Jeremy Leggoe

Finite element modelling of deformation in particulate reinforced metal matrix composites with random local microstructure variation

Abstract Deformation in particulate reinforced metal matrix composites (PR MMCs) with locally varying reinforcement volume fraction has been modelled using a two-scale finite element approach. The responses of axisymmetric unit cell models were used to define the constitutive response of mesoscale regions possessing varying volume fractions. Macroscale response was then investigated using two- and three-dimensional “random arrays” of finite elements, in which element properties were randomly assigned in line with a Gaussian distribution. Two-dimensional random arrays developed non-uniform strain fields, severe strain localization ensuing as straining proceeded. Two-dimensional random arrays are, however, inappropriate for modelling the three-dimensional microstructure of PR MMCs. Three-dimensional random arrays also developed non-uniform strain fields, but severe strain localization did not arise. Reinforcement clustering was simulated by varying the standard deviation in element volume fraction. Yield stress, strain hardening and elastic modulus were all found to increase as the severity of clustering increased.

Crack tip damage development and crack growth resistance in particulate reinforced metal matrix composites

A study of crack tip damage development and crack growth resistance of aluminium 359/20% Vf silicon carbide and aluminium 6061/20% Vf MicralTm particulate reinforced metal matrix composites has been conducted. Observations of crack tip process zone development at the specimen surface have been compared with the results of fractographic examination of the centre of the specimen. Both materials were found to fracture by a process of void nucleation, growth and coalescence. Void nucleation was found to be by fracture or debonding of reinforcement particles, and/or fracture or debonding of secondary matrix particles. The preferred mode of void nucleation was found to vary depending on the constituents of the PR MMC and even the heat treatment state of the material. It was found that in these materials fractured particles identified on the fracture surface fractured during loading rather than being pre-cracked during fabrication. It was further found that observations of damage development from the specimen surface did not necessarily reflect the mechanisms prevailing in the specimen bulk. Under plane strain conditions, both materials were found to exhibit decreasing crack growth resistance as crack extension proceeded, due to the “anti-shielding” effect of damage accumulated in the process zone ahead of the crack tip. In thin specimens of the Comral-85 composite, however, dramatically improved toughness was obtained, and KR curves have been obtained for such specimens. The method of measuring crack length was found to have a profound effect on the KR curve; it was concluded that the KR curve determined using the crack length measured at the specimen surface best reflected the true crack growth resistance of these materials.

Determination of the elastic modulus of microscale ceramic particles via nanoindentation

Nanoindentation of the reinforcement in a particulate reinforced metal matrix composite (PR MMC) enables direct investigation of reinforcement properties within the finished material. Mismatch between the elastic moduli of the reinforcement and matrix creates a “secondary indentation” effect, whereby the stiffer reinforcement particles themselves “indent” the more compliant matrix. A finite-element investigation was undertaken to quantify the additional penetration arising under secondary indentation for spherical and cylindrical particles. Modification of Sneddon’s equation for a flat punch by a scalar particle shape factor provided an accurate estimate of the additional penetration. The modified equation was combined with the analysis of Field and Swain to extract the particle elastic modulus from results obtained using a spherical indenter under a multiple partial-unloading indentation regime. The resulting methodology was used to determine the elastic moduli of silicon carbide particles and Micral TM microspheres in two aluminum-matrix PR MMCs.

Numerical simulations of vortex-induced vibrations on vertical cylindrical structure with different aspect ratios

This paper presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of vortex-induced vibration (VIV) for different aspect ratio (L/D) cylinder. Of particular interest was to measure hydrodynamic forces and numerically investigate the wake behaviour of VIV while varying the aspect ratio. The simulation models represented the actual experimental conditions with idealised free-surface boundary condition to capture the responses from fluid-structure interaction phenomenon. The simulations were performed in the subcritical flow region (7.4×103 < Re < 2×105), corresponding to a range of reduced velocity (Ur) from 2 to 14. The results of the cases studied were discussed and compared with the experimental data to verify the accuracy and validity of the present simulation. The comparisons have shown a similar curved-shape drag coefficient plot, and however underestimated the value of the drag coefficients over the reduced velocity. Additionally, the simulations seemed to capture a higher lift force response compared with the experimental data for a low aspect ratio. The correlation length was observed to be longer for larger aspect ratio and proportionally decreases as the aspect ratio decreases.

Comparison of Recent Parametric Trenched and Partially Embedded/ Spanning Pipelines With DNV-RP-F109 Load Reduction Design Curves

An extensive series of 2D CFD analyses of subsea pipelines with parametrically varying seabed profiles have been performed in the past two years. These cases feature variations on wave and current flow conditions with pipeline partial embedment or spanning which extend beyond the range of conditions which have been published to date. This paper presents a comparison of the reduction factors calculated from this work with DNV-RP-F109 load factors and previous published research.At present, the DNV-RP-F109 partial embedment / trenched pipeline load reduction factors are applied in both absolute stability analysis and also as a reduction factor on hydrodynamic force-time histories used in dynamic stability analysis. The suitability of this load factor reduction for dynamic stability analysis will also be considered.In addition, a limited number of cases have been constructed in 3D which provide some initial insights into the variation of hydrodynamic loads across a pipeline span as a function of finite span length, enabling the validity of applying the 2D DNV load reduction factors across a 3D span to be considered. The 3D cases also consider inclined attack angles, and the effect they have on hydrodynamic forces across a span.Copyright

Threshold Capability Development in Intensive Mode Business Units.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore: student perceptions of threshold concepts and capabilities in postgraduate business education, and the potential impacts of intensive modes of teaching on student understanding of threshold concepts and development of threshold capabilities. Design/methodology/approach – The student experience of learning was studied in two business units: strategic management, and accounting. The method involved two phases. In the first, students and unit coordinators identified and justified potential threshold concepts and capabilities. In the second, themes were rationalized. Findings – Significantly more so in intensive mode, the opportunity to ask questions was reported by student participants to support their development of the nominated threshold capabilities. This and other factors reported by students to support their learning in intensive mode are consistent with supporting students to traverse the liminal space within the limited time available in intensive mo...

