Mechanistic-Empirical  (M-E)  pavement  design  procedures  are  composed  of  a  reliable  response model to estimate the state of stress in the pavement and distress models in order to predict the different types of pavement distresses due to the prevailing traffic and environmental conditions. One of the main objectives of this study was to develop a response model based on multilayer elastic  theory   (MLET)  with  improved  computational  performance  by   optimizing  the   time consuming parts of the MLET processes. A comprehensive comparison of the developed program with  two  widely  used  programs  demonstrated  excellent  agreement  and  improved  computational performance.  Moreover,  the  program  was  extended  to  incorporate  the  viscoelastic  behaviour  of bituminous materials through elastic-viscoelastic correspondence principle. A procedure based on collocation of linear viscoelastic (LVE) solutions at selected key time durations was also proposed that improved the computational performance for LVE analysis of stationary and moving loads. A comparison  of  the  LVE  responses  with  measurements  from  accelerated  pavement  testing  (APT) revealed a good agreement. Furthermore the developed response model was employed to evaluate permanent deformation models  for  bound  and  unbound  granular  materials  (UGMs)  using  full  scale  APTs.  The  M-E Pavement  Design  Guide  (MEPDG)  model  for  UGMs  and  two  relatively  new  models  were evaluated  to  model  the  permanent  deformation  in  UGMs.  Moreover,  for  bound  materials,  the simplified  form  of  the  MEPDG  model  for  bituminous  bound  layers  was  also  evaluated.  The measured  and  predicted  permanent  deformations  were  in  general  in  good  agreement,  with  only small discrepancies between the models. Finally, as heavy traffic loading is one of the main factors affecting the performance of flexible pavement, three types of characterizations for heavy traffic axle load spectrum for M-E analysis and design of pavement structures were evaluated. The study recommended an improved approach that enhanced the accuracy and computational performance. / <p>QC 20140512</p>

The aim of the thesis was to elucidate the effect of confinement of amorphous phase of apolymer above its glass transition temperature being in contact with another polymer in a rigid state.Confinement is unavoidably connected with surfaces enforcing confinement. It is very difficult to separate theeffect of confinement from the effect of interfaces because both effects arise parallel and coincide. Multilayeredfilms were chosen as the base material for the studies because they contain multifold number of confined layerand response from confinement and interfaces is multifold increased. Hoping that some of experimentaltechniques are more sensitive to interfaces while others to confinement we selected the following:microcalorimetry, SSNMR, direlectrical spectroscopy and dynamic shear rheology. We have searched for theinfluence of PS on dynamics of phenyl rings of PC for PC/PS film with ratio 70/30 in the temperature rangefrom 296 K to 393 K employing PILGRIM pulse sequence. .We show that above the glass transition temperatureof PS, the PC component became more flexible. It is at the first glance the effect of the interface because there isno significant confinement of thicker PC layers. Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy measurements in our studyclearly provide evidence for deviations from a simple 2-phase structure in multilayered films PC/PS that is worthto be analyzed more in the future. The dielectric response of the multilayer samples was also modeled andcompared with experimental results. We obtained again discrepancies between the simulated spectra and themeasured spectra for multilayer films. Knowing the exact composition and viscoelastic behaviour of eachcomponent, the theoretical viscoelastic behavior of composites has been predicted numerically. Then,rheological tests have been made, and confronted with numerical predictions, to detect the confinement effect.The upper limit of thickness beyond which PS in confined layers at rubbery state becomes stiffer than in bulk isabout 150/200 nm. It appeared that the shear modulus of the thinnest PS layers (10 nm) is nearly 2.5 times largerthan that for bulk PS sample. We can note that Tg of PS layers also begins to increase beyond this upper limit ofthickness.. None of the experiment could clearly deliver the information about the effect of confinement orinterface on the behavior of PS layers alone. The results obtained here point out that separation of the effects ofconfinement and interfaces remains very difficult.

