Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Mechanics." Includes bibliographical references (p. 106-110).

The bifurcation phenomenon occurring in twisted square plates with free edges subject to contrary self-equilibrating corner loading was examined. In order to eliminate lateral deflection of the test plates due to their own weight, a special loading apparatus was constructed which held the plates in a vertical plane. The complete strain field occurring at the plate centre was measured using two strain gauge rosettes mounted on opposing sides of the plate at the centre. Principal curvatures were calculated and related to corner load for several plates with differing edge length/thickness ratios. A Southwell plot was used relating mean curvature to the ratio mean curvature/Gaussian curvature, from which the Gaussian curvature occurring at bifurcation was determined. The critical dimensionless twist ka was then calculated for each plate size. It was found that there is a linear relation between the critical dimensionless twist ka occurring at bifurcation, and the thickness to edge length ratio h/a ratio, specifically: ka = 10.8h/a. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mechanical Engineering, Department of / Graduate

We analyze the double Hopf bifurcations which occur in two geophysical fluid dynamics models: (1) a two-layer quasigeostrophic potential vorticity model with forcing and (2) a mathematical model of the differentially heated rotating annulus experiment. The bifurcations occur at the transition between axisymmetric steady solutions and non-axisymmetric travelling waves. For both models, the results indicate that, close to the transition, there are regions in parameter space where there are multiple stable waves. Hysteresis of these waves is predicted. For each model, center manifold reduction and normal form theory are used to deduce the local behaviour of the full system of partial differential equations from a low-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations. In each case, it is not possible to compute the relevant eigenvalues and eigenfunctions analytically. Therefore, the linear part of the equations is discretized and the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are approximated from the resulting matrix eigenvalue problem. However, the projection onto the center manifold and reduction to normal form can be done analytically. Thus, a combination of analytical and numerical methods are used to obtain numerical approximations of the normal form coefficients, from which the dynamics are deduced. The first model differs from those previously studied with bifurcation analysis since it supports a steady solution which varies nonlinearly with latitude. The results indicate that the forcing does not qualitatively change the behaviour. However, the form of the bifurcating solution is affected. The second model uses the Navier-Stokes equations in the Boussinesq approximation, in cylindrical geometry. In addition to the double Hopf bifurcation analysis, a detailed axisymmetric to non-axisymmetric transition curve is produced from the computed eigenvalues. A quantitative comparison with experimental data finds that the computed transition curve, critical wave numbers and drift rates of the bifurcating waves are reasonably accurate. This indicates that the analysis, as well as the approximations which are made, are valid. / Science, Faculty of / Mathematics, Department of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / abstract / Mechanical Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

We have studied the stationary solutions to the two-dimensional Euler's equation. A highly accurate scheme, based on boundary integral techniques was used in investigating these steady-state configurations. Bifurcation analysis on the solution of a uniform vortex patch in an externally applied strain field, yield new non-elliptical steady-state solutions apart from the elliptical structures reported by Moore & Saffman. The elliptical solutions correspond to the points on the primary solution branch and the non-elliptical solutions correspond to points on the bifurcation branches. We also observe the presence of a turning point indicating the finite resistance of these uniform vortices. Some of these new solutions suggest the possibility of coalescence between neighboring vortices. This leads to a new problem of considering a vortex pair in a strain field and computing their steady-state solutions. Numerical computations suggest that this guess is indeed correct, as we see the solution branch corresponding to the vortex pair intersect the bifurcation branch of the single vortex at a unique strain rate. Furthermore, looking at the profiles on the other bifurcation branches, it appears that merger of neighboring vortices is a recurring phenomenon.

In this dissertation, first, the theoretical and experimental viewpoints of instability and bifurcation in mechanics are reviewed and discussed. The onset of instability of bifurcation depends on the constitutive assumptions, and is marked by the loss of ellipticity, singularity of the stiffness matrix, and negative or complex eigenvalues. Non-traditional regularization is necessary to obtain useful post-instability solutions. Based on dissipated energy and elastic potential, energy based instability criterion is considered and developed. The global instability criterion is concerned with global non-uniform deformation while the surface degradation instability criterion deals with near surface non-uniformities. In addition, the connection between surface degradation and size, shape effects for brittle materials is examined. The energy based stability theory is applied for some typical problems through analytical and numerical implementations. It is shown that the onset of both surface instability and global degradation instability occurs in the strain hardening stage, that is, before and close to the peak strength. The theoretical results are compared with experimental observations. Both strain gage tests and ultrasonic scanning tests are processed to study the degradation mechanisms of a brittle material. The surface effects are highlighted by the experiments. Ultrasonically dissipated energy shows a random distribution and it follows, in general, the initial non-homogeneity pattern. The relationship between the ultrasonically dissipated energy and mechanically dissipated energy is dependent on deformation and can be approximated by a power function of the factor of load level. The theory for surface degradation consideration involves a few material constants, and these constants are identified against experimental observations. The degradation mechanism and damage growth patterning of simulated rock under uniaxial load are modeled numerically by implementing the theory for damage and surface degradation with initial state consideration. The theoretical results are compared with experimental observations obtained through ultrasonic scanning tests. To extend the study to post-instability modelling by using various constitutive models, three alternative considerations are proposed to achieve so-called regularization of the problem.

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 28).

Shankar Sastry, Omar Hijab. / Bibliography: leaf 20. / "May 1981." / Department of Energy contract DOE-ET-A01-2295T050

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.