Numerical simulation of the Roll forming of thin-walled sections and evaluation of corner strength enhancement

in Finite Elements in Analysis & Design (in press)

Cold roll forming modifies the mechanical properties of thin-walled profiles by strain hardening. The understanding of this phenomenon, which is rather good for profiles made of traditional construction ... [more ▼]

Cold roll forming modifies the mechanical properties of thin-walled profiles by strain hardening. The understanding of this phenomenon, which is rather good for profiles made of traditional construction steel, is mandatory for assessing the member resistance. Less information is however available for profiles made of materials exhibiting a pronounced degree of nonlinearity of the stress-strain curve such as high-strength and stainless steels. Current codes generally encounter difficulties for modelling this fabrication process because of the size of industrial mills. Indeed, accurate modelling of the continuous cold roll forming process using finite elements requires a huge number of elements leading to excessive CPU times. Therefore, modellers usually reduce the geometry of the formed sheet or increase the size of the finite elements, inducing a loss of accuracy in the results. In this work, the finite element software METAFOR is used to model cold roll forming of channel profiles made of high-strength and stainless steels. The numerical results, expressed in terms of corner strength enhancement versus radius–to–thickness ratio, are compared against an existing predictive model. [less ▲]

Non-conforming element for accurate modelling of MEMS

in Finite Elements in Analysis & Design (2007), 43(10), 749-756

In this work different modelling techniques are investigated to simulate the dynamic behaviour of slender structures on which electrostatic forces are acting. In particular, non-conforming elements are ... [more ▼]

In this work different modelling techniques are investigated to simulate the dynamic behaviour of slender structures on which electrostatic forces are acting. In particular, non-conforming elements are tested to model micro- mechanical devices (or MEMS) having a very large aspect ratio. These elements are constructed on linear shape functions enriched by internal second-order polynomials. As a consequence the element compatibility is not exactly satisfied, but such elements can efficiently model beam- or shell-like structures with a small number of degrees of freedom. The advantage of non-conforming elements compared to shell or beam elements is that they are volume elements and can therefore easily be combined with other volume finite elements. For micro-mechanical systems the structure must be coupled to the electrostatic domain with the so-called electro-mechanical elements that solve for the electrostatic potential and generate the electrostatic forces. This paper shows that constructing coupled electro-mechanical models for high aspect ratio systems is then greatly simplified when non-conforming finite elements are used. The theory is presented for small deformations and also for large displacements where geometric non-linearities must be accounted for. The elements proposed in this paper are based on non-conforming formulations published earlier. The efficiency of the non-conforming approach combined with specific electro-mechanical elements is highlighted in the analysis of two simple MEMS for which the pull-in voltage is computed. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Sensitivity and optimization of composite structures in MSC/NASTRAN

in Finite Elements in Analysis & Design (1989), 5(3), 223-235

The main purpose of this paper is to present the considerations and the resultant approach used to implement design sensitivity capability for composites into a large-scale, general-purpose finite element ... [more ▼]

The main purpose of this paper is to present the considerations and the resultant approach used to implement design sensitivity capability for composites into a large-scale, general-purpose finite element system (msc/nastran). The design variables for composites can be lamina thicknesses, orientation angles, material properties, or a combination of all three. As a secondary goal, the sensitivity analysis has been coupled with a general-purpose optimizer to validate sensitivity analysis results and also demonstrate how easy it is couple to an optimizer once a general senssitivity capability is available. This preliminary version of the optimizer is capable of dealing with minimum weight structural design with a rather general design variable linking capability at the element level or the system level. Only sizing type of design variables (i.e., lamina thicknesses) can be handled by the optimizer. Test cases have been run and validated by comparison witj independent finite element packages. The linking of a design sensitivity capability for composites in msc/nastran with an optimizer would give designsrs a powerful, automated tool to carry out practical optimization design of real-life, complicated composite structures. [less ▲]