In this study, transient dynamic response of viscoelastic cylinders enclosed in filament wound cylindrical composites is investigated. Thermal effects, in addition to mechanical effects, are taken into consideration. A generalized thermoelasticity theory which incorporates the temperature rate among the constitutive variables and is referred to as temperature-rate dependent thermoelasticity theory is employed. This theory predicts finite heat propagation speeds. The body considered in this thesis consists of n+1-layers, the inner layer being viscoelastic, while the outer fiber reinforced composite medium consist of n-different generally orthotropic, homogeneous and elastic layers. In each ply, the fiber orientation angle may be different. The body is a hollow circular cylinder with a finite thickness in the radial direction, whereas it extends to infinity in the axial direction. The multilayered medium is subjected to uniform time-dependent dynamic inputs at the inner and/or outer surfaces. The body is assumed to be initially at rest. The layers are assumed to be perfectly bonded to each other. The case in which the inner surface of the viscoelastic cylinder is a moving boundary is further investigated in this study. This is similar to the solid propellant rocket motor cases. The solid propellant is modelled as a viscoelastic material which in turn is modelled as standard linear solid / whereas, the rocket motor case is a fiber-reinforced filament wound cylindrical composite. Method of characteristics is employed to obtain the solutions. Method of characteristics is suitable because the governing equations are hyperbolic. The method is amenable to numerical integration and different boundary, interface and initial conditions can be handled easily.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2010. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed June 30, 2010). Additional advisors: R. Michael Banish, Derrick R. Dean, Nasim Uddin, Uday K. Vaidya. Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-202).

[pt] A injeção de água é o método de recuperação secundária mais utilizado na indústria do petróleo. No entanto, a alta razão de mobilidade entre a água e o óleo limita a quantidade de óleo deslocada. Uma alternativa para minimizar este problema é a aplicação de tecnologias que agem como agentes de controle da mobilidade. Soluções poliméricas podem ser utilizadas para aumentar a viscosidade da água e consequentemente reduzir a razão de mobilidade. Evidências experimentais têm mostrado que o comportamento elástico de soluções poliméricas pode além de diminuir a razão de mobilidade, contribuir para um melhor deslocamento de óleo em escala de poro, reduzindo a saturação de óleo residual. Esse comportamento em escala de poro ainda não está completamente entendido. Nesse trabalho, um micromodelo de vidro formado por uma rede bi-dimensional de canais foi utilizado como meio poroso. Esse dispositivo tem algumas características importantes de meios porosos e permite a visualização do fluxo em escala de poro. A evolução do deslocamento de óleo pela fase aquosa é acompanhada no microscópio e são obtidas imagens dos perfis de saturação. Três diferentes fases aquosas foram usadas: água deionizada, uma solução de poli(óxido de etileno) de alto peso molecular e uma mistura de água com glicerina com a mesma viscosidade do poli(óxido de etileno). A visualização do fluxo no micromodelo permite obter informações específicas sobre a presença de óleo preso por forças capilares e o movimento da interface óleo/água no interior da rede. Resultados mostraram que as forças viscoelásticas modificam a distribuição de fluidos no meio poroso, melhorando a eficiência de deslocamento em escala de poro e consequentemente a saturação de óleo residual. / [en] Water flooding is the most commonly used oil recovery method in the oil industry. However, the high mobility ratio between the water and oil phases limits the amount of oil displaced by the water phase. An effective alternative to minimize this problem is the application of technologies that act as mobility control agents. Polymer solution is used in many cases as a way to increase the water phase viscosity and consequently reduce the mobility ratio. Experimental evidences have shown that the elastic behavior of some polymer solution may not only improve the mobility ratio but also contribute to a better pore level oil displacement, reducing the residual oil saturation. This pore level behavior is not clearly understood. In this work, a glass microfluidic chip made of a 2-D array of channels is used as a two-dimensional porous space. This device has the principal features of a porous media and provides means for pore level flow visualization. A microscopic is used to monitor the evolution of the water phase as it displaces oil and images of the saturation profiles can be made. Three different water phases were used: pure water, a high molecular weight poly(ethylene oxide) solution and a glycerol-water mixture with the same viscosity of the polymer solution. Flow visualization provides specific information about the presence of the trapped oil phase and the movement of the oil/water interface in the network. Results show that the viscoelastic forces modify the liquid distribution in the porous media, improving the displacement efficiency at pore scale and consequently the residual oil saturation.

