International Journal of Computational Materials Science and Engineering

Constrained groove pressing (CGP) is an attractive severe plastic deformation technique capable of processing ultrafine grained/nanostructured sheet materials. The deformation behavior of pure aluminum during constrained groove pressing is investigated by carrying out a two-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). FEA predicted deformation behavior observed during each stages of pressing indicated almost negligible deformation in flat regions, whereas the inclined shear regions revealed diverse deformation characteristics. The plastic strain distributions unveiled inhomogeneous strain distribution at the end of one pass. Detailed examination of plastic strain evolution during CGP along various sections divulged superior strain distribution along middle surfaces when compared to top and bottom surfaces. The degree of strain homogeneity is evaluated quantitatively along different regions of the sheet and is correlated to the deformation characteristics. Load–stroke characteristics obtained during corrugating and flattening of sheets exhibited three stages and two stages behavior, respectively. The results obtained from the analysis are experimentally validated by processing pure aluminum sheets by CGP and the measured deformation homogeneity is benchmarked with FEA results.

Due to the large voltage-induced strain along with other unique attributes, dielectric elastromers are being developed as transducers for broad applications in soft robots, adaptive structures, medical devices, energy harvesting and so on. Due to nonlinear large deformation and diverse modes of failure, it has been challenging to model dielectric transducers. This paper focuses on the optimization design of an actuator made of a layer of dielectric elastomer membrane and deformed into an out-of plane axisymmetric shape. The optimization procedure is demonstrated by examining the effect of three designing parameters, originated from the pre-stretch of the membrane, on the performance of the actuator, and by determining the region of allowable states in terms of several typical modes of failure. The equations of state are solved numerically by shooting method and the obtained numerical results indicate that the considered variables are sensitive to the designing parameters and that it is feasible to improve the performance of the actuator by choosing the designing parameters judiciously and averting the modes of failure. The approach presented here provides some guidelines in optimizing such actuators.

The studies on mixed mode crack-tip plastic zones are one of the fundamental importance in describing the process of failure and in evaluation of the material life. The approach is also applied to predict crack initiation under mixed mode loading. The objective of this work is to study the contour of mixed mode crack-tip plastic zones, the minimum plastic zone radius (MPZR) and the direction of initial crack for aluminum alloy 2024T351 in Compact tension specimen by using Matlab software. This paper computed the shape, size of plastic zone at crack-tip and the minimum plastic zone radius with reference to the loading angle and stress intensity factor in linear elastic fracture mechanics regime for plane strain condition according to Von Mises yield criteria, the study is conducted for various loading angle. We found that the mixed mode loading (β = 60°) can lead to material fracture earlier than any mode loading.

Accurate prediction of roll force during hot strip rolling is essential for model based operation of hot strip mills. Traditionally, mathematical models based on theory of plastic deformation have been used for prediction of roll force. In the last decade, data driven models like artificial neural network have been tried for prediction of roll force. Pure mathematical models have accuracy limitations whereas data driven models have difficulty in convergence when applied to industrial conditions. Hybrid models by integrating the traditional mathematical formulations and data driven methods are being developed in different parts of world. This paper discusses the methodology of development of an innovative hybrid mathematical-artificial neural network model. In mathematical model, the most important factor influencing accuracy is flow stress of steel. Coefficients of standard flow stress equation, calculated by parameter estimation technique, have been used in the model. The hybrid model has been trained and validated with input and output data collected from finishing stands of Hot Strip Mill, Bokaro Steel Plant, India. It has been found that the model accuracy has been improved with use of hybrid model, over the traditional mathematical model.

The creep behavior of an anisotropic rotating disc of functionally gradient material (FGM) has been investigated in the present study using Hill's yield criteria and the creep behavior in this case is assumed to follow Sherby's constitutive model. The stress and strain rate distributions are calculated for disc having different types of anisotropy and the results obtained are compared graphically. It is concluded that the anisotropy of the material has a significant effect on the creep behavior of the FGM disc. It is also observed that the FGM disc shows better creep behavior than the non-FGM disc.

The mathematical model describing the evolution of the order parameter in confined polymer melts is under consideration. The corresponding equation is derived from a special energy functional introduced by Fredrickson and Binder to describe the behavior of polymer chains in block copolymer melts. This equation is modified to take into account the "memory" of correlated blends. The resulting hyperbolic partial differential equation is of order six in space variable. The Puri–Binder dynamical boundary conditions with "feedback" describe processes of cyclic surface crystallization and melting. Two types of polymer mixtures (ideal and non-ideal) are studied. In the case of the ideal mixture, the attractor of the boundary problem consists of asymptotically periodic piecewise constant functions with finite or infinite number of discontinuities per period (spatial-temporal structures of relaxation or turbulent type). In the non-ideal case, the attractor contains quasi-periodic functions or it is so-called strange chaotic or strange non-chaotic. The bifurcation diagram is constructed.