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A novel, general, numerical model is described that is capable of predicting the load-displacement relationship up to and at failure of multiple-bolt joints in timber of various configurations. The model is not tied to a single input function and bolt holes are permitted to be drilled oversize resulting in a slack system. The model consists of five parts. A new mathematical hysteresis model describes the stiffness of the individual bolt at each time step increment and accounts for non-linear and slack behavior; a mechanically-based structural stiffness model explains the interaction of one bolt with another bolt within a joint; an analytically-based failure model computes the stresses at each time step and initiates failure if crack length equals fastener spacing; a stochastic routine accounts for material property variation; and a heuristic optimization routine estimates the parameters needed. The core model is a modified array of differential equations whose solution describes accurate hysteresis shapes for slack systems. Hysteresis parameter identification is carried out by a genetic algorithm routine that searches for the best-fit parameters following evolutionary principles (survival of the fittest). The structural model is a linear spring model. Failure is predicted based on a newly developed 'Displaced-Volume-Method' in conjunction with beam on elastic foundation theory, elastic theory, and a modified Tsai-Wu Failure criterion. The devised computer model enhances the understanding of the mechanics of multiple-bolt joints in timber, and yields valid predictions of joint response of two-member multiple-bolt joints. This research represents a significant step towards the simulation of structural wood components. / Ph. D.

Yes / Finite element (FE) analysis of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete beams cast in U-shaped ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) permanent formworks is presented in this paper. Concrete damage plasticity (CDP) and FRP brittle damage models were used to simulate the damage behavior of concrete and FRP bars. The results of FE simulation are in good agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, parametric studies were conducted to investigate the effect of concrete and UHPC strengths, yield strength of steel bars, elastic modulus of FRP bars, ultimate tensile strength of FRP bars, types of UHPC normal strength concrete (NSC) interface and thickness of UHPC under different reinforcement conditions. Flexural performances, in terms of cracking, yield, ultimate loads and corresponding deflections, failure mode, energy dissipation and ductility, were investigated. Traction-separation model was used to describe the bonding degradation and the maximum slip of two types of bonding interfaces (smooth surface and medium-rough surface). Both flexural capacity and resistance to deformation of composite beams are significantly improved by the utilization of hybrid FRP/steel reinforcement. The UHPC formwork can also delay the occurrence and development of cracks. By appropriately increasing the strength of UHPC or elastic modulus of FRP bar, the flexural capacity of composite beams is effectively improved. It is expected that the results presented in this paper can guide the design and construction of U-shaped UHPC permanent formwork-concrete composite beams reinforced with FRP bars.

Finite element simulations are carried out to study transient stresses and strains in the pre-cracked (pre-notched) 4340 steel plates impacted by a projectile in the direction of the notch ligament. The computations employed Johnson - Cook model which takes into account strain hardening, strain-rate hardening and thermal softening. An approximate solution of the governing equations is sought by using an explicit finite element code DYNA2D. We analyzed the evolution of the shear and hoop stresses considered to be responsible for two modes of failure: opening crack inclined at 70°, and shear crack inclined at -5° to the notch ligament. At small impact speeds and large notch tip radii failure in the 70° direction is due to the high tensile hoop stress. At high impact speeds and small notch tip radii a failure develops predominantly in the (-5°) -- (-15°) direction, within a zone of the maximum shear stress and compressive hoop stress. / Master of Science

As hard rock mining progresses into higher stress mining conditions through either late stage extraction or mining at depth, the rock mass is driven not just to the peak strength, but often well into the post-peak until complete ‘failure’ occurs and easier mining conditions become evident. Limited research has been accomplished in identifying the transition of the rock mass and its behaviour into the post-peak and this research investigates this behaviour in detail. As the rock mass progressively fails, fractures are initiated through intact rock and extension and shear failure of these and pre-existing features occurs. Associated with this failure are microseismic events, which can be used to give an indication of the strength state of the rock mass. Based on an analogy to laboratory testing of intact rock and measurement of acoustic emissions, the microseismicity can be used to identify, fracture initiation, coalescence of fractures (yield), localization (peak-strength), accumulation of damage (post-peak) and ultimate failure (residual strength) leading to aseismic behaviour. The case studies presented in this thesis provide an opportunity to examine and analyse rock mass failure into the post-peak, through the regional and confined failures at the Williams and the Golden Giant mines, both in the Hemlo camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. At the Williams mine, the progressive failure of a sill pillar region into the post-peak was analysed; relating the seismic event density, combined with numerical modelling and a spatial and temporal examination of the principal components analysis (PCA), to characterize the extent, trend and state of the yielding zone, which formed a macrofracture shear structure. Observations of conventional displacement instrumentation, indicates regional dilation or shear of the rock mass occurs at or prior to the point of ‘disassociation’ (breakdown of stable PCA trends) when approaching the residual strength. At the Golden Giant mine, the complete process from initiation to aseismic behaviour is monitored in a highly stressed and confined pendent pillar. The PCA technique, numerical modelling and focal mechanism studies are used to define significant stages of the failure process, in which a similar macrofracture structure was formed. Temporal observations of key source parameters show significant changes prior to and at the point of coalescence and localization.