Dans le cadre de l’amortissement passif de structure, les élastomères sont employés dans les industries du transport sous la forme de liaisons amortissantes. Ces matériaux ont un comportement dépendant de la fréquence, de la température et de l’amplitude d’excitation. Les modèles numériques associés peuvent être coûteux en temps de calcul, notamment en phase d’optimisation. Le but de cette thèse est de proposer un modèle réduit efficace de ces liaisons amortissantes, qui prenne en compte la dissipation viscoélastique et les précharges non-linéaires dans les liaisons. La première partie de ce mémoire se concentre sur la représentation de la dissipation par le modèle réduit. Une loi de comportement viscoélastique, basée sur un modèle rhéologique identifié expérimentalement, est utilisée avec la méthode des éléments finis pour obtenir un modèle numérique des liaisons amortissantes. Un premier modèle réduit prédictif, prenant en compte la dissipation en est dérivé en utilisant une extension originale des méthodes de sous-structuration. La deuxième partie traite de l’influence des précharges statiques non-linéaires sur le comportement dynamique et la dissipation dans les liaisons. Pour cela, une loi de comportement hyper-visco-élastique linéarisée autour d’un état précontraint statique non-linéaire est développée. Les méthodes de sous-structuration introduites dans la première partie sont alors enrichies afin de tenir compte de la dissipation et les non-linéarités géométriques dans les liaisons. Finalement, ces modèles réduits à 2 nœuds permettent des gains en temps de calcul d’un facteur 50 à 100 et sont facilement utilisables par l’ingénieur en phase de conception. / In the context of passive damping, various mechanical systems from the space, aeronautic or auto-mobile industry use elastomer components (shock absorbers, silent blocks, flexible joints...).These materials have frequency, temperature and amplitude dependentcharacteristics. The associated numerical models may become computationally too expensive during an optimization process.The aim of this work is to propose an efficient reduced model of rubber devices that account for the viscoelastic damping and the non-linear pre-stress in the dampers.The first part of this thesis is about how to include the viscoelasticdamping in the reduced model. It starts by using a viscoelastic constitutive relation, based on experimental identification, within the frame of the finite element method to obtain a numerical model of the rubber dampers. A first efficient reduced model is then derived from this FE model by using an original extension of sub-structuring methods in the case of viscoelastic damping.In the second part, the influence of non-linear static pre-stress overthe dynamic behavior and the dissipation in the dampers is studied. An hyper-visco-elastic constitutive relation, linearized in the neighbourhood of a pre-stressed state, is developed. The sub-structuring methods presented in the first part are then upgraded to account for the damping and the geometrical non-linearities in the dampers. Finally, these 2-node reduced models give access to greatly reduced computation times (50 to 100 times faster) and are easy to use for the engineer.

La faible déformabilité et l'accumulation des neutrophiles (globules blancs) dans les capillaires pulmonaires peuvent entraîner des syndromes de détresse respiratoire. Nous étudions le comportement des neutrophiles grâce à un code numérique diphasique de type Volume Of Fluid dans différentes configurations confinées. Les cellules sont représentées successivement par quatre modèles différents : dans un premier temps, nous les modélisons par un fluide newtonien caractérisé par sa viscosité et sa tension de surface. Le noyau très visqueux qu'elles contiennent est pris en compte dans un second temps sous forme d'un solide non-déformable grâce à une méthode de frontières immergées. Puis les effets élastiques sont considérés en modélisant le cytoplasme de la cellule par un fluide visco-élastique d'Oldroyd-B. Enfin, une membrane élastique est introduite autour du cytoplasme afin de séparer le mouvement du cytoplasme de celui du plasma. Nous examinons le comportement des cellules ainsi modélisées dans trois configurations : une géométrie de canaux en croix générant en son centre des écoulements linéaires, comme le dispositif des rouleaux de Taylor, une contraction isolée et un réseau périodique dans lequel la cellule traverse plusieurs contractions successives. Alors que la première configuration permet de placer les cellules dans des écoulements de déformation ou de cisaillement pur, les deux autres géométries se rapprochent davantage des configurations réelles. Les résultats mettent en évidence les différences de comportement de la cellule selon le modèle choisi. L'introduction