The mechanical response of geotechnical granular materials exhibits multi-scale characteristics. The multi-scale simulations coupling the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) can effectively capture the multi-scale responses while maintaining high computational efficiency. A GPU-parallel FEM-DEM coupling code was developed based on the high-performance DEM software MatDEM, with computational parameters and results analyzed in conjunction with granular pore fractal characteristics. Firstly, multi-fractal theory was employed to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of pores, identifying key fractal indices. Subsequently, the reliability of the FEM-DEM coupling code was verified through single element tests and biaxial compression tests. Finally, the meso-scopic responses of Representative Volume Elements (RVEs) at different locations were investigated based on biaxial compression tests. Results demonstrate that the pore spatial distribution within RVE exhibits multi-fractal characteristics. When the particle quantity exceeds 400, the self-similarity of pore spatial distribution ensures the stability of stress-strain responses output after homogenization of granular assemblies within RVE. The capacity dimension D0 and singularity index α0, which characterize the average information of pore distribution, show linear correlations with RVE volumetric strain. These indices can serve as internal variables reflecting the complexity of granular material spatial characteristics. This study provides an exploration for analyzing the macro-meso mechanical relationships in engineering-scale granular deposits.
In the precursor impregnation pyrolysis (PIP) process of ceramic matrix composites, the viscosity of the precursor liquid significantly affects the effectiveness and efficiency of its infiltration into the fiber preform. The solute mass fraction influences the viscosity itself in the impregnation solution. To provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the impregnation process, this study establishes an apparent viscosity model for precursor liquids with different solute contents. Firstly, an order parameter describing the solid and liquid phase content is introduced, establishing the interrelationship between shear stress, shear rate, and the order parameter of the precursor liquid. Then, based on Landau phase transition theory and the variational principle of the Lagrangian energy functional, a differential equation for the order parameter is constructed and solved, yielding an approximate analytical expression for apparent viscosity, mass fraction, and shear rate in a subdomain. Furthermore, a first-order approximation of the Bernstein polynomial is employed to extend the model to the entire computational domain, resulting in a viscosity model applicable to precursor liquids with different solute mass fractions. Finally, precursor liquids incorporating two types of additives, powders and binders, are examined. By calculating the effect of different mass fractions of additives on precursor viscosity, the validity of the model is verified, and the influence of solute mass fraction and shear rate on the apparent viscosity of the precursor liquid is analyzed based on the viscosity model.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), as the fundamental genetic material of life, possesses diverse mechanical characteristics endowed from its unique chemical and physical properties. These properties play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression, viral infection mechanisms, disease diagnostics, and intelligent nanodevices. A profound understanding of the mechanical properties and behaviors of DNA-like material—spanning from the molecular scale to the macroscopic device level—provides a foundation for unveiling the physical mechanisms underlying biological activities, advancing biomedical detection technologies, and enabling the precise design of dynamic nanodevices. This paper systematically reviewed recent research progress on the mechanical properties of DNA-like material and their applications in biomedicine and nanotechnology. First, some significant experimental advances across different-scale DNA systems were introduced, emphasizing how experiments revealed the influence of microstructure and environmental conditions on the mechanical properties and responses of DNA-like material. Second, the developments of theoretical models for the mechanical behavior of DNA-like material were explored, elucidating the mechanisms underlying relevant experimental findings. Finally, the paper identified the challenges in the current DNA-like material mechanics research and its practical implementation, and looked forward to the prospect of achieving breakthroughs through research paradigms such as "digital and intelligent mechanics".
