Asphalt mixtures are complex composites that comprise aggregate, asphalt binder, and air. Several research studies have shown that the mechanical behavior of the asphalt mixture is strongly influenced by the matrix, i.e. the asphalt binder. Therefore, accurate constitutive models for the asphalt binders are critical to ensure accurate performance predictions at a material and structural level. However, researchers who use computational methods to model the micromechanics of asphalt mixtures typically assume that (i) asphalt binders behave linearly in shear, and (ii) either bulk modulus or Poisson’s ratio of asphalt binders is not time dependent. This research develops an approach to measure and model the shear and bulk behavior of asphalt binders at intermediate temperatures. First, this research presents the findings from a systematic investigation into the nature of the linear and nonlinear response of asphalt binders subjected to shear using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR). The DSR test results showed that under certain conditions a compressive normal force was generated in an axially constrained specimen subjected to cyclic torque histories. This normal force could not be solely attributed to the Poynting effect and was also related to the tendency of the asphalt binder to dilate when subjected to shear loads. The generated normal force changed the state of stress and interacted with the shear behavior of asphalt binder. This effect was considered to be an “interaction nonlinearity” or “three dimensional effect”. A constitutive model was identified to accommodate this effect. The model was successfully validated for several different loading histories. Finally, this study investigated the time-dependence of the bulk modulus of asphalt binders. To this end, poker-chip geometries with high aspect ratios were used. The boundary value problem for the poker-chip geometry under step displacement loading was solved to determine the bulk modulus and Poisson’s ratio of asphalt binders as a function of time. The findings from this research not only improve the understanding of asphaltic materials behavior, but also provide tools required to accurately predict pavement performance. / text

In diesem Preprint werden grundlegende Gleichungen zur Behandlung von transversal isotropem Materialverhalten zusammengetragen. Wir betrachten ein transversal isotropes Materialgesetz mit linear elastischem Verhalten. Die angegebenen Materialgleichungen sind zur Beschreibung sowohl kleiner als auch großer Deformationen geeignet. Sie bilden eine wesentliche Grundlage zur Lösung statischer Probleme mit der Methode der finiten Elemente. Es werden Gleichungen für den ebenen Spannungszustand und den ebenen Verzerrungszustand hergeleitet.

Previous experimental observations have shown that the pseudoelastic response of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA) is localized in nature and proceeds through nucleation and propagation of localized deformation bands. It has also been observed that the mechanical response of SMAs is strongly affected by loading rate and cyclic degradation. These behaviors significantly limit the accurate modeling of SMA elements used in various devices and applications. The aim of this work is to provide engineers with a constitutive model that can accurately describe the dynamic, unstable pseudoelastic response of SMAs, including their cyclic response, and facilitate the reliable design of SMA elements. A 1-D phenomenological model is developed to simulate the localized phase transformations in NiTi wires during both loading and unloading. In this model, it is assumed that the untransformed particles located close to the transformed regions are less stable than those further away from the transformed regions. By consideration of the thermomechanical coupling among the stress, temperature, and latent heat of transformation, the analysis can account for strain-rate effects. Inspired by the deformation theory of plasticity, the 1-D model is extended to a 3-D macromechanical model of localized unstable pseudoelasticity. An important feature of this model is the reorientation of the transformation strain tensor with changes in stress tensor. Unlike previous modeling efforts, the present model can also capture the propagation of localized deformation during unloading. The constitutive model is implemented within a 2-D finite element framework to allow numerical investigation of the effect of strain rate and boundary conditions on the overall mechanical response and evolution of localized transformation bands in NiTi strips. The model successfully captures the features of the transformation front morphology, and pseudoelastic response of NiTi strip samples observed in previous experiments. The 1-D and 3-D constitutive models are further extended to include the plastic deformation and degradation of material properties as a result of cyclic loading.

The benefits of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) have been thoroughly investigated. Much of this work has focussed on steel FRC subjected to monotonic loads. Data on the structural behaviour of macro-synthetic FRC or FRC under cyclic loads is scarce. A pilot investigation on the shear behaviour of macro-synthetic FRC and on the behaviour of FRC under reversed cyclic in-plane shear loading was carried out. Five in-plane shear panel tests were performed. The parameters under study were the fibre material type (steel or macrosynthetic) and loading protocol. Additionally, a number of compression, direct tension, and flexural tests were performed to determine the material properties of the concretes for comparison. The material response of 2.0% by volume of macro-synthetic FRC matched closely with 1.0% steel FRC. Finally, building upon an existing steel FRC model, a model for macro-synthetic FRC in tension was proposed and a short verification study was undertaken.

