This study presents an upper bound plastic limit analysis for predicting drag anchor trajectory and load capacity. The shank and fluke of the anchor are idealized as simple plates. The failure mechanism involves the motion of the anchor about a center of rotation, the coordinates of which are systematically optimized to determine the minimum load at the shackle. For a given anchor orientation, the direction of the shackle force is varied to establish a relationship between the magnitude and direction of the shackle load. Coupling this relationship to the Neubecker-Randolph anchor line solution produces a unique solution for the magnitude and orientation of the shackle force. The anchor is then advanced a small increment about the optimum center of rotation and the process is repeated. The upper bound method (UBM) provides a practical means to determine the trajectory of the anchor and the anchor load capacity at any point in the trajectory. To better understand of the anchor behavior, extensive parameter studies were carried out varying the properties of the anchor, anchor line, and soil. The UBM show good agreement with six full-scale tests covering several different anchor types and centrifuge model tests.

Extrusion is a metal forming process used extensively in industry to produce different structural, mechanical, electrical, architectural, automotive and aerospace application parts. Currently after extrusion, the rod is subjected to environmental wear due to long storage time and hence requires an additional cleaning process before further use. This cleaning process can be eliminated by extruding a polymer coated metal rod workpiece such that the polymer coating is sustained on the final product after the extrusion process. In the present research study a new upper bound analytical model is developed to predict the forces required to conduct extrusion of a polymer coated metal rod successfully. The search for the lower upper bound power functional is modeled as a non linear optimization problem. Optimizing the functional also determines the set of constraints defining the shape of rigid plastic deformation boundaries and the final coating thickness. Also an upper bound analytical model was developed to predict forces for failure of the polymer coating during the extrusion. Both the analytical models for successful and failed extrusion are compared to obtain critical die angle which can provide tooling and process design guidelines. Finite element analysis simulations were modeled using commercially available software package, ABAQUS. Predictions of FEA simulations were in good agreement with published results and with the predictions of analytical model developed in this study.

Indentation is a practical and easy method, therefore, is a preferred method of material characterization. Main aim of this thesis study is to determine anisotropic properties of metals by indentation tests. The basic property of the indenter used in the finite element analyses and experiments is that it is specific to this process. Thesis includes studies on optimization of the indenter geometry, analyses of effects of friction coefficient, multiple indentations, tilting of the indenter and clamping of the specimen on force-displacements curves during indentation by finite element analyses. This study also includes finite element analyses of compression tests where these experiments have been necessary to prove anisotropic behavior of the specimen material. In addition to compression, tension tests are done to have a reference for indentation tests. On the other hand, the upper bound method which is an analytical solution is applied on the assumption of plane strain indentation.

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Yes / The instability of soil slopes is directly related to both the shear parameters of the soil material and the groundwater, which usually causes some uncertainty. In this study, a novel method, the element failure probability method (EFP), is proposed to analyse the failure of soil slopes. Based on the upper bound theory, finite element discretization, and the stochastic programming theory, an upper bound stochastic programming model is established by simultaneously considering the randomness of shear parameters and groundwater level to analyse the reliability of slopes. The model is then solved by using the Monte-Carlo method based on the random shear parameters and groundwater levels. Finally, a formula is derived for the element failure probability (EFP) based on the safety factors and velocity fields of the upper bound method. The probability of a slope failure can be calculated by using the safety factor, and the distribution of failure regions in space can be determined by using the location information of the element. The proposed method is validated by using a classic example. This study has theoretical value for further research attempting to advance the application of plastic limit analysis to analyse slope reliability. / National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 51564026), the Research Foundation of Kunming University of Science and Technology (grant no. KKSY201904006) and the Key Laboratory of Rock Mechanics and Geohazards of Zhejiang Province (grant no. ZJRM-2018-Z-02).

