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The primary direction of this thesis was towards exploring qualitative and quantitative characteristics necessary for refining and understanding the flat wood double cantilever beam (DCB) as a valid means for testing Mode I fracture energy in wood adhesive bonds. Southern yellow pine (SYP) adherends were used with epoxy and phenol formaldehyde (PF) impregnated films, providing two systems with different characteristics for investigation. An adhesive penetration analysis was performed for both the epoxy and PF bonds. The PF penetration into the SYP was shown to be relatively shallow. The epoxy penetration was shown to be deeper. Epoxy-SYP DCBs were quasi-statically tested with varying widths (10 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm), showing decreases in scatter of critical and arrest strain energy release rates, GIc and GIa, with increases in specimen width. Quasi-static fracture testing was also performed on PF SYP-DCBs, showing much higher critical and arrest fracture energy values than the epoxy-SYP DCBs, indicating that deep adhesive penetration is not necessarily a requisite for higher Mode I fracture energy values. Grain distribution influences were computationally investigated because of the stiffness difference between latewood and earlywood growth and the grain angle along the length of the beams. The grain angle and the stiffness difference between latewood and earlywood growth caused the effective stiffness, (ExxI)eff, to vary along the length of the beam. The effective stiffness variation caused variations in the beam's ability to receive and store strain energy, complicating and confounding determination of experimental results. Cyclic loading tests were performed on PF-SYP DCB's. The cycle frequency was 3Hz, with a valley to peak load ratio of R = 0.5. Specimen softening was observed with cycling, with re-stiffening occurring with crack growth. Contrary to expectations, specimen compliance occasionally decreased with small crack extensions. A toughening mechanism was frequently observed, whereby subsequent crack lengths required more cycles to failure than the previous crack length. Monotonically extending the crack length far from the fatigued region created a fresh crack that did not show the toughened behavior. But toughening did resume with subsequent crack lengths. / Master of Science

The interfacial fracture performance of dicyandiamide cured epoxy/steel adhesive systems was thoroughly investigated. Fracture mechanics based testing was utilized to study several variables which were believed to influence the epoxy/steel interphase region, specifically the elasomeric toughener concentration, the dicyandiamide concentration, and the cure temperature. Bulk mechanical measurements were conducted to provide background information for comparison with the fracture data, and surface analyses were carried out on the neat adhesives and failed fracture specimens to provide insight into the locus and causes of failure. The addition of toughener drastically impacted the morphological, bulk mechanical, and adhesive properties in these latent cure systems. Modulus values decreased and bulk fracture toughness values increased with increasing toughener content. Static double cantilever beam (DCB), fatigue DCB, and notched coating adhesion (NCA) interfacial fracture performances all increased. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and tunneling electron microscopy (TEM) analyses of the failed specimens revealed that chemical changes were more prominent at the epoxy/steel interphase than in the bulk of the materials. Morphological variations were also apparent with toughener level variations, but for a single formulation no differences between the bulk and intephase morphologies were seen. Evaluations were conducted on a series of elastomer modified model epoxy formulations cured with varying amounts of dicyandiamide. The modulus and bulk fracture toughness values were shown to be independent of dicyandiamide concentration, whereas the adhesive performance was greatly influenced. For increases in the concentration of dicyandiamide, single lap shear (SLS) failure strength values increased while quasi-static DCB and NCA test performances decreased. Fatigue DCB results showed improved adhesive performance at both high and low levels of dicyandiamide content. The results of the failure surface evaluations suggest that dicyandiamide variations produce significant chemical changes only in the epoxy/steel interphase region, and not in the bulk. Analyses were conducted on all of the above systems using two additional cure temperatures. The purpose of this work was to alter the dicyandiamide solubility, and possibly the dicy/epoxy reaction mechanisms, and to determine what influence these changes had on the interfacial fracture performance. In general it was found that performance increased as the cure temperature was increased. / Ph. D.

