Nondestructive testing is used extensively throughout the industry for quality assessment and detection of defects in engineering materials. The range and variety of anomalies is enormous and critical assessment of their location and size is often complicated. Depending upon final operational considerations, some of these anomalies may be critical and their detection and classification is therefore of importance. Despite the several advantages of using Nondestructive testing for flaw detection, the conventional NDT techniques based on the heuristic experience-based pattern identification methods have many drawbacks in terms of cost, length and result in erratic analysis and thus lead to discrepancies in results. The use of several statistical and soft computing techniques in the evaluation and classification operations result in the development of an automatic decision support system for defect characterization that offers the possibility of an impartial standardized performance. The present work evaluates the application of both supervised and unsupervised classification techniques for flaw detection and classification in a semi-infinite half space. Finite element models to simulate the MASW test in the presence and absence of voids were developed using the commercial package LS-DYNA. To simulate anomalies, voids of different sizes were inserted on elastic medium. Features for the discrimination of received responses were extracted in time and frequency domains by applying suitable transformations. The compact feature vector is then classified by different techniques: supervised classification (backpropagation neural network, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, k-nearest neighbor classifier, linear discriminate classifier) and unsupervised classification (fuzzy c-means clustering). The classification results show that the performance of k-nearest Neighbor Classifier proved superior when compared with the other techniques with an overall accuracy of 94% in detection of presence of voids and an accuracy of 81% in determining the size of the void in the medium. The assessment of the various classifiers’ performance proved to be valuable in comparing the different techniques and establishing the applicability of simplified classification methods such as k-NN in defect characterization. The obtained classification accuracies for the detection and classification of voids are very encouraging, showing the suitability of the proposed approach to the development of a decision support system for non-destructive testing of materials for defect characterization.

Nondestructive testing is used extensively throughout the industry for quality assessment and detection of defects in engineering materials. The range and variety of anomalies is enormous and critical assessment of their location and size is often complicated. Depending upon final operational considerations, some of these anomalies may be critical and their detection and classification is therefore of importance. Despite the several advantages of using Nondestructive testing for flaw detection, the conventional NDT techniques based on the heuristic experience-based pattern identification methods have many drawbacks in terms of cost, length and result in erratic analysis and thus lead to discrepancies in results. The use of several statistical and soft computing techniques in the evaluation and classification operations result in the development of an automatic decision support system for defect characterization that offers the possibility of an impartial standardized performance. The present work evaluates the application of both supervised and unsupervised classification techniques for flaw detection and classification in a semi-infinite half space. Finite element models to simulate the MASW test in the presence and absence of voids were developed using the commercial package LS-DYNA. To simulate anomalies, voids of different sizes were inserted on elastic medium. Features for the discrimination of received responses were extracted in time and frequency domains by applying suitable transformations. The compact feature vector is then classified by different techniques: supervised classification (backpropagation neural network, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, k-nearest neighbor classifier, linear discriminate classifier) and unsupervised classification (fuzzy c-means clustering). The classification results show that the performance of k-nearest Neighbor Classifier proved superior when compared with the other techniques with an overall accuracy of 94% in detection of presence of voids and an accuracy of 81% in determining the size of the void in the medium. The assessment of the various classifiers’ performance proved to be valuable in comparing the different techniques and establishing the applicability of simplified classification methods such as k-NN in defect characterization. The obtained classification accuracies for the detection and classification of voids are very encouraging, showing the suitability of the proposed approach to the development of a decision support system for non-destructive testing of materials for defect characterization.

This master thesis deals with stress-strain analysis of simplified model of the thin wall transformer case subjected to impact load of electrical blast. Electrical blast is replaced by chemical blast (detonation of high explosive). The problem is solved using computational modeling utilizing the Finite Element Method (FEM) and LS-DYNA solver. After the introduction where detonation and shock wave propagation is explained the analytical approach is presented. This approach serves to results verification. In the next chapter is conducted research of applicable methods from which ALE method is chosen. In preliminary study is performed the mesh size analysis that is focused on finding the size of element which is both computational effective and gives accurate results. Next the infulence of input conditions (shape, location and parametres of high explosive, location of detonation point, boundary conditions) on distribution and time progress of pressure is investigated. Then influence of the opening on upper side of the case on overall pressure redistribution and strain and stress of the case is analysed. The stress-strain analysis of the case´s door which are connected to case by various types of contact models is performed as well as stiffness analysis of these types of contact.