The emphasis of this dissertation is on using numerical and plasticity based methods to study two main areas of offshore geotechnics. The first part of this dissertation focuses on the undrained behavior of deeply embedded anchor plates under combined shear and torsion. Plate anchors are increasingly being used instead of typical foundation systems to anchor offshore floating platforms to sustain uplift operating forces. However extreme loading cases would create general loading conditions involving six degrees of freedom. The focus of my research was to evaluate the bearing capacity of plate anchors under two-way horizontal and torsional loading and to study the decreasing effect of torsional moment on the horizontal bearing capacity of these foundations. The study takes advantage of several approaches: Numerical simulation (two and three dimensional finite element analysis) Evaluating and modification of the available plasticity solutions Developing equations for three degree-of-freedom yield locus surfaces The same methodology is applied to evaluate the response of shallow foundations for subsea infrastructure subjected to significant eccentric horizontal loads. The second part of this study focuses on offshore geohazards. Coastal communities and the offshore industry can be impacted directly by geohazards, such as submarine slope failures, or by tsunamis generated by the failed mass movements. This study aims at evaluating the triggering mechanisms of submarine landslide under cyclic wave and earthquake loading. A simple effective stress elasto-plastic model with a minimal number of parameters accounting for monotonic and cyclic response of fine-grained material is developed. The new constitutive soil model could be used to simulate case histories and conduct parametric study to evaluate the effect of slope inclination angle, the earthquake loading with different PGA, frequency content, and duration, as well as various deposition rates to simulate different over pressure levels. This study will generate more insight on the static and cyclic behavior of submarine slopes and influencing factors on their triggering mechanisms using more comprehensive and realistic modeling tools. Several objectives are defined: Developing an appropriate constitutive formulation, Evaluating the constitutive model and material parameters for available databases.

A combined geological and rock mechanics approach to tunnel face behaviour prediction, based on improved understanding of brittle fracture processes during TBM excavation, was developed to complement empirical design and performance prediction for TBM tunnelling in hard rock geological conditions. A major challenge of this research was combining geological and engineering terminology, methods, and objectives to construct a unified Geomechanical Characterisation Scheme. The goal of this system is to describe the spalling sensitivity of hard, massive, highly stressed crystalline rock, often deformed by tectonic processes. Geological, lab strength testing and TBM machine data were used to quantify the impact of interrelated geological factors, such as mineralogy, grain size, fabric and the heterogeneity of all these factors at micro and macro scale, on spalling sensitivity and to combine these factors within a TBM advance framework. This was achieved by incorporating aspects of geology, tectonics, mineralogy, material strength theory, fracture process theory and induced stresses. Three main approaches were used to verify and calibrate the Geomechanical Characterisation Scheme: geological and TBM data collection from tunnels in massive, highly-stressed rock, interpretation of published mineral-specific investigations of rock yielding processes, and numerical modelling the rock yielding processes in simulated strength tests and the TBM cutting process. The TBM performance investigation was used to identify the mechanism behind the chipping processes and quantify adverse conditions for chipping, including tough rock conditions and stress induced face instability. The literature review was used to identify the critical geological parameters for rock yielding processes and obtain strength and stiffness values for mineral-specific constitutive models. A texture-generating algorithm was developed to create realistic rock analogues and to provide user control over geological characteristics such as mineralogy, grain size and fabric. This methodology was applied to investigate the TBM chipping process to calibrate the Geomechanical Characterisation Scheme. A Chipping Resistance Factor was developed to combine the quantified geological characteristic factors and laboratory strength values to predict conditions with high risk of poor chipping performance arising from tough rock. A Stress-Related Chip Potential Factor was developed to estimate conditions with high risk of advance rate reduction arising from stress-induced face instability. / Thesis (Ph.D, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-25 23:58:58.071

The benefits of fibre reinforced concrete (FRC) have been thoroughly investigated. Much of this work has focussed on steel FRC subjected to monotonic loads. Data on the structural behaviour of macro-synthetic FRC or FRC under cyclic loads is scarce. A pilot investigation on the shear behaviour of macro-synthetic FRC and on the behaviour of FRC under reversed cyclic in-plane shear loading was carried out. Five in-plane shear panel tests were performed. The parameters under study were the fibre material type (steel or macrosynthetic) and loading protocol. Additionally, a number of compression, direct tension, and flexural tests were performed to determine the material properties of the concretes for comparison. The material response of 2.0% by volume of macro-synthetic FRC matched closely with 1.0% steel FRC. Finally, building upon an existing steel FRC model, a model for macro-synthetic FRC in tension was proposed and a short verification study was undertaken.