2D and 3D CFD Investigations of Seabed Shear Stresses Around Subsea Pipelines

For well over a decade it has been widely recognised that existing models and tools for subsea pipeline stability design fail to account for the fact that seabed soils tend to become mobile well before the onset of pipeline instability. Despite ample evidence obtained from both laboratory and field observations that sediment mobility has a key role to play in understanding pipeline/soil interaction, no models have been presented previously which account for the tripartite interaction between the fluid and the pipe, the fluid and the soil, and the pipe and the soil.There are numerous well developed and widely used theories available to model pipe-fluid and pipe-soil interactions. A challenge lies in the way to develop a satisfactory fluid-soil interaction algorithm that has the potential for broad implementation under both ambient and extreme sea conditions due to the complexity of flow in the vicinity of a seabed pipeline or cable. A widely used relationship by Shields [1] links the bedload and suspended sediment transport to the seabed shear stresses. This paper presents details of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research which has been undertaken to investigate the variation of seabed shear stresses around subsea pipelines as a parametric function of pipeline spanning/embedment, trench configuration and wave/current properties using the commercial RANS-based software ANSYS Fluent. The modelling work has been undertaken for a wide range of seabed geometries, including cases in 3D to evaluate the effects of finite span length, span depth and flow attack angle on shear stresses.These seabed shear stresses have been analysed and used as the basis for predicting sediment transport within the Pipe-Soil-Fluid (PSF) Interaction Model [2] in determining the suspended sediment concentration and the advection velocity in the vicinity of pipelines. The model has significant potential to be of use to operators who struggle with conventional stabilisation techniques for the pipelines, such as those which cross Australia’s North West Shelf, where shallow water depths, highly variable calcareous soils and extreme metocean conditions driven by frequent tropical cyclones result in the requirement for expensive and logistically challenging secondary stabilisation measures.Copyright

Sediment Attractors: Seabed Shear Stress Shadows Around Subsea Pipelines Cause Net Sediment Accretion

This paper presents interpretation of the results of 2D CFD modelling using ANSYS Fluent, which has been undertaken for a parametric range of over 200 cases, including over 60 different seabed geometries, pipe diameters and seabed roughnesses as well as a range of steady current, wave and combined wave / current cases. Through analysis of the results including evaluation of seabed shear stress amplification factors compared to far-field ambient values, integration across the seabed of seabed shear stresses and bedload transport potential, the conditions under which sedimentation can be expected are predicted.The results have relevance to improving our understanding of sedimentation (backfilling) around subsea pipelines under live bed conditions, since the presence of shear-stress deficits or shadows leads to enhanced accretion of sediment in the region of a pipeline, even where there is localised amplification of shear stress right next to the pipe. The results are expected to enable better approaches design of subsea pipeline stability on erodible seabeds, or on impermeable rocky beds where veneers of mobile sediment are present.Copyright

Hydrodynamic Forces on Subsea Pipelines due to Orbital Wave Effects

Ensuring pipeline stability is a fundamental aspect of subsea pipeline design and can contribute a significant proportion of project costs in regions with large diameter trunklines, shallow water and severe geotechnical and metocean conditions [1]. Reducing the conservatism and simplifications of existing pipeline stabilisation design methods therefore offers economic benefits to hydrocarbon producers necessary to ensure the ongoing viability of projects in these regions. To realise this potential and reduce the conservatism of the existing design methods, a more accurate understanding of the hydrodynamic loads exerted by waves and currents is required.This paper investigates one of the inherent assumptions incorporated into the existing design methods through the arrangement of previous experimental investigations to determine whether rectilinear motion provides a reasonable approximation to simulate the near seabed orbital particle paths in wind-generated waves. This assumption is based on the flattening of particle paths to ellipsoids with depth and ignores the small vertical velocity components near the seabed. Based on the hydrodynamic forces calculated numerically using a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model for rectilinear and orbital wave modelling it is concluded that pipeline stabilisation requirements calculated in accordance with the DNV-RP-F109 absolute lateral static stability design method and rectilinear wave motion assumption are conservative. It is also concluded that the hydrodynamic force asymmetry in favour of the reverse half wave cycle caused by the vertical velocity components in orbital wave conditions requires further consideration to determine the implication for dynamic lateral stability design methods.Copyright

The Influence of Loading Rate on the Ultimate Properties and Fracture Mechanism of Styrenic Thermoplastic Elastomers

The influence of loading rate on the tensile fracture of polystyrene-polyisoprenepolystyrene (SIS) and polystyrene-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-polystyrene (SEBS) has been investigated. The tensile strength of SIS initially increased with increasing strain rate, eventually reaching a plateau at elevated strain rates. In contrast, the tensile strength of SEBS was relatively unaffected by strain rate. The fracture surfaces of the tensile test specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The fracture surface morphologies indicated that fracture initiated via cavitation, followed subsequently by void coalescence and catastrophic fracture. For both materials there was no qualitatively obvious change in fracture surface morphology with increasing strain rate. The results indicate that the ultimate strength of styrenic thermoplastic elastomers is governed by the nature of the dominant failure mechanism at the molecular scale; when chain scission dominates, the tensile strength is independent of the strain rate, but when chain pull-out dominates, the tensile strength increases with increasing strain rate.