d'un fluide visco-élastique diminue la viscosité effective des cellules et facilite ainsi leurs déformations et leur entrée dans les contractions géométriques. La membrane en revanche modifie de manière notable la forme des cellules et diminue leurs déformations. / The low deformability of neutrophils (white blood cells) and their accumulation in pulmonary capillaries may cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. A computational fluid dynamic approach using a Volume Of Fluid method is adapted to simulate the behavior of neutrophils in different confined flow configurations. The white blood cells are successively represented by four different models: in a first time, the cell is modeled as a Newtonian fluid, characterized by a viscosity and a surface tension. In a second step, a non deformable core is added using an immersed boundary method to improve representativity of the model. Then, the cytoplasm of the cell is modeled by a viscoelastic fluid. Finally, the effects of an elastic membrane surrounding the cytoplasm are taken into account so as to separate the motion of the plasma from that of the cell. We discuss the behavior of the cell in three different configurations: an equivalent of the 4-roll mill device obtained with a suitable arrangement of micro-channels joining at right angle, an isolated contraction and a periodic network in which the cell goes through several successive contractions. The results shed light on the differences of the cell behaviors obtained with the various models. The introduction of a viscoelastic fluid in the cytoplasm decreases the effective viscosity of the cell and increases its deformability, allowing an easier entrance in a contraction, whereas the membrane affects the cell shape and decreases its deformation.

Em problemas de viscoelasticidade computacional, a discretização espacial para a solução global das equações de equilíbrio é acoplada à discretização temporal para a solução de um problema de valor inicial local do fluxo viscoelástico. É demonstrado que este acoplamento espacial-temporal (ou global-local) éconsistente se o tensor de deformação total, agindo como elemento acoplador, tem uma aproximação de ordem p ao longo do tempo igual à ordem de convergência do método de integração de Runge-Kutta (RK). Para a interpolação da deformação foram utilizados polinômios baseados em soluções obtidas nos tempos tn+1, tn, . . ., tn+2−p, p ≥ 2, fornecendo dados consistentes de deformação nos estágios do RK. Em uma situação onde tal regra para a interpolação da deformação não é satisfeita, a integração no tempo apresentará, consequentemente, redução de ordem, baixa precisão e, por conseguinte, eficiência inferior. Em termos gerais, o propósito é generalizar esta condição de consistência proposta pela literatura, formalizando-a matematicamente e o demonstrando através da utilização de métodos de Runge-Kutta diagonalmente implícitos (DIRK) até ordem p = 4, aplicados a modelos viscoelásticos não-lineares sujeitos a deformações finitas. Através de exemplos numéricos, os algoritmos de integração temporal adaptados apresentaram ordem de convergência nominal e, portanto, comprovam a validade da formalização do conceito de interpolação consistente da deformação. Comparado com o método de integração de Euler implícito, é demonstrado que os métodos DIRK aqui aplicados apresentam um ganho considerável em eficiência, comprovado através dos fatores de aceleração atingidos. / In computational viscoelasticity, spatial discretization for the solution of the weak form of the balance of linear momentum is coupled to the temporal discretization for solving a local initial value problem (IVP) of the viscoelastic flow. It is shown that this spatial- temporal (or global-local) coupling is consistent if the total strain tensor, acting as the coupling agent, exhibits the same approximation of order p in time as the convergence order of the Runge-Kutta (RK) integration algorithm. To this end we construct interpolation polynomials based on data at tn+1, tn, . . ., tn+2−p, p ≥ 2, which provide consistent strain data at the RK stages. If this novel rule for strain interpolation is not satisfied, time integration shows order reduction, poor accuracy and therefore less efficiency. Generally, the objective is to propose a generalization of this consistency idea proposed in the literature, formalizing it mathematically and testing it using diagonally implicit Runge-Kutta methods (DIRK) up to order p = 4 applied to a nonlinear viscoelasticity model subjected to finite strain. In a set of numerical examples, the adapted time integrators obtain full convergence order and thus approve the novel concept of consistency. Substantially high speed-up factors confirm the improvement in the efficiency compared with Backward Euler algorithm.