The economical and environmental issues associated with fossil fuels have been urging the automotive industry to cut the fuel consumption and exhaust emission levels, mainly by reducing the weight of vehicles. However, customers increasing demands for safer, more powerful and luxurious vehicles have been adding more weight to the various categories of vehicles, even the smallest ones. Leading car manufacturers have shown that significant weight reduction, yet satisfying the growing demands of customers, would not be feasible without the extensive use of lightweight materials. Magnesium is the lightest constructional metal on earth, offering a great potential for weight-savings. However, magnesium and its alloys exhibit inferior ductility at low temperatures, limiting their practical sheet metal applications. Interestingly, some magnesium alloys exhibit superplastic behaviour at elevated temperatures; mirrored by the extraordinarily large ductility, surpassing that of conventional steels and aluminium alloys. Superplastic forming technique is the process used to form materials of such nature, having the ability to deliver highly-profiled, yet very uniform sheet-metal products, in one single stage. Despite the several attractions, the technique is not widely-used because of a number of issues and obstacles. This study aims at advancing the superplastic forming technique, and offering it as an efficient process for broader utilisation of magnesium alloys for sheet metal applications. The focus is primarily directed to the AZ31 magnesium alloy, since it is commercially available in sheet form, possesses good mechanical properties and high strength/weight ratio. A general multi-axial anisotropic microstructure-based constitutive model that describes the deformation behaviour during superplastic forming is first developed. To calibrate the model for the AZ31 magnesium alloy, systematic uniaxial and biaxial stretching tests are carried out over wide-ranging conditions, using 3 specially-designed fixtures. In a collaborative effort thereafter, the calibrated constitutive model is fed into a FE code in conjunction with a stability criterion, in order to accurately simulate, control and ultimately optimise the superplastic forming process. Special pneumatic bulge forming setup is used to validate some proposed optimisation schemes, by forming sheets into dies of various geometries. Finally, the materials post-superplastic-forming properties are investigated systematically, based on geometrical, mechanical and microstructural measures.

Design of landfills must consider both stability and integrity of the lining system. Therefore, stresses and strains in both mineral and geosynthetic lining materials must be controlled. Interaction between waste and barrier system is of particular importance for assessing the stability and structural integrity of steep non-self supporting barrier systems. The most appropriate approach to assess the interaction is the use of numerical modelling techniques, and therefore an appropriate constitutive model for waste material is required to represent its mechanical behaviour. In a literature review the key aspects of mechanical behaviour of municipal solid waste (MSW) were investigated, including the influence of compressible and reinforcing particles on compression and shear behaviour of MSW were identified. Constitutive modelling of both MSW and soil material were reviewed, based on which the methodology for this study have been developed. In addition, requirements of an appropriate constitutive model for MSW have been suggested from the numerical modelling experience, and a framework to develop a constitutive model for MSW was produced. A one-dimensional compression model was developed by including the influence of compressible particles on MSW compression behaviour. One-dimensional compression tests on both real and synthetic waste samples were modelled and the results have shown that the compression model can reproduce the measured behaviour. A fibre reinforcing model was developed by including the influence of reinforcing particles on MSW shear behaviour. A triaxial compression test on fibre reinforced sand was modelled and the results have shown that the reinforcing model can predict its shear strength. A constitutive model for MSW has been developed by combining the Modified Cam-Clay with the one-dimensional compression and the fibre reinforcing models. Typical MSW triaxial compression tests have been modelled and the results have shown that the MSW model can reproduce the stress-strain behaviour in specific strain ranges. The constitutive model for MSW has been coded into a non-linear elasto-plastic finite element method program. Comparisons between the finite element analysis results and the analytical solutions have been performed and good agreements have been obtained.

Previous experimental observations have shown that the pseudoelastic response of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA) is localized in nature and proceeds through nucleation and propagation of localized deformation bands. It has also been observed that the mechanical response of SMAs is strongly affected by loading rate and cyclic degradation. These behaviors significantly limit the accurate modeling of SMA elements used in various devices and applications. The aim of this work is to provide engineers with a constitutive model that can accurately describe the dynamic, unstable pseudoelastic response of SMAs, including their cyclic response, and facilitate the reliable design of SMA elements. A 1-D phenomenological model is developed to simulate the localized phase transformations in NiTi wires during both loading and unloading. In this model, it is assumed that the untransformed particles located close to the transformed regions are less stable than those further away from the transformed regions. By consideration of the thermomechanical coupling among the stress, temperature, and latent heat of transformation, the analysis can account for strain-rate effects. Inspired by the deformation theory of plasticity, the 1-D model is extended to a 3-D macromechanical model of localized unstable pseudoelasticity. An important feature of this model is the reorientation of the transformation strain tensor with changes in stress tensor. Unlike previous modeling efforts, the present model can also capture the propagation of localized deformation during unloading. The constitutive model is implemented within a 2-D finite element framework to allow numerical investigation of the effect of strain rate and boundary conditions on the overall mechanical response and evolution of localized transformation bands in NiTi strips. The model successfully captures the features of the transformation front morphology, and pseudoelastic response of NiTi strip samples observed in previous experiments. The 1-D and 3-D constitutive models are further extended to include the plastic deformation and degradation of material properties as a result of cyclic loading.