evolutive equations; 2D and 3D finite elements are implemented in a numerical code considering finite and small deformations. Some numerical applications are carried out showing the performances of the proposed model and the developed numerical procedure to describe the superelastic and the shape-memory effects of SMA devices. Comparisons of different results obtained by the small and finite strain formulations are reported. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The present work deals with the analysis of smart laminates, obtained as stacking sequence of fibre-reinforced composite laminae and composite shape memory alloy (SMA) layers. The behaviour of composite SMA (CSMA) laminate is studied developing a full micro–macro approach. In fact, a non-linear 4-node mixed interpolation of tensorial components (MITC4) laminate finite element, based on the first-order shear deformation theory, is developed. The SMA layer constitutive relationship is determined solving a non-linear homogenization problem at each non-linear iteration of each time step for each integration Gauss point. Some numerical applications are developed in order to investigate the influence of the CSMA on the buckling behaviour of plates and on the transversal displacement control of plates subjected to different loading conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A new method to combine interface damage and friction in a cohesive-zone model is proposed. Starting from the mesomechanical assumption, typically made in a damage-mechanics approach, whereby a representative elementary area of the interface can be additively decomposed into an undamaged and a fully damaged part, the main idea consists of assuming that friction occurs only on the fully damaged part. The gradual increase of the friction effect is then a natural outcome of the gradual increase of the interface damage from the initial undamaged state to the complete decohesion. Suitable kinematic and static hypotheses are made in order to develop the interface model whereas no special assumptions are required on the damage evolution equations and on the friction law. Here, the Crisfield's interface model is used for the damage evolution and a simple Coulomb friction relationship is adopted. Numerical and analytical results for two types of constitutive problem show the effectiveness of the model to capture all the main features of the combined effect of interface damage and friction. A finite-step interface law has then been derived and implemented in a finite-element code via interface elements. The results of the simulations made for a fibre push-out test and a masonry wall loaded in compression and shear are then presented and compared with available experimental results. They show the effectiveness of the proposed model to predict the failure mechanisms and the overall structural response for the analysed problems. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The present work investigates the unilateral frictionless contact between a plate and a rigid obstacle. Two sets of problems are studied: a plate constrained through unilateral edge supports and a plate seating in its undeformed configuration at a given distance from a rigid support. The attention is concentrated on two augmented Lagrangian formulations. The algorithmic implementation within a finite-element scheme is presented and discussed. The importance of using appropriate plate elements for the discretization of the structure is stressed. New gap elements compatible with a robust plate element are derived. Computational aspects are emphasized. A simple and effective numerical integration for the determination of the gap stiffnesses in partial contact with the support is proposed. Numerical results are carried out and compared with analytical solutions. The convergence to the solution of the perfectly constrained problem is numerically investigated. The inadequacy of the penalty method and the satisfactory performance obtained from only one augmented Lagrangian procedure are emphasized.