The prediction of crack propagation is an important engineering problem. In this work, combined with triangular plane stress finite elements, a new remeshing algorithm for crack opening problems was developed. The proposed algorithm extends the crack iteratively until a threshold maximum crack length is achieved. The crack propagation direction is calculated using the maximum tangential stress criterion. In this calculation, in order to smoothen the stress field in the vicinity of the crack tip, a weighted average of the stresses of the integration points around the crack tip is considered. The algorithm also ensures that there are always at least eight elements and nine nodes surrounding the crack tip, unless the crack tip is close to a domain boundary, in which case there can be fewer elements and nodes around the crack tip.

Four benchmark tests were performed showing that this algorithm leads to accurate crack paths when compared to findings from previous research works, as long as the initial mesh is not too coarse. This algorithm also leads to regular meshes during the propagation process, with very few distorted elements, which is generally one of the main problems when calculating crack propagation with the finite element method.

In forming procedure of the micro grooves in the flat micro-groove heat pipe, the tie rod is often observed to be broken and the multi-tooth cutter is damaged due to the sharp increase of the ploughing-pulling pressure. This paper theoretically analyzes the factors affecting the capillary heat transferring limit of the micro-groove heat pipe, and simulates the machining process using finite element to acquire the best processing parameters: the squeeze angle is 120°, the drawing depth is 0.25mm, and the ploughing-pulling velocity is 100mm/s. Then these parameters are verified by real manufacturing experiments. The experimental results show that the ploughing-pulling pressure of the micro-groove forming process is close to the strength limit of the rod or multi-tooth cutter, and the process makes little swarf during work. Thus, only using the appropriate machine tool parameters, forming parameters and forming methods can make the wicking structure of flat micro-groove micro-heat pipe with the best heat transferring performance.

This paper aims to investigate the freeze-thaw resistance of cement-paste containing with different diameter and content of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in terms of mechanical properties and microstructure. Three groups of cement-paste with MWCNTs diameter of 10-20 nm, 20-40 nm and 40-60 nm were prepared by incorporating 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3 wt%, 0.4 wt%, 0.5 wt% MWCNTs by cement weight. Experimental results showed that the addition of 0.1 wt% MWCNTs with diameters of 10–20 nm effectively improved the freeze-thaw resistance of cement-paste. In addition, microstructural analysis of these cement-paste specimens showed that MWCNTs addition increased the materials’ initial porosity, but a proper amount of MWCNTs decreased the porosity of cement-paste after freeze-thaw cycles and effectively improved the pore size distribution. MWCNTs 10–20 nm in diameter were found to be the optimal size for improving the microstructure of these MWCNTs cement-paste

Specific conditions at the tip of a crack and discontinuities in a material are the challenges in analyzing the growth of cracks using conventional methods. In recent years, a method has been developed based on the non-local mechanics, called peridynamic theory, which has improved the analysis process of such structures. In this theory, the points of matter whose displacement or displacement derivatives are discontinuous are not distinguished from other material points. In this paper, we employed the bond-based peridynamic theory to investigate the rate of crack propagation and the path of crack growth in a beam with an initial crack due to low velocity impact. Two beams made of polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and steel alloy with different projectile shapes were considered. The effects of changes in the impact velocity and the fracture toughness were studied and the obtained results were validated with other conducted studies. The crack path was predicted successfully and the branching of the crack was captured. The results confirm the ability of the peridynamic theory to model the crack growth in impact problems.

A non-classical analytical model for vibration analysis of thin isotropic and FGM plate containing multiple part-through cracks (star shaped) of arbitrary orientation is proposed. A plate containing four concentric cracks of arbitrary orientation in the form of continuous line is considered for analysis. The proposed governing equation is derived based on classical plate theory and modified couple stress theory. Line spring model is modified to accommodate all the crack terms. The application of Berger’s formulation introduces nonlinearities in the governing equation and then the Galerkin’s method is applied for solving final governing equation. Results for fundamental frequencies for different values of crack length, crack orientation, gradient index and material length scale parameters are presented for two different boundary conditions. Furthermore, to study the phenomenon of bending hardening/softening in a cracked plate, the frequency response curves are plotted for the parameters stated above. Based on the outcomes of this study, it can be concluded that stiffness of the plate is severely affected by the presence of multiple cracks and the stiffness goes on decreasing with increase in number of cracks thereby affecting the fundamental frequency.

In this paper, the Rayleigh wave propagation is investigated in rotating half-space of incompressible monoclinic elastic materials which are subjected to the impedance boundary conditions. In particular, the explicit secular equation of the Rayleigh wave is obtained. The main objective of this paper is to illustrate the dependence of dimensionless speed of Rayleigh wave on rotation, anisotropy and impedance parameters. An algorithm in MATLAB software is developed to solve the secular equation of Rayleigh wave. The speed of Rayleigh wave is plotted against rotation, anisotropy and impedance parameters.

