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Accurate analysis of bitumen behavior as a viscoelastic material and its natural phenomena such as aging are important issues in pavement engineering. Therefore, controlling the low and high temperature properties of bitumens is essential to prevent low temperature cracking and common high temperature distress in order to provide proper service throughout the pavement life. In this study, the aging phenomenon and its effects on the mechanical properties of bitumens were simulated using the Superpave method, namely the RTFOT method for short-term aging and the PAV method for long-term aging. In order to investigate the effect of repeated PAV cycles on the properties of bitumens, three types of bitumen with different penetration degrees of 40-50 (PG70-16), 60-70 (PG64-22) and 85-100 (PG58-28) were selected and three samples of each were subjected to one to three PAV aging times. The beam shear rheometer (BBR) test was performed at three temperatures from 0 to -12°C and the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) at seven temperatures from 46 to 82°C. Based on the results obtained, the high temperature performance of the bitumens increased by a maximum of three grades and their low temperature performance increased by a maximum of two grades. In other words, the grading of the triple bitumens, after three times of PAV, became 82-4, 82-10, and 70-16, respectively. Also, the relationship between the high temperature performance properties of the aged bitumens and their chemical changes at different times of aging was investigated and their changes were examined to show the correlation between these properties. The results showed that the high temperature viscoelastic properties and the chemical aging index of the different bitumens had a strong linear relationship with a coefficient of determination (R²) of more than 0.9.

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A consideration of the design and development of any harvesting machine is required to determine the physical and biomechanical properties of the tree and its fruit. Biome-chanical properties such as pull, bending and torsion strengths must be determined. In the field experiments, trees were selected from an orchard in Rafsanjan, Kerman Prov-ince, Iran. Parameters related to fruit properties were measured using load cells. In Raf-sanjan’s Pistachio Research Institute laboratory, subsequent measurements were made using similar instrumentation. In a randomized design layout, 18 tree cultivars with five replications were selected. The maximum pull, bending, and torsion strengths were found respectively for Badami Ravar, Momtaze Tajabadi and Italiaee cultivar clusters. Mini-mum pull, bending, and torsional strengths were obtained for Ghazvini, Louk and Kalleh Ghoochi clusters. The cultivars Kalleh Ghoochi, Rezaee Zoodras and Khanjari Damghan were found to have fruit with the highest pull, bending, and torsional strengths, with the lowest strengths belonging to the Italiaee cultivar.

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- In this paper an analytical model for prediction of angular deformation is presented. In this model convective heat losses and a multipoint distributed heat source is used for determination of the inherent strain zone which causes the bending angle. The effects of laser bending process parameters including laser power, beam diameter, scan velocity and pulse duration on the bending angle were investigated experimentally. Main effects of factors were considered and the regression line was derived. An L9 Taguchi’s standard orthogonal array was employed as experimental design and the level of importance of the laser bending process parameters on the bending angle was determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Comparison of the analytical model and experimental results has shown a reasonable agreement.

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Residual stress measurement is one of the most interesting research areas in experimental mechanics. Residual stress is introduced to material due to plastic deformation of parts and can be one of the most effective parameters on design and operation of parts. ASTM E837-01 standard studies residual stress determination in parts by hole drilling method and represent calibration coefficients for flat sheets with constant stress profile. However, there is no certain standard on the residual stress measurement by Incremental Hole Drilling Method (IHDM) which is the subject of this study. IHDM can obtain stress profile by using two modified stress calibration coefficients. In this article, the stress calibration coefficients have been extracted for incremental hole drilling by using finite element analysis (FEA). FEA contains both biaxial tension test and pure shear test which a hole has been drilled step by step in the parts by removing elements and the strains changes were determined at three strain gauge positions on the surface. At last, the calibration coefficients are determined for each step and the accuracy of coefficients have been verified by a set of experimental test and a FE analysis. The experimental test contains four-point bending of an AA5056 flat aluminum sheet. The numerical analysis contains four-point bending of a flat sheet. In both cases, the stress profile can be determined easily by using analytical equations. Average analytical stress in each increment has been calculated and compared with the result of numerical incremental hole drilling method. The comparisons show that numerical and experimental results have no significant differences in first six steps but in the last four steps show an increasing errors due to the change in stress profile and hole geometry. Results presents that the calibration coefficients have suitable accuracy in stress profile determination.