A conversão de energia vibracional do ambiente em energia elétrica através de dispositivos piezelétricos tem recebido crescente atenção na última década. Com intuito de melhorar o desempenho destes tipos de dispositivo, são discutidos os benefícios da introdução de não linearidades nestes sistemas. O dispositivo utilizado é uma viga cantilever tipo bimorph, parcialmente recoberta por material piezelétrico, com massas magnéticas concentradas na extremidade livre da viga que geram forças magnéticas não lineares. Nesse dispositivo, além da não linearidade proveniente dos magnetos, considera-se também a não linearidade inerente ao material piezelétrico. A solução das equações eletromecânicas acopladas, que descreve o movimento do conversor piezelétrico de energia, é encontrada numericamente resolvendo-se um conjunto de equações diferenciais ordinárias com condições iniciais dadas. A resposta em frequência do sistema é aproximada pelo método perturbativo das múltiplas escalas. A potência elétrica gerada é analisada variando-se alguns parâmetros, como intensidade da força de excitação, distância entre os magnetos da extremidade livre da viga e resistor de carga. A estabilidade do sistema também é investigada através de uma análise dinâmica, de onde se conclui a influência da distância entre os magnetos juntamente com a intensidade da força de excitação nesta estabilidade. Estes parâmetros também influenciam na faixa de frequência de operação do dispositivo. É observado que os efeitos não lineares presentes no dispositivo fazem com que este opere em uma ampla faixa de frequência. É realizado o estudo de incertezas em alguns parâmetros do conversor de energia piezelétrico, através de simulações de Monte Carlo, concluindo a influência destes na frequência natural e na potência elétrica gerada pelo dispositivo. Através de ensaios experimentais confirmam-se os benefícios da introdução de não linearidades nos geradores de energia piezelétricos. / Piezoelectric energy harvesting has received great attention over the last years. The main goal of this work is to discuss the potential advantages of introducing nonlinearities in the dynamics of a beam type piezoelectric vibration energy harvester. The device is essentially a cantilever beam partially covered by piezoelectric material with a magnet tip mass. Also, we consider the nonlinear constitutive piezoelectric equations. The electromechanically coupled equations are solved numerically, through the initial value problems for ordinary differential equations. The frequency response of the system is approximated using the method of multiple scales. The electrical power output is calculated by varying the amplitude of the base acceleration, the distance between the magnets and the load resistor. The stability of the system is also investigated. Stochastic variations are introduced in some key parameters and the propagation of these uncertainties is investigated through Monte Carlos simulations. From the numerical results it is found that the influence of the parameters investigated in the frequency range of operation of the device and the nonlinear effects present on the device energy harvester extend the useful frequency range of these. Moreover uncertainty parameters affect the natural frequency and the power output harvester. Through experimental tests it has been confirmed the benefits of introducing nonlinearities in piezoelectric energy harvesters.

A research group at University of Skövde has developed an interphase element for implementation in the commercial FE-software Abaqus. The element is using the Tvergaard & Hutchinson cohesive law and is implemented in Abaqus Explicit version 6.7 using the VUEL subroutine. This bachelor degree project is referring to evaluate the interphase element and also highlight problems with the element. The behavior of the interphase element is evaluated in mode I using Double Cantilever Beam (DCB)-specimens and in mode II using End Notch Flexure (ENF)-specimens. The results from the simulations are compared and validated to an analytical solution. FE-simulations performed with the interphase element show very good agreement with theory when using DCB- or ENF-specimens. The only exception is when an ENF-specimen has distorted elements. When using explicit finite element software the critical time step is of great importance for the results of the analyses. If a too long time step is used, the simulation will fail to complete or complete with errors. A feasible equation for predicting the critical time step for the interphase element has been developed by the research group and the reliability of this equation is evaluated. The result from simulations shows an excellent agreement with the equation when the interphase element governs the critical time step. However when the adherends governs the critical time step the equation gives a time step that is too large. A modification of this equation is suggested.

Finite element analysis using Cohesive Zone Method (CZM) is a commonly used method to investigate delamination in laminated composites. In this study, two plane strain, zero-thickness six-node quadratic (6-NQ) and four-node linear (4-NL) interface elements are developed to implement CZM. Two main approaches for CZM formulation are categorized as Unified Mode Approach (UMA) and Separated Mode Approach (SMA), and implemented into 6-NQ interface elements to model a double cantilever beam (DCB) test of a unidirectional laminated composite. The results of the approaches are nearly identical. However, it is theoretically shown that SMA spawns non-symmetric tangent stiffness matrices, which may lower convergence and/or overall performance, for mixed-mode loading cases. Next, a UMA constitutive relationship is rederived. The artificial modifications for improving convergence rates such as lowering penalty stiffness, weakening interfacial strength and using 6-NQ instead of 4-NL interface elements are investigated by using the derived UMA and the DCB test model. The modifications in interfacial strength and penalty stiffness indicate that the convergence may be improved by lowering either parameter. However, over-softening is found to occur if lowering is performed excessively. The morphological differences between the meshes of the models using 6-NQ and 4-NL interface elements are shown. As a consequence, it is highlighted that the impact to convergence performance and overall performance might be in opposite. Additionally, benefits of selecting CZM over other methods are discussed, in particular by theoretical comparisons with the popular Virtual Crack Closure Technique. Finally, the numerical solution scheme and the Arc-Length Method are discussed.