Investigation of SH wave scattering by inclusions in bi-material half space is an important issue in engineering. The purpose of this work is to study the dynamic response of a semi-circle inclusion embedded in bi-material half space surface by SH wave. Graf's addition theorem, Green function method and region-matching technique are used to determine the displacement fields in the bi-material half space and the inclusion. The distributions of dynamic stress concentration factor (DSCF) around the semi-circle inclusion are depicted graphically considering different material parameters. The results show that the frequency and the incidence angle of SH wave, the rigidities of the inclusion and bi-material half space, and the distance from the inclusion to the interface have a great effect on the distribution of DSCF around the inclusion.

The effect of fluid on the natural frequencies of a vertical rectangular lock gate is investigated. The fluid is assumed to be inviscid and incompressible having an irrotational flow field. The far boundary of fluid domain is truncated near the lock gate structure by solving the Laplace equation using Fourier half range cosine series expansion. The formulation of lock gate structure is governed using Mindlin’s plate theory. The coupled interaction between the fluid domain and the lock gate structure is established using finite element method (FEM) and a computer code is written using FORTRAN. Convergence study and validation of the formulation are carried out to minimise the computational error. The natural frequencies of lock gate coupled with and without fluid are determined for undisturbed and linearised free surface conditions. By varying extent of fluid domain, the effect on the natural frequencies of lock gate is evaluated. The results of natural frequencies obtained may be useful to the designer when the reservoir lock gate structure is exposed to the natural disasters.

A mathematical method is developed to predict surge and instability inception in a centrifugal compressor map based on Greitzer and Moore model. The method uses phase plane and Jacobian matrix to determine stable and unstable zone of centrifugal compressor and to extract limit cycle in unstable zone. In order to evaluate accuracy of analytical method, a compressor test rig facility is designed and tested in order to be compared with theoretical results. Accurate Honeywell piezoelectric pressure transducers are used to measure time averaged pressure at inlet and outlet ducts of the compressor. In order to record the flow fluctuation precisely, hot wire sensors are installed in entrance and exit of impeller. The results represent instability inception near true stall point but different from measured data. The discrepancy mostly originates from inlet and outlet ducts which causes measure stall point of compressor deviates from true one. An analytical method which is able to predict surge and instability in a compressor is highly significant for instrumentation and controlling of system.

In this investigation, the magnetohydrodynamic pulsatile flow of Casson nanofluid through a vertical channel embedded in porous medium with thermal radiation and heat generation/absorption has been analyzed using Buongiorno model. The influence of viscous and Joules dissipations are taken into account. The governing coupled partial differential equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations using perturbation scheme and then solved numerically by using Runge-Kutta fourth order technique along with shooting method. The impact of various emerging parameters on velocity, temperature, nanoparticles concentration, Nusselt number and Sherwood number distributions are analyzed in detail. Analysis indicates that the temperature distribution increases for a given increase in Brownian motion parameter and thermophoresis parameter, while it decreases with an increase in Hartmann number. Further, the nanoparticles concentration distribution decreases with an increase in the chemical reaction parameter and the Lewis number, while it increases for a given increase in the Brownian motion parameter.

This study presents the heat transfer analysis of 90° elbow microchannel flow with sharp and curved turn designs. Experimental technique of temperature-sensitive paint was adapted in the experiment for measuring both fluid and surface temperature. The detailed information of fluid and surface temperature data were successfully acquired with a microscope system at Reynolds number varying from 50.5 to 101.1. Micro heaters were fabricated and positioned underneath the microchannel to provide the constant heat flux boundary condition. The utilization of micro heaters can prevent the axial heat conduction. The Nusselt number contours were obtained in this study with sharp and curved corners, which can provide detailed information of localized region with high and low heat transfer. The experimental approach performed in this study could be applied in the future for micro heat exchanger or heat sink design with complex microchannel systems.

Design of a new gear pump requires many considerations to get good pump efficiency. In order to achieve optimal results, all parameters must be optimized from the design stage. In this study, ANSYS CFX was used to make parametric analysis in order to optimize a new design of gear pump. Two parameters which are inlet diameter and rotation speed are considered. The response surface method gives an optimum design point for inlet diameter of 15mm and rotation speed of 3500 rev/min. Twin vortices are created in the inlet and the outlet of pump, which strangle the flow. In order to reduce their negative effects on the flow, fillets are created at the inlet and the outlet of the pump.

Flexibility is one of the important mechanical performance parameters of stent. The flexibility of tapered stents, especially self-expanding tapered stents, remains unknown. In this study, we developed a new selfexpanding tapered stent for tapered arteries and performed a numerical investigation of stent flexibility by using finite element method. The effect of stent design parameters, including taper and link space width, on stent flexibility was studied. The flexibility of the proposed stent was also compared with that of traditional cylindrical stents. Results show that the tapered stent is more flexible than the traditional cylindrical stent. Furthermore, the flexibility of the tapered stent increases with increasing stent taper and stent link space width. The increase in the stent link space width can contribute to the reduction in the peak stress. Therefore, tapered stents with high link space width will improve the stent flexibility. This work provides useful information for improvement of stent design and clinical selection.