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The purpose of this paper is the study of tensile and bending behavior of polyamide with nano clay by different modifier and corrections in the work condition. Many previous studies about behavior mechanical had been done in standardize condition or after dried samples. However result of this research is not proper for applied design. In this research polyamide is mixed with three kinds of nano clay, By the way of melt intercalated with 9, 7, 5, 3, 1 percents. The samples were tested by X-ray diffraction, for clarifying nano composite morphology. After that tensile and bending tests were done on standard samples. Results show that mechanical property can be improved by added any kind of nano clay to polyamide. Nanocomposites have exfoliated structure if nano clay had more compatibility to polyamide. Moduli tensile and bending were improved with increase nano clay concentration. Although CL30B have best exfoliated structure therefore has most modules in beading and tensile.

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The design of the structural supports has always been practically important in engineering applications. In addition to holding a structure properly, supports can also be utilized to improve the structural performances. In this study, by using modified finite element method (MFEM) and Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA), the maximum of bending moment was minimized. In this paper both elastic and rigid supports are taken into account. As compared to other design optimization methods, ICA is robust, more efficient, and requiring fewer number of function evaluations, while leading to better quality of results. Appling the modified finite element method not only reduces computational cost and increases convergence rate, but also reach the global optimum position of supports. Three classical examples are given to demonstrate the validity and capability of the proposed optimization procedure for finding the global support positions. Results show that support position optimization by using present method, can reduce the maximal moment significantly, and deserves more investigation.

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The main purpose of this study is to investigate nonlinear bending and buckling analysis of radially functionally graded annular plates subjected to uniform in-plane compressive loads by Dynamic Relaxation method. The mechanical properties of plates assumed to vary continuously along the radial direction by the Mori–Tanaka distribution. The nonlinear formulations are based on first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and large deflection von Karman equations. The dynamic relaxation (DR) method combined with the finite difference discretization technique is employed to solve the equilibrium equations. Due to the lack of similar research for the bending and buckling of functionally graded annular plates with material variation in the radial direction, some results are compared with the ones obtained by the Abaqus finite element software. Furthermore, some comparison study is carried out to compare the current solution with the results reported in the literature for annular isotropic plates. The achieved good agreements between the results indicate the accuracy of the present numerical method. Finally, numerical results for the maximum displacement and critical buckling load for various boundary conditions, effects of grading index, thickness-to-radius ratio and inner radius -to-outer radius ratio are presented.

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In this study, nonlinear bending analysis of ring-stiffened annular laminated composite plates is studied. A discretely stiffened plate theory for elastic large deflection analysis of uniformly distributed loaded is introduced. The governing equations are derived based on a first-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT) and large deflection von Karman equations. The numerical results are obtained using the dynamic relaxation (DR) method combined with the central finite difference discretization technique. For this purpose, a FORTRAN computer program is developed to generate the numerical results. In order to verify the accuracy of the present method the results are compared with those available in the literatures and ABAQUS finite element package as well. The computer code can handle symmetric, unsymmetrical and general theta-ply schemes. The effects of the plate thicknesses, different ratio of outer to inner radius, depth of stiffener, boundary condition and laminates lay-up are studied in detail.

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In this article, nonlinear bending analysis of single-layered circular graphene sheet is studied. The equilibrium equations are derived based on the nonlocal continuum mechanics and principle of virtual work and first order shear deformation plate theory (FSDT). Differential quadrature method is used to discretize the equilibrium equations. In this method a non-uniform mesh point distribution (Chebyshev- Gauss- Lobatto) is used for provide accuracy of solutions and convergence rate. The effect of nonlocal parameter, thickness, number of grid points and lateral loading are investigated on deflection of graphene sheet. The results are compared with valid results reported in the literature.

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Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are rolled form of graphene sheet with unique properties due to the covalent bonds between carbon atoms. In this research, different structures of CNTs are studied for a wide range of diameter and length to determine the influence of chiral angle on their shear and bending modulus. Covalent bands between carbon atoms are simulated using linear beam elements based on molecular mechanics and finite element method. By using finite element analysis, the effects of diameter, length and chiral angel of nanotubes on mechanical properties under torsional and bending loading conditions are studied. The results show that zigzag CNT has the least shear and bending modulus comparing the armchair and chiral structures. Chiral nanotubes with angles smaller than 17 degrees has less shear modulus comparing armchair ones. But, for larger angles, chiral nanotubes has the largest shear modulus. Also, bending modulus of chiral CNTs is larger than armchair and zigzag structures.