Afin d'optimiser la mise aux milles au laminage à froid, la thèse consiste à développer un modèle prédictif de variation de largeur à la fois précis et rapide pour des utilisations en temps réel. Des efforts ont commencé en 1960s en développant des formules empiriques. Par la suite, la Méthode des Bornes Supérieures (MBS) est devenue la plus connue. [Oh 1975] utilisant le champ de vitesse 3D "simple" prédit bien la variation de largeur au laminage en conditions d'un tandem finisseur. [Komori 2002] a proposé une combinaison des champs fondamentaux et obtenu une structure informatique peu dépendante aux champs de vitesse. Néanmoins, seuls deux champs fondamentaux ont été introduits qui forment un sous-ensemble de la famille 3D "simple". [Serek 2008] a étudié des champs de vitesse quadratique qui inclue la famille "simple" et donne des meilleurs résultats avec un temps de calcul plus long. Le premier résultat de la thèse est un modèle 2D (MBS) avec des champs de vitesse oscillante. Ce modèle aboutit à une vitesse optimale qui oscille spatialement le long de l'emprise. Les résultats (puissance, vitesse...) sont plus proches des ceux de Lam3-Tec3 que la MBS 2D "simple". Pour une modélisation 3D, nous avons choisi la MBS avec la vitesse 3D "simple" et obtenu un très bon accord avec les expériences réalisées sur des produits étroits à Arcelor Mittal [64]. En outre, un nouveau modèle MBS est développé pour une bande bombée et des cylindres droits. Les résultats montrent que la variation de largeur diminue avec la bombée de la bande et correspondent bien à ceux de Lam3-Tec3. Cependant, la MBS admet un comportement rigide-plastique tandis qu'au laminage des bandes larges les déformations élastique et thermique ont des impacts importants sur la déformation plastique. Les modèles existant prenant en compte ces phénomènes [23,64] sont couteux en temps de calcul. Ainsi, l'idée est de décomposer la variation de la largeur de plastique en trois termes : les variations de largeur totales, élastique et thermique à travers la zone de plastique déterminés par trois nouveaux modèles simplifiés. Les deux premiers permettent d'estimer les variations de largeur élastique et plastique avant et après l'emprise. Ils donnent aussi les conditions aux limites au modèle d'emprise qui est en effet la MBS avec le champ de vitesse 3D "simple" permettant d'estimer la variation de la largeur totale. En outre, avec les puissances de déformation et de dissipation plastique de frottement données par le même modèle, la variation de largeur thermique est également obtenue. Le modèle de variation de largeur est donc appelée UBM-Slab combiné, très rapide (0,05 s) et prédit avec précision la largeur de variation par rapport à Lam3-Tec3 (<6%) / In order to save material yields in cold rolling process, the thesis aims at developing a predictive width variation model accurate and fast enough to be used online. Many efforts began in the 1960s in developing empirical formula. Afterward, the Upper Bound Method (UBM ) became more common. [Oh 1975]'s model with 3D "simple" velocity field estimates well the width variation for finishing mill rolling conditions. [Komori 2002] proposed a combination of fundamental ones to obtain a computer program depending minimally on the assumed velocity fields. However, only two fundamental fields were introduced and formed a subset of the "simple" family. [Serek 2008] studied a quadratic velocity family that includes the "simple" one and leads to better results with a higher computing time. Focusing on UBM , the first result of the thesis is a 2D model with an oscillating velocity field family. The model results to an optimum velocity that oscillates spatially throughout the roll-bite. The optimum power and the velocity field are closer to Lam3-Tec3 results than the "simple" one. For 3D modelling, we chose the 3D "simple" UBM and carried a comparison to the experiments performed at Arcelor Mittal using narrow strips [64]. A very good agreement is obtained. Further, a new UBM model is developed for a crowned strip with cylindrical work-rolls. It shows that the width variation decreases as a function of the strip crown and the results match well those of Lam3-Tec3 . However, the UBM considers only a rigid-plastic behaviour while in large strip rolling, the elastic and thermal deformations have important impacts on the plastic one. There exist some models considering these phenomena [23,64] but they are all time-consuming. Thus, the idea is to decompose the plastic width variation into three terms : total, elastic and thermal width variations through the plastic zone that are determined by three new models. The simplified roll-bite entry & exit models allow estimating the elastic and plastic width variations before and after the roll-bite. They give equally the longitudinal stresses defining the boundary conditions for the roll-bite model which is indeed the 3D "simple" UBM approximating the total width variation term. Moreover, with the plastic deformation and friction dissipation powers given by the same model, the thermal width variation term is also obtained. The width variation model, called UBM-Slab combined is very fast (0.05s) and predicts accurately the width variation in comparison with Lam3-Tec3 (<6%)