Ce travail concerne l'étude théorique, expérimentale et numérique du comportement mécanique de matériaux tissés et de toiles laminées à base de fibres synthétiques, destinés à la fabrication des voiles, comme le polyester ou le Kevlar. Une approche théorique originale a été proposée ; elle permet une prise en compte du comportement spécifique des fils, de l'enduction et de leurs interactions. La modélisation, qui en résulte, permet de décrire le comportement biaxial des matériaux tissés et des toiles, en chargements cycliques complexes, avec une prise en compte des déformations finies, des effets visqueux non linéaires, de l'irréversibilité indépendante du temps et de l'anisotropie. Une mise en œuvre de cette modélisation a été effectuée dans un code d'Eléments Finis, afin de produire un outil opérationnel pour le calcul des voiles. L'approche théorique proposée a été validée grâce à une étude expérimentale détaillée, qui a été réalisée sur le Dacron SF HTP Plus. Ainsi, nous avons réalisé sur ce matériau différents essais de tractions monotones et de tractions ondulées, contrôlés en déformation et en force. Certains de ces essais comportent des séquences de relaxation. Ces essais ont été réalisés dans les axes du matériau, dans le sens chaîne ou dans le sens trame, ainsi qu'en hors axes avec des orientations par rapport à la direction chaîne allant de 5° à 45°. Des résultats expérimentaux complémentaires ont également été obtenus sur une toile laminée en Kevlar X15 et sur un Dacron SF HTM simple. Enfin, une simulation de l'essai de traction biaxiale a été réalisée et a permis d'étudier l'homogénéité des champs de contrainte et de déformation de trois formes d'éprouvette différentes. / This work deals with theoretical, experimental and numerical studies of the mechanical behavior of woven materials and laminated fabrics, made with synthetic fibers, for the manufacture of sails, such as polyester or Kevlar. An original theoretical approach was proposed, it allows taking into account the specific behavior of yarns, of coating and their interactions. The resulting modeling allows describing the behavior of woven materials and laminated fabrics, in the case of complex cyclic biaxial loadings, taking into account finite deformations, nonlinear viscous effects, time-independent irreversibility and anisotropy. The implementation of this modeling was performed in a finite element code, in order to produce an operational tool for the design and calculation of sails. The proposed theoretical approach has been validated through a detailed experimental study, which was conducted on material “Dacron SF HTP Plus”. Thus, we performed various monotonous and cyclic tensile tests, which were strain or load-controlled. Some of these tests include relaxation sequences. These tests were conducted in the axes of the material, in the warp and weft directions, as well as off-axis or bias orientations, from 5 ° to 45 ° with respect to the warp direction. Further experimental results were also obtained on a laminated “Kevlar X15” and a woven “Dacron SF HTM simple” fabrics. Finally, numerical simulations of the biaxial tensile test were performed and were used for studying homogeneity of the stress and the strain fields in the cases of three different contours of biaxial-tensile samples.

Neste trabalho propomos uma nova formulação micromecânica para descrever escoamentos monofásicos em meios porosos viscoelásticos. Na abordagem proposta consideramos o meio poroso por dois níveis de porosidade (micro e macroporos), onde os efeitos de relaxação e fluência da matriz porosa são advindos da drenagem secundária do fluido residente nos microporos. A derivação do modelo macroscópico é obtida via técnicas de homogeneização de estruturas periódicas aplicadas à mudança a partir do modelo micromecânico composto por uma matriz poroelástica circundada por uma rede conexa de macroporos. Neste contexto o nosso principal resultado consiste na conjugação do modelo de suas escalas com a análise assintótica da formulação variacional do problema micromecânico posto no domínio da célula unitária periódica. Mostramos que esta combinação de técnicas fornece o decaimento dos núcleos de convolução das equações constitutivas homogeneizadas para as tensões efetivas da fase sólida e para a porosidade viscosa além de estabelecer a dependência constitutiva para o tempo de relaxação do processo de compactação secundária da matriz. Simulações numéricas são obtidas descretizando os problemas de célila locais via métoco de elementos finitos e ilustram as taxas de decaimento obtidas na análise