L'objectif de cette étude est d'aboutir à une meilleure compréhension de la fragilisation par les métaux liquides (FML) à travers l'étude des systèmes T91/Pb-Bi et 316L/Pb-Bi et notamment d'en établir les mécanismes mis en jeu lors du contact entre ces aciers sous tension et le métal liquide. Ce travail s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet MEGAPIE-TEST mis en place pour étudier la faisabilité d'une cible de spallation au plomb-bismuth liquide. L'effet de l'eutectique plomb-bismuth liquide sur le T91 et le 316L a été étudié en fonction de la température et de la vitesse de déformation, en utilisant des éprouvettes CCT adaptées à l'étude de propagation de fissures. La présence de Pb-Bi modifie le mécanisme de rupture du T91 au détriment de la germination, croissance et coalescence des cavités. La rupture procède alors par décohésion des bandes de cisaillement. L'effet fragilisant du Pb-Bi est très marqué aux très faibles vitesses de déformation. Une transition fragile-ductile se produit aux grandes vitesses de déformation (~10-5 m.s-1 à 160°C). Les propriétés mécaniques du 316L ne sont pas autant affectées par la présence de Pb-Bi, toutefois une transition réelle est observée sur les faciès de rupture, où là également il y a compétition entre l'effet fragilisant du métal liquide et la rupture ductile. Le mécanisme suggéré dans ce travail est fondé sur la localisation de la déformation en pointe de la fissure combinée au phénomène de réduction d'énergie de surface induite par adsorption de métal liquide (effet Rebinder) et ne fait intervenir aucun processus diffusionnel en particulier aux joints de grains. / The aim of this work is to study liquid metal embrittlement (LME) on the T91/Pb-Bi and 316L/Pb-Bi systems. A particular attention is paid to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms of fracture when steels are in contact with liquid metal. This work has been performed within the European projects MEGAPIE-TEST and EUROTRANS which aim to prove the feasibility of lead-bismuth nuclear systems such as spallation target and subcritical reactors. The effect of liquid Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) on 316L and T91 steels has been studied in plane stress conditions as a function of temperature and strain rate, using a CCT geometry adapted for the study of crack propagation. The presence of LBE modifies the fracture mechanism of T91 and prevents fracture by growth and coalescence of cavities. Cracking proceeds by shear band decohesion. This embrittlement effect is very pronounced at low deformation rate whereas at the high strain rate range investigated, a brittle to ductile transition is observed. The temperature variation of the transition rules out LME mechanisms based on dissolution. A fracture mechanics analysis by the J-µa methodology allowed the quantification of the embrittlement degree which is estimated to 30% reduction in the energy required for crack propagation. The mechanical properties of the 316L steel are weakly affected by the presence of LBE, in spite of a change in the plastic deformation at the highest triaxiality point which strongly affecting fracture surfaces. The mechanism of this embrittlement seems to be based on the deformation localization at the crack tip combined with the phenomenon of surface energy reduction induced by the liquid metal adsorption. It does not involve any diffusion process. The deformation localization is confirmed by an electron microscopy study of the crack tip plasticity of 316L under the influence of a liquid metal.