<p>A research group at University of Skövde has developed an interphase element for implementation in the commercial FE-software Abaqus. The element is using the Tvergaard & Hutchinson cohesive law and is implemented in Abaqus Explicit version 6.7 using the VUEL subroutine. This bachelor degree project is referring to evaluate the interphase element and also highlight problems with the element.</p><p>The behavior of the interphase element is evaluated in mode I using Double Cantilever Beam (DCB)-specimens and in mode II using End Notch Flexure (ENF)-specimens. The results from the simulations are compared and validated to an analytical solution.</p><p>FE-simulations performed with the interphase element show very good agreement with theory when using DCB- or ENF-specimens. The only exception is when an ENF-specimen has distorted elements.</p><p>When using explicit finite element software the critical time step is of great importance for the results of the analyses. If a too long time step is used, the simulation will fail to complete or complete with errors. A feasible equation for predicting the critical time step for the interphase element has been developed by the research group and the reliability of this equation is evaluated.</p><p>The result from simulations shows an excellent agreement with the equation when the interphase element governs the critical time step. However when the adherends governs the critical time step the equation gives a time step that is too large. A modification of this equation is suggested.</p>

Term of remote-lab is certain types of laboratories which practical experiments are directedfrom a separate area by remote controller devices. This study is part of developing andupgrading advanced vibration remote laboratory. In the new remote lab, users have theability to measure the dynamic characteristics of the test object similar to the current existingremote lab. But in addition to current existing remote lab, they are capable to modifydynamic properties of the test object remotely by attaching vibration test instruments; such asa block of mass, spring-mass or non-linear spring. Doing several accurate experimental testsremotely on the test object are the toughest issues we faced as designers. In creating anddeveloping of this remote-lab, number of different approaches was adopted for producingwell-defined tests. Also, instead of implementing routine devices and techniques for regularvibration laboratories, the new prototypes were designed by finite elements method (FEM)and LABVIEW. For instance, the desirable test object, the attachment mechanism, usefulapplications, and proper software for managing via internet were prepared.

A conversão de energia vibracional do ambiente em energia elétrica através de dispositivos piezelétricos tem recebido crescente atenção na última década. Com intuito de melhorar o desempenho destes tipos de dispositivo, são discutidos os benefícios da introdução de não linearidades nestes sistemas. O dispositivo utilizado é uma viga cantilever tipo bimorph, parcialmente recoberta por material piezelétrico, com massas magnéticas concentradas na extremidade livre da viga que geram forças magnéticas não lineares. Nesse dispositivo, além da não linearidade proveniente dos magnetos, considera-se também a não linearidade inerente ao material piezelétrico. A solução das equações eletromecânicas acopladas, que descreve o movimento do conversor piezelétrico de energia, é encontrada numericamente resolvendo-se um conjunto de equações diferenciais ordinárias com condições iniciais dadas. A resposta em frequência do sistema é aproximada pelo método perturbativo das múltiplas escalas. A potência elétrica gerada é analisada variando-se alguns parâmetros, como intensidade da força de excitação, distância entre os magnetos da extremidade livre da viga e resistor de carga. A estabilidade do sistema também é investigada através de uma análise dinâmica, de onde se conclui a influência da distância entre os magnetos juntamente com a intensidade da força de excitação nesta estabilidade. Estes parâmetros também influenciam na faixa de frequência de operação do dispositivo. É observado que os efeitos não lineares presentes no dispositivo fazem com que este opere em uma ampla faixa de frequência. É realizado o estudo de incertezas em alguns parâmetros do conversor de energia piezelétrico, através de simulações de Monte Carlo, concluindo a influência destes na frequência natural e na potência elétrica gerada pelo dispositivo. Através de ensaios experimentais confirmam-se os benefícios da introdução de não linearidades nos geradores de energia piezelétricos. / Piezoelectric energy harvesting has received great attention over the last years. The main goal of this work is to discuss the potential advantages of introducing nonlinearities in the dynamics of a beam type piezoelectric vibration energy harvester. The device is essentially a cantilever beam partially covered by piezoelectric material with a magnet tip mass. Also, we consider the nonlinear constitutive piezoelectric equations. The electromechanically coupled equations are solved numerically, through the initial value problems for ordinary differential equations. The frequency response of the system is approximated using the method of multiple scales. The electrical power output is calculated by varying the amplitude of the base acceleration, the distance between the magnets and the load resistor. The stability of the system is also investigated. Stochastic variations are introduced in some key parameters and the propagation of these uncertainties is investigated through Monte Carlos simulations. From the numerical results it is found that the influence of the parameters investigated in the frequency range of operation of the device and the nonlinear effects present on the device energy harvester extend the useful frequency range of these. Moreover uncertainty parameters affect the natural