Afin d'optimiser la mise aux milles au laminage à froid, la thèse consiste à développer un modèle prédictif de variation de largeur à la fois précis et rapide pour des utilisations en temps réel. Des efforts ont commencé en 1960s en développant des formules empiriques. Par la suite, la Méthode des Bornes Supérieures (MBS) est devenue la plus connue. [Oh 1975] utilisant le champ de vitesse 3D "simple" prédit bien la variation de largeur au laminage en conditions d'un tandem finisseur. [Komori 2002] a proposé une combinaison des champs fondamentaux et obtenu une structure informatique peu dépendante aux champs de vitesse. Néanmoins, seuls deux champs fondamentaux ont été introduits qui forment un sous-ensemble de la famille 3D "simple". [Serek 2008] a étudié des champs de vitesse quadratique qui inclue la famille "simple" et donne des meilleurs résultats avec un temps de calcul plus long. Le premier résultat de la thèse est un modèle 2D (MBS) avec des champs de vitesse oscillante. Ce modèle aboutit à une vitesse optimale qui oscille spatialement le long de l'emprise. Les résultats (puissance, vitesse...) sont plus proches des ceux de Lam3-Tec3 que la MBS 2D "simple". Pour une modélisation 3D, nous avons choisi la MBS avec la vitesse 3D "simple" et obtenu un très bon accord avec les expériences réalisées sur des produits étroits à Arcelor Mittal [64]. En outre, un nouveau modèle MBS est développé pour une bande bombée et des cylindres droits. Les résultats montrent que la variation de largeur diminue avec la bombée de la bande et correspondent bien à ceux de Lam3-Tec3. Cependant, la MBS admet un comportement rigide-plastique tandis qu'au laminage des bandes larges les déformations élastique et thermique ont des impacts importants sur la déformation plastique. Les modèles existant prenant en compte ces phénomènes [23,64] sont couteux en temps de calcul. Ainsi, l'idée est de décomposer la variation de la largeur de plastique en trois termes : les variations de largeur totales, élastique et thermique à travers la zone de plastique déterminés par trois nouveaux modèles simplifiés. Les deux premiers permettent d'estimer les variations de largeur élastique et plastique avant et après l'emprise. Ils donnent aussi les conditions aux limites au modèle d'emprise qui est en effet la MBS avec le champ de vitesse 3D "simple" permettant d'estimer la variation de la largeur totale. En outre, avec les puissances de déformation et de dissipation plastique de frottement données par le même modèle, la variation de largeur thermique est également obtenue. Le modèle de variation de largeur est donc appelée UBM-Slab combiné, très rapide (0,05 s) et prédit avec précision la largeur de variation par rapport à Lam3-Tec3 (<6%) / In order to save material yields in cold rolling process, the thesis aims at developing a predictive width variation model accurate and fast enough to be used online. Many efforts began in the 1960s in developing empirical formula. Afterward, the Upper Bound Method (UBM ) became more common. [Oh 1975]'s model with 3D "simple" velocity field estimates well the width variation for finishing mill rolling conditions. [Komori 2002] proposed a combination of fundamental ones to obtain a computer program depending minimally on the assumed velocity fields. However, only two fundamental fields were introduced and formed a subset of the "simple" family. [Serek 2008] studied a quadratic velocity family that includes the "simple" one and leads to better results with a higher computing time. Focusing on UBM , the first result of the thesis is a 2D model with an oscillating velocity field family. The model results to an optimum velocity that oscillates spatially throughout the roll-bite. The optimum power and the velocity field are closer to Lam3-Tec3 results than the "simple" one. For 3D modelling, we chose the 3D "simple" UBM and carried a comparison to the experiments performed at Arcelor Mittal using narrow strips [64]. A very good agreement is obtained. Further, a new UBM model is developed for a crowned strip with cylindrical work-rolls. It shows that the width variation decreases as a function of the strip crown and the results match well those of Lam3-Tec3 . However, the UBM considers only a rigid-plastic behaviour while in large strip rolling, the elastic and thermal deformations have important impacts on the plastic one. There exist some models considering these phenomena [23,64] but they are all time-consuming. Thus, the idea is to decompose the plastic width variation into three terms : total, elastic and thermal width variations through the plastic zone that are determined by three new models. The simplified roll-bite entry & exit models allow estimating the elastic and plastic width variations before and after the roll-bite. They give equally the longitudinal stresses defining the boundary conditions for the roll-bite model which is indeed the 3D "simple" UBM approximating the total width variation term. Moreover, with the plastic deformation and friction dissipation powers given by the same model, the thermal width variation term is also obtained. The width variation model, called UBM-Slab combined is very fast (0.05s) and predicts accurately the width variation in comparison with Lam3-Tec3 (<6%)