A research study has been conducted to simulate liquefaction in saturated sandy soil induced by nearby controlled blasts. The purpose of the study is to help quantify soil characteristics under multiple and consecutive high-magnitude shock environments similar to those produced by large earthquakes. The simulation procedure involved the modeling of a three-dimensional half-space soil region with pre-defined, embedded, and strategically located explosive charges to be detonated at specific time intervals. LS-DYNA, a commercially available finite element hydrocode, was the solver used to simulate the event. A new geo-material model developed under the direction of the U.S. Federal Highway Administration was applied to evaluate the liquefaction potential of saturated sandy soil subjected to sequential blast environments. Additional procedural enhancements were integrated into the analysis process to represent volumetric effects of the saturated soil's transition from solid to liquid during the liquefaction process. Explosive charge detonation and pressure development characteristics were modeled using proven and accepted modeling techniques. As explosive charges were detonated in a pre-defined order, development of pore water pressure, volumetric (compressive) strains, shear strains, and particle accelerations were carefully computed and monitored using custom developed MathCad and C/C++ routines. Results of the study were compared against blast-test data gathered at the Fraser River Delta region of Vancouver, British Columbia in May of 2005 to validate and verify the modeling procedure's ability to simulate and predict blast-induced liquefaction events. Reasonable correlations between predicted and measured data were observed from the study.

The strive for lower fuel consumption and downsizing in the automotive industry has led to the use of alternative high performance materials, such as fibre composites. Designing chassis components with composite materials require accurate simulation models in order to capture the behaviour in car crashes. By simplifying the development process of a B-pillar with a new dynamic test method, composite material products could reach the market faster. The setup has to predict a cars side impact crash performance by only testing the B-pillar in a component based environment. The new dynamic test method with more realistic behaviour gives a better estimation of how the B-pillar, and therefore the car, will perform in a full-scale car side impact test. With the new improved tool for the development process, the search for a lighter product with better crash worthiness is done by optimising a steel carbon fibre hybrid structure in the B-pillar. The optimisation includes different carbon fibre materials, composite laminate lay-up and stiffness analysis. By upgrading simulation models with new material and adhesive representation physical prototypes could be built to verify the results. Finally the manufactured steel carbon fibre hybrid B-pillar prototypes were tested in the developed dynamic test method for a comparison to the steel B-pillar. The hybrid B-pillars perform better than the reference steel B-pillar in the dynamic tests also being considerably lighter. As a final result a hybrid B-pillar is developed that will decrease fuel consumption and meet the requirements of any standardized side impact crash test. / Strävan efter lägre bränsleförbrukning och minimalistiskt tänkande inom bilindustrin har lett till användning av alternativa högpresterande material, såsom fiberkompositer. Vid design av chassi-komponenter utav kompositer krävs noggranna simuleringsmodeller för att fånga upp bilens beteende vid en krock. Genom att förenkla utvecklingsprocessen för en B-stolpe med en ny dynamisk testmetod kan produkter bestående av fiberkompositer nå marknaden snabbare. Provuppställningen skall förutse bilens prestanda vid ett sidokrocktest genom att endast testa B-stolpen i en komponentbaserad miljö. Den nya dynamiska testmetoden med ett mer realistiskt beteende skall ge en bättre uppskattning om hur B-stolpen, och därmed bilen, kommer att prestera i ett fullskaligt sidokrocktest. Med utvecklingsprocessens nya förbättrade verktyg kan strävan mot lättare produkter med bättre krocksäkerhet utvecklas genom optimering av en hybrid B-stolpe i stål och kolfiber. Optimeringen innefattar olika kolfibermaterial, laminatvarianter och styvhetsanalyser. Genom att uppgradera simuleringsmodeller med nya material och adhesiva metoder kunde fysiska prototyper tillverkas för att verifiera resultaten. Slutligen testades de tillverkade prototyperna utav stål och kolfiber i den nyutvecklade dynamiska testmetoden för jämförelse mot den ursprungliga stål B-stolpen. Hybrid B-stolparna presterade bättre än referensstolpen utav stål i de dynamiska provningarna och är samtidigt betydligt lättare. Det slutgiltigt resultatet är en utvecklad hybrid B-stolpe som både ger minskad bränsleförbrukningen och uppfyller kraven för ett standardiserat sidokrocktest.

Modelling the full event of an underwater explosion (UNDEX) is complex and requires advanced modelling methods in order to achieve accurate responses. The process of an UNDEX includes a series of events that has to be considered. When a detonation is initiated, a shock-wave propagates and the rest products from the explosive material creates a gaseous bubble with high pressure which pulsates and impacts the surroundings. Reflections of the initial shock-wave can also appear if it hits the sea floor, water surface or other obstacles. There are different approaches how to numerically model the impact of an UNDEX on a structure, some with analytical approaches without a water domain and others where a water domain has to be modelled. This master’s thesis focuses on two modelling methods that are available in the finite element software LS-DYNA. The simpler method is called Sub-Sea Analysis (SSA) and does not require a water domain, thus it can be beneficial to use in an early design stage, or when only approximated responses are desired. To increase the accuracy, a more complex method called S-ALE can be used. By implementing this method, the full process of an UNDEX can be studied since both the fluid domain and explosive material are meshed. These methods are studied separately together with a combination of them. Another important aspect to be considered is that oscillations of a structure submerged in water differs from the behavior it has in air. Depending on the numerical method used, the impact of the water can be included. Natural frequencies of structures submerged in water are studied, how it changes and how the methods takes this into account. To verify the numerical models, experiments were executed with a cylindrical test object where the distance and weight of charge were altered through out the test series. It was found that multiple aspects affects the results from the experiments, that are not captured in the numerical models. These aspects have for instance to do with reflections, how accurate the test object is modelled and the damping effects of the water. It is concluded that the numerical models are sensitive when small charges and fragile structures are studied. High frequency oscillations were not triggered in the experiment but found for both methods. It should be further investigated if the methods are more accurate for larger charges and stronger structures. Experiments with larger water domain would also be beneficial to reduce effects from reflections, as well as a more accurate model of the cylinder in the simulations.

No description available.

Thermomechanical processes such as hot rolling have been used in the industry for a long time to process and shape metals to a desired form with specific properties. However it can be difficult to make changes to the different process parameters. That's where it is beneficial to use a hot deformation simulator such as the Gleeble 3800-GTC. It can be used to test metals in a controlled environment where the deformation, temperature and other parameters are easily changed. When the machine uses a Hydrawedge module, it is able to simulate hot rolling using uniaxial compression at high temperatures. Swerim AB has one such machine and has requested to investigate what occurs inside a specimen during testing in the Gleeble, specifically inside two low-alloyed steels with a hardness between 400 and 500 HV. Such tests were replicated using LS-DYNA, an FE software. The goal was to acquire true stress-strain graphs that showed similar behaviour to the data from the Gleeble and plots of the effective plastic strain which could be correlated to the grain structure pattern inside the deformed cylinders. An FE-model was created which replicates the procedure. The model was verified through numerous steps. An initial mesh verification was done where the simulation time took at least 5 hours and at most 86 hours. Using a technique called mass scaling, the elements inside the model were manipulated using additional mass to increase their time step and reduce the computational time. A verification of the mass scaling was done where the computational time was weighed off against accuracy. Afterwards the friction had to be verified where it was found that the Gleeble test specimens were deformed more than necessary which was taken into account and the models were adjusted for friction verification. After all was said and done, the model had a reasonable friction coefficient with an optimal mesh and mass scaling configuration. The resulting model simulated a test of 0.5 seconds in 15 minutes and only costing at most 10 MPa in accuracy when experimental results have maximum values between 110 to 220 MPa depending on the scenario. This equals an approximate error of around 5-10%. When investigating the grain structure after 100 seconds of relaxation, the computational time amounted to 52 hours but could be reduced to 12 hours when simulating 30 seconds as there was no change in the effective plastic strain after that time. The final model has a high enough accuracy which, when combined with the Gleeble, is able to confirm material models and describe what occurs in the material during conditions akin to hot rolling.

In Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, explosions accounted for 81% of all injuries; this is a higher casualty percentage than in any previous wars. Blast wave overpressure has recently been associated with varying levels of traumatic brain injury in soldiers exposed to blast loading. Presently, the injury mechanism behind primary blast brain injury is not well understood due to the complex interactions between the blast wave and the human body. Despite these limitations in the understanding of head injury thresholds, head kinematics are often used to predict the overall potential for head injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate head kinematics, and predict injury from a range of simulated blast loads at varying standoff distances and differing heights of bursts. The validated Generator of body data multi-body human surrogate model allows for numerical kinematic data simulation in explicit finite element method fluid structure interaction blast modeling. Two finite element methods were investigated to simulate blast interaction with humans, an enhanced blast uncoupled method, and an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eularian fully coupled method. The enhanced blast method defines an air blast function through the application of a blast pressure wave, including ground reflections, based on the explosives relative location to a target; the pressures curves are based on the Convention Weapons databases. LBE model is efficient for parametric numerical studies of blast interaction where the target response is the only necessary result. The ALE model, unlike classical Lagrangian methods, has a fixed finite element mesh that allows material to flow through it; this enables simulation of large deformation problems such as blast in an air medium and its subsequent interaction with structures. The ALE model should be used when research into a specific blast scenario is of interest, since this method is more computationally expensive. The ALE method can evaluate a blast scenario in more detail including: explosive detonation, blast wave development and propagation, near-field fireball effects, blast wave reflection, as well as 3D blast wave interaction, reflection and refraction with a target. Both approaches were validated against experimental blast tests performed by Defense Research and Development Valcartier and ConWep databases for peak pressure, arrival time, impulse, and curve shape. The models were in good agreement with one another and follow the experimental data trend showing an exponential reduction in peak acceleration with increasing standoff distance until the Mach stem effect reached head height. The Mach stem phenomenon is a shock front formed by the merging of the incident and reflected shock waves; it increases the applied peak pressure and duration of a blast wave thus expanding the potential head injury zone surrounding a raised explosive. The enhanced blast model was in good agreement with experimental data in the near-field, and mid-field; however, overestimated the peak acceleration, and head injury criteria values in the far-field due to an over predicted pressure impulse force. The ALE model also over predicted the response based on the head injury criteria at an increased standoff distance due to smearing of the blast wave over several finite elements leading to an increased duration loading. According to the Abbreviated Injury Scale, the models predicted a maximal level 6 injury for all explosive sizes in the near-field, with a rapid acceleration of the head over approximately 1 ms. There is a drastic exponential reduction in the insult force and potential injury received with increasing standoff distance outside of the near-field region of an explosive charge.

Fiber-reinforced composites comprise an important class of lightweight materials which are finding increasing applications in engineering structures including body components of automobiles and aircraft. Traditionally, synthetic fibers made of glass, carbon, etc. along with a polymeric resin have constituted the most common composites. However, due to environmental concern, occupational health safety considerations, higher cost, etc., research has been focused on substituting synthetic fibers, especially glass fibers with safer, economic and biodegradable natural fibers. Due to the ease of availability and affordability in terms of cost, woven jute mats, among a wide variety of natural fiber-based reinforcements, offer a good choice in combination with a suitable resin such as polyester or epoxy for fabrication of composite laminates. In structural applications, joining of parts made of jute fiber-reinforced composites (JFRCs) would be a natural requirement. Alternatives to joining processes for metals such as welding, riveting, etc. are required for composites. A joining process of high potential is adhesive bonding which has the advantages of reducing stress concentration, permitting fastening of dissimilar materials, etc. In the present study, adhesively bonded joints of JFRCs and their mechanical behavior are investigated under quasi-static and cyclic loading conditions. Initially, characterization of substrates is carried out under monotonic loading. This is followed by determination of stress- Strain curves, failure load and mean shear strength of bonded joints as functions of joint curing temperature and overlap length using a two-part structural epoxy adhesive. All tests are carried out according to relevant ASTM standards. It has been observed that higher curing temperatures give rise to only marginally high failure load and mean shear stress at failure compared to curing at room temperature. For a given curing temperature, failure load increases while mean shear strength decreases with respect to overlap length in both types of joints. As fatigue failure is a crucial consideration in design, the behavior of adhesively bonded JFRC joints is studied for the first time under cyclic loading conditions leading to the commonly-used S-N curve for characterization of failure of materials at different loading-unloading cycles. Interestingly, the fatigue strength for infinite life of adhesively bonded JFRC joints turns out to be approximately 30% of the quasi-static strength, a correlation which usually applies to materials in general. The effect of joint overlap length on fatigue life is studied and it is observed that the above relation between fatigue and quasi static strength is retained for different overlap lengths. Additionally, insights are provided into failure modes of joints under different loading conditions and for varying overlap lengths. Various empirical predictors such as exponent, power and hybrid models fitting the S-N curve are obtained and their relative efficacy (in terms of Coefficient of Determination R2, Adjusted-R2, Akaike’s Information Criterion and Residual Sum of Squares) enumerated in prediction of failure load including quasi-static failure load. As numerical simulation is an indispensable tool in designing geometrically complex structures under nonlinear conditions including failure and contact, finite element modeling of JFRC substrates, bulk adhesive and adhesively bonded joints has been investigated using implicit and explicit LS-DYNA solvers. In this context, the effects of various modeling parameters (mesh size and loading rate) and details of constitutive models capable of capturing plasticity and failure in an orthotropic composite and isotropic adhesive are discussed. Mesh size has been found to be an important parameter affecting computed results. Finally, a good correlation within ~(4% - 7%) was found between the predicted and experimental results for JFRC substrates, bulk adhesive and adhesively bonded single lap joints.