De récentes analyses statistiques de données satellitales et de bouées dérivantes ont révélé le caractère hautement hétérogène et intermittent de la déformation de la banquise Arctique, démontrant de ce fait que le schéma rhéologique visco-plastique utilisé traditionnellement en modélisation climatique et opérationnelle ne simule pas adéquatement le comportement dynamique des glaces ainsi que les efforts mécaniques en leur sein.Un cadre rhéologique alternatif, baptisé "Maxwell-Élasto-Fragile" (Maxwell-EB) est donc développé dans le but de reproduire correctement la dérive et la déformation des glaces dans les modèles continus de la banquise à l'échelle régionale et globale. Le modèle se base en partie sur un cade de modélisation élasto-fragile utilisé pour les roches et la glace. Un terme de relaxation visqueuse est ajouté à la relation constitutive d'élasticité linéaire ainsi qu'une viscosité effective, ou "apparente", laquelle évolue en fonction du niveau d'endommagement local du matériel simulé, comme son module d'élasticité. Ce cadre rhéologique permet la dissipation partielle des contraintes internes par le biais de déformations permanentes, possiblement grandes, le long de failles (ou "leads") lorsque le matériel est fortement endommagé ainsi que la conservation de la mémoire des contraintes associées aux déformations élastiques dans les zones où le matériel reste relativement peu endommagé.The schéma numérique du modèle Maxwell-EB est basé sur des méthodes de calcul variationnel et par éléments finis. Une représentation Eulérienne des équations du mouvement est utilisée et des méthodes dites Galerkin discontinues sont implémentées pour le traitement des processus d'advection.Une première série de simulations idéalisées et sans advection est présentée, lesquelles démontrent que la rhéologie Maxwell-Élasto-Fragile reproduit les caractéristiques principales du comportement mécanique de la banquise, c'est-à-dire la localisation spatiale, l'anisotropie et l'intermittence de la déformation ainsi que les lois d'échelle qui en découlent. La représentation adéquate de ces propriétés de la déformation se traduit par la présence de très forts gradients au sein des champs de contrainte, de déformation et du niveau d'endommagement simulés par le modèle. Des tests visant à évaluer la diffusion numérique découlant de l'advection de ces gradients extrêmes ainsi qu'à identifier certaines contraintes numériques du modèle sont ensuite présentés. De premières simulations en grandes déformations, incluant les processus d'advection, sont réalisées, lesquelles permettent une comparaison aux résultats d'une expérience de Couette annulaire sur de la glace fabriquée en laboratoire. Le modèle reproduit en partie le comportement mécanique observé. Par ailleurs, les différences entre les résultats des simulations et ceux obtenus en laboratoire permettent d'identifier certaines limitations, numériques et physiques, du modèle en grandes déformations. Finalement, le modèle rhéologique est utilisé pour modéliser la dérive et la déformation des glaces à l'échelle de la banquise Arctique. Des simulations idéalisées de l'écoulement de glace dans un chenal étroit sont présentées. Le modèle simule une propagation localisée de l'endommagement, définissant des failles en forme d'arche, et la formation de ponts de glace stables. / In recent years, analyses of available ice buoy and satellite data have revealed the strong heterogeneity and intermittency of the deformation of sea ice and have demonstrated that the viscous-plastic rheology widely used in current climate models and operational modelling platforms does not simulate adequately the drift, deformation and mechanical stresses within the ice pack.A new alternative rheological framework named ''Maxwell-Elasto-Brittle” (Maxwell-EB) is therefore developed in the view of reproducing more accurately the drift and deformation of the ice cover in continuum sea ice models at regional to global scales. The model builds on an elasto-brittle framework used for ice and rocks. A viscous-like relaxation term is added to a linear-elastic constitutive relationship together with an effective viscosity that evolves with the local level of damage of the material, like its elastic modulus. This framework allows for part of the internal stress to dissipate in large, permanent deformations along the faults/leads once the material is highly damaged while retaining the memory of small, elastic deformations over undamaged areas. A healing mechanism is also introduced, counterbalancing the effects of damaging over large time scales.The numerical scheme for the Maxwell-EB model is based on finite elements and variational methods. The equations of motion are cast in the Eulerian frame and discontinuous Galerkin methods are implemented to handle advective processes.Idealized simulations without advection are first presented. These demonstrate that the Maxwell-EB rheological framework reproduces the main characteristics of sea ice mechanics and deformation : the strain localization, the anisotropy and intermittency of deformation and the associated scaling laws. The successful representation of these properties translates into very large gradients within all simulated fields. Idealized numerical experiments are conducted to evaluate the amount of numerical diffusion associated with the advection of these extreme gradients in the model and investigate other limitations of the numerical scheme. First large-deformation simulations are carried in the context of a Couette flow experiment, which allow a comparison with the result of a similar laboratory experiment performed on fresh-water ice. The model reproduces part of the mechanical behaviour observed in the laboratory. Comparison of the numerical and experimental results allow identifying some numerical and physical limitations of the model in the context of large-deformation and laboratory-scale simulations. Finally, the Maxwell-EB framework is implemented in the context of modelling the drift and deformation of sea ice on geophysical scales. Idealized simulations of the flow of sea ice through a narrow channel are presented. The model simulates the propagation of damage along arch-like features and successfully reproduces the formation of stable ice bridges.

As hard rock mining progresses into higher stress mining conditions through either late stage extraction or mining at depth, the rock mass is driven not just to the peak strength, but often well into the post-peak until complete ‘failure’ occurs and easier mining conditions become evident. Limited research has been accomplished in identifying the transition of the rock mass and its behaviour into the post-peak and this research investigates this behaviour in detail. As the rock mass progressively fails, fractures are initiated through intact rock and extension and shear failure of these and pre-existing features occurs. Associated with this failure are microseismic events, which can be used to give an indication of the strength state of the rock mass. Based on an analogy to laboratory testing of intact rock and measurement of acoustic emissions, the microseismicity can be used to identify, fracture initiation, coalescence of fractures (yield), localization (peak-strength), accumulation of damage (post-peak) and ultimate failure (residual strength) leading to aseismic behaviour. The case studies presented in this thesis provide an opportunity to examine and analyse rock mass failure into the post-peak, through the regional and confined failures at the Williams and the Golden Giant mines, both in the Hemlo camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. At the Williams mine, the progressive failure of a sill pillar region into the post-peak was analysed; relating the seismic event density, combined with numerical modelling and a spatial and temporal examination of the principal components analysis (PCA), to characterize the extent, trend and state of the yielding zone, which formed a macrofracture shear structure. Observations of conventional displacement instrumentation, indicates regional dilation or shear of the rock mass occurs at or prior to the point of ‘disassociation’ (breakdown of stable PCA trends) when approaching the residual strength. At the Golden Giant mine, the complete process from initiation to aseismic behaviour is monitored in a highly stressed and confined pendent pillar. The PCA technique, numerical modelling and focal mechanism studies are used to define significant stages of the failure process, in which a similar macrofracture structure was formed. Temporal observations of key source parameters show significant changes prior to and at the point of coalescence and localization.