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In this paper, nonlinear bending of rectangular nanoplates of Graphene subjected to a transverse uniform load, with incorporation of the nonlocal effect of Eringen based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) of orthotropic plates and Von Karman nonlinear strains is investigated using differential quadrature method (DQM). In order to validate of the solution accuracy, the simplified results have been compared with results of two developed numerical solution methods and other available results. Comparisons show an excellent agreement between the results. Finally, effects of small scale parameter, aspect ratio, thickness of plate, load value, boundary conditions and efficacy of large deflection, on the maximum deflection and different deflections ratio for nonlocal theory of thin plate and nonlocal FSDT are investigated. Results reveal that among the considered parameters, just aspect of plate is the parameter of difference between two employed nonlocal theories and the small scale parameter has not any effect on the mentioned difference. Also, it is found that the small scale parameter has a noticeable effect on the decrease of deflection of nonlinear solution; so that, unlike the larger values of mechanical load, this parameter has less effect for long length of square plate.

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The research was conducted in order to determine the bending stress, Young’s modulus, shearing stress, and shearing energy of safflower stalk as a function of moisture content and stalk region. The bending forces were measured at different moisture contents and the bending stress and the Young’s modulus were calculated from these data. For measuring the shear forces, the stalk specimens were severed by using a computer aided cutting apparatus. The shear energy was calculated by using the area under the shear force versus displacement curve. The experiments were conducted at four moisture contents (8.61, 16.37, 25.26, and 37.16% wb) and at three stalk regions (bottom, middle, and top). Based on the results obtained, the bending stress decreased as the moisture content increased. The value of the bending stress obtained at the lowest moisture content was approximately 2 times higher than that of the highest moisture content. Bending stress values also decreased from top to the bottom of stalks. The average bending stress value varied from 21.98 to 59.19 MPa. The Young’s modulus in bending also decreased as the moisture content and diameter of stalks increased. The average Young's modulus varied between 0.86 and 3.33 GPa. The shear stress and the shear energy increased with increasing moisture content. Values of the shear stress and energy also increased from top to the bottom of stalks due to the structural heterogeneity. The maximum shear stress and shear energy were found to be 11.04 MPa and 938.33 mJ, respectively, both occurring at the bottom region with the moisture content of 37.16%.

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In this article, nonlinear bending analysis of sandwich circular plates with functionally graded face sheets subjected to transverse mechanical load is presented. The formulations are based on first-order shear deformation plate theory (FSDPT) and large deflection von Karman equations and nonlinear equilibrium equations solved by the dynamic relaxation (DR) method combined with the finite difference discretization technique. In order to verify the current work some obtained results are compared with the solutions reported in the literature and Abaqus finite element method. Finally, The influences of material constant k, boundary conditions, core-to-face sheets thickness ratio on the results are studied in detail.

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In this paper, the influence of nanoclay Closite 30B on the tensile and the bending properties of 2D woven E- Glass/Epoxy laminated composite have been investigated experimentally. The glass/epoxy/nanoclay laminate have 12 layers and 60% fiber volume fractionis is manufactured by VRTM method. Fibers have a plain-weave configuration with density of 200 gr/m2, while the nano-epoxy resin system is made of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (epon 828) resin with jeffamine D400 as the curing agent and an organically modified MMT in a platelet form, namely Closite 30B. The nanoclay is dispersed into the epoxy system in a 0%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 7% ratio in weight with respect to the nano-matrix. The results have shown that Maximum to increase in the tensile and the bending properties are in 3% and 10% nanoclay content. The maximum to increase in the tensile strength, the failure strain and toughness are 13%, 7% and 27% respectively in 7% nanoclay content and in the modulus is 9% in 3% nanoclay content. Moreover, the maximum to increase in the flexural strength is 11% in 3% nanoclay content and in flexural modulus is 48% in 5% nanoclay content.

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In this investigation, kinked crack path of friction stir Cu-Al7075-T6 alloy welded joints in four-point bending test conditions has been studied as well as the fatigue lifetime of the welded joints, numerically and experimentally. To do so, four-point bending and fatigue tests of welded specimens have been carried out and the experimental fatigue test data and the kinked crack angles in bending tests have been extracted. Maximum Tangential Stress (MTS) and (KII)min criteria have been used for estimating the kinked crack angles, and Paris law has been applied to predict fatigue crack propagation life of the welded specimens. Functionally graded materials concept has been employed for determining mechanical properties of different regions of welded joints. To do so, the mechanical properties of the weld region such as Young's Modulus and Poisson's ratio have been considered to be linear functions of the positions of the weld region points. It has been shown that, when the original notch is close to the material with the higher fracture toughness (Copper), the kinked crack angle becomes smaller. The results show good agreement between the experimental data and numerical estimations.