This paper investigates the nonlinear vibration isolation problem of simply supported beam bridge structures under displacement excitation, employing the Incremental Harmonic Balance Method (IHBM) to derive an approximate analytical solution for the nonlinear vibration response of the beam. The research focuses on a coupled system consisting of a quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) isolator, constructed using a three-spring system, and a simply supported beam bridge. Based on the classical Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, the governing equations of motion under displacement excitation are established and systematically solved using the IHBM, with the entire analytical process thoroughly derived. The study transforms the final solution into a linear matrix equation using generalized coordinates, achieving a procedural and standardized computational process. To validate the reliability of the IHBM approximate analytical results, the study compares the IHBM computational results with numerical solutions obtained using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method (ODE45). The results demonstrate that the IHBM method exhibits significant advantages in computational stability and result completeness. Additionally, through parametric analysis, the study explores the influence of key isolator parameters on system amplitude, further confirming the effectiveness and engineering practicality of the IHBM in nonlinear vibration isolation research. The research outcomes provide new theoretical foundations and methodological references for the nonlinear vibration isolation analysis of simply supported beam structures, offering important guidance for engineering practice.
Currently, over 90% of crude steel production is achieved through continuous casting. Increasing the casting speed during continuous casting can significantly enhance production efficiency, but it also impacts the flow field, exacerbating slag entrapment and argon bubble entrainment, which lead to a series of quality defects. These issues have become critical constraints on the development of high-speed continuous casting molds. This paper establishes a multiphase numerical model of the continuous casting mold by coupling Large Eddy Simulation (LES) with the Volume of Fluid (VOF) method and a two-way coupled Discrete Phase Model (DPM). By analyzing flow field variations, steel-slag interface velocity, interface fluctuations, and slag entrapment ration under three different casting speeds, the internal correlation mechanisms are revealed. The study finds that appropriately increasing casting speed can improve production quality, providing a reference for optimizing casting speed in continuous casting processes.
Interface consistency and error convergence are central issues in concurrent multiscale computational methods, particularly critical for atomistic-to-continuum coupling models. However, existing theoretical studies remain limited and are mostly confined to one-dimensional settings. This work focuses on the multiresolution molecular mechanics (MMM) approach and systematically investigates the impact of various energy sampling schemes on interface consistency and error convergence. Two-dimensional square and triangular lattice models containing both atomistic and coarse-grained regions are constructed under bilinear element interpolation. The results show that interface secondary sampling schemes can significantly improve consistency in the interfacial region, with the scheme incorporating all neighboring layers achieving the best performance. Error analysis reveals that discretization error dominates the total error, and increasing the number of secondary sampling points effectively reduces the sampling error, particularly under tensile loading conditions. Moreover, both lattice types exhibit consistent error convergence behavior, demonstrating high generality of the method to different structures. This study highlights the advantages of energy sampling strategies in improving interface treatment and convergence behavior in MMM, providing theoretical support for the development of high-accuracy multiscale computational mechanics methods.
This study focuses on the integrated manufacturing process of sensors in unbonded flexible pipes for deep-sea mining engineering, investigating the sensor integration process with compensation reinforcement layers and their mechanical performance. A simulation model for the winding process of the compensation reinforcement layer in flexible pipes was established, systematically analyzing the influence patterns of winding tension and winding angles on sensor integration processes. Additionally, the effects of sensor quantity and winding angles on the tensile performance of integrated compensation reinforcement layers were explored. The results demonstrate that winding tension significantly affects sensor elongation rates, while winding angles predominantly influence stress distribution in the lining layer. The tensile performance of integrated compensation reinforcement layers shows minimal sensitivity to sensor quantity, and variations in winding angles within a specific range exhibit limited impact on anti-tensile properties. These findings reveal the correlation between sensor integration parameters and structural performance of flexible pipes, providing theoretical guidance for optimizing sensor integration processes in deep-sea flexible pipes.
Optimization of the natural frequencies of exponential functionally graded plates is a critical issue in the engineering field, playing a vital role in enhancing the dynamic performance of plate structures. In response to this challenge, this paper presents an innovative optimization approach that synergistically integrates the smoothed finite element method (SFEM) with surrogate models, aiming to address the problem with both high efficiency and precision. Based on the first order shear deformation theory, a SFEM is established for free vibration analyses of functionally graded plates. During the computation of the system stiffness matrix, gradient smoothing operations are applied to bending strains within smoothed domains, effectively improving computational accuracy. To overcome the shear locking phenomenon, different interpolation forms are adopted to treat bending strains and shear strains separately. For natural frequency optimization, a series of sample points are selected, and their corresponding natural frequencies are calculated using the SFEM. Subsequently, a surrogate model is established to map the relationship between the gradient index and the natural frequencies. The golden section method is employed to determine the optimal gradient index that achieves preset natural frequency targets. Numerical examples demonstrate that the surrogate model based on piecewise cubic Hermite interpolation exhibits high computational accuracy. Moreover, the surrogate model-based optimization significantly reduces the number of SFEM frequency calculations required, substantially enhancing optimization efficiency. This approach provides an efficient and practical method for optimizing natural frequencies of exponential functionally graded plates.
To reveal the instability failure mechanism and energy evolution law of the rock mass with multiple cracks, a numerical model of red sandstone was established by using PFC2D. The mesoscopic parameters of the numerical model were calibrated based on the results of uniaxial compression tests and Brazilian splitting tests of intact red sandstone specimens. On this basis, the particle flow simulation tests of red sandstone with multiple cracks were carried out. The results show that with the increase of λ, the peak strength of the multiple-cracked red sandstone gradually decreases when the inclination angle remains unchanged; with the gradual increase of the inclination angle α, the peak strength of the multiple-cracked red sandstone gradually increases when the short-long axis ratio λ remains unchanged; the failure mode shows a diagonal tensile-shear failure, with tensile as the main and shear as the auxiliary, and the failure and instability mode of the specimens are all along the extension direction of the prefabricated cracks; the failure mode of the multiple-cracked red sandstone is jointly affected by the short-long axis ratio and the inclination angle; before the peak strength, the rock mainly shows the energy accumulation characteristics; at the peak strength, the total energy of the red sandstone is mainly elastic energy and supplemented by dissipated energy; at the instability failure, the total energy of the red sandstone is mainly dissipated energy and supplemented by elastic energy; the energy storage capacity and failure difficulty of the red sandstone change with the variation of the multiple-crack inclination angle α and the working conditions, which can be used as a reference for rock breaking operations; and a high-precision damage constitutive model of red sandstone based on different height-diameter ratios λ and different joint inclination angles α was established.
To elucidate the complex bonding and fracture mechanisms at the interface between Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) and Normal Concrete (NC), this study systematically investigates how interfacial roughness and mesoscale structural characteristics influence interface mechanical performance. Four interface treatments (i.e., smooth surface, high-pressure water jetting, sandblasting, and chiseling) were comparatively analyzed through direct tension and shear tests, complemented by quantitative surface roughness characterization using laser scanning. Furthermore, X-ray Computed Tomography (X-CT) facilitated the three-dimensional reconstruction of UHPC-NC mesoscale structures, enabling advanced segmentation of pores, fibers, and other structural phases via deep learning algorithms. Multi-scale finite element modeling based on X-CT data simulated the damage evolution and crack propagation at the interface. Results indicate that chiseling significantly increased interfacial roughness, yielding substantial improvements in direct tensile and shear bond strengths by 123% and 126%, respectively, relative to the smooth surface. X-CT analysis revealed a distinct hydration transition zone at the interface, significantly influencing chemical bonding and exhibiting notably lower porosity compared to the NC matrix. Steel fibers from UHPC penetrated into the NC substrate, creating enhanced mechanical interlocking effects. Numerical simulations demonstrated that interface failure mechanisms are jointly governed by tensile failure within the NC substrate and crack propagation through the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), consistent with experimental observations of mixed-mode fractures. Overall, enhanced interfacial roughness improved bonding strength through both mechanical interlocking and chemical adhesion, while mesoscale structural defects critically influenced crack development pathways. The proposed multi-scale analytical approach provides comprehensive methodological support for optimizing the design and rehabilitation of concrete interfaces in engineering practice.