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Laser Forming (LF) process is one of the thermal forming processes; which uses laser beam irradiation as a forming factor. In this process, temperature gradient along the sheet thickness produces the final bending angle. So far, various investigations are carried out on laser forming of low carbon steel sheets. However, LF process can be utilised in other metallic and non-metallic sheets. High surface reflectivity and thermal conductivity of aluminium sheets, compared to steel sheets, make them more difficult and more complicated to be laser formed than that of steel sheets. In this Article, using LF process simulation with the finite element software, effects of several process parameters such as laser power, scan speed, laser beam diameter and sheet thickness on final bending angle are investigated. Numerical results are validated with the same parameter assigned experimental results. This comparison shows a very good accordance between simulation and experimental results. Also, an equation is derived to predict the final bending angle correspond to the variations of mentioned parameters. This is derived by the use of Design of Experiment (DOE) and full factorial approach.

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Tube bending is used extensively in aerospace, automotive and other industries. Wrinkles in thin-walled tubes, changes in cross section and thickness changes during tube bending are the main problems in this process. Compressive force and internal pressure can be used to better control the bending process. If the bend radius to tube diameter ratio (R/D) in the bending process could be between 1 and 1.5, the bending is not done with conventional methods. Providing a new method that results in preventing both wrinkles and minimum tube wall thickness changes is important. In this paper, tubes producing with closed end. Since tube producing with closed end is difficult, in this study, initially closed end seamless tubes are produced by deep-drawing and ironing processes, thereafter tube bending process with ratio (R/D) equal to one was analyzed using experiments and simulations by hydrobending the new method. The pressure in which the tube takes the shape of the die completely without wrinkles, was obtained after investigating pressure changes. The effects of pressure changes on the thickness distribution of the tube inner radius and outer radius of the bent tube was also examined.

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In this research, accumulation of plastic strain and softening behavior of stainless steel SS316L cylindrical shell under cyclic bending and combined loads (bending-torsion) are studied. Cyclic bending was under force-control and displacement-control but Combined loading was under displacement-control. Experimental tests were performed using an INSTRON 8802 servo-hydraulic machine. Under force-control loading with non-zero mean force, plastic strain was accumulated in continuous cycles that it was called ratcheting. Based on experimental results, linear relation was observed between plastic energy and rate of plastic deformation that shows the rigidity of fixtures using in experimental tests. Under displacement-control loading, softening behavior was observed due to growth of ovalization and the rate of softening became higher by using of the higher displacement amplitude. The crack growth up to failure is oblique in combined load due to torsion and bending loads whereas the crack growth is peripheral in bending load. The numerical analysis was carried out by ABAQUS software and nonlinear isotropic/kinematic hardening was compared with isotropic hardening and observed the nonlinear isotropic /kinematic hardening model simulates the softening behavior and accumulation of plastic strain of cylindrical shells under cyclic bending accurately.

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Cracks due to manufacturing processes or in-service applications can propagate and cause failure in structures. Therefore, it is of interest to find a suitable fracture assessment method for predicting crack initiation. Main approaches for fracture assessment of structures are global approach and local approach. In the global approach, it is assumed resistance against fracture can be measured by a critical values of a far from crack tip parameter like K or J. In this study, Beremin model of local approach is used for predicting brittle fracture which studies stress and strain fields at the crack tip. The model introduces unknown parameters which have to be calibrated using experimental fracture data. The purpose of this study is evaluating of conventional calibration methods of local approach parameters using the experimental brittle fracture data of three point bending specimens, determining limitations, and finally presenting a new calibration method to produce suitable parameters for predicting brittle fracture of the specimens by using local approach to fracture. This study shows that conventional calibration method using experimental fracture data of three point bending specimens has limitation in some cases. Also, by introducing location parameter of Weibull distribution as a stress triaxiality criteria in Beremin model, a new rational method for predicting brittle fracture of the three point bending specimens with different constraints is presented.

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In this paper, a laminated composite plate, which was subjected to bending fatigue load, was modeled based on the strength degradation theory of the composites. Also, effects of the fiber directions in the layers and layer stacking on the fatigue life of the plate were studied. First, the governing equation of the laminate plate in bending was obtained by the Navier theory. Then, by solving the governing equation, the deflection and stresses in the plies of each layer were obtained. Finally, using the Brotman-Sahu strength degradation theory, reduction of strength and stiffness in each layer of the plate in each loading step was determined. The data which were obtained in each step were used to specify the data and material properties of the next solution step. This process was repeated until a fatigue failure in the fiber or matrix began in one or more layer(s). Using the sudden death theory and iteration of the solution process, the final fatigue life of symmetric laminates with various stacking and fiber direction was investigated. In the numerical results, the carbon/epoxy composite laminate with different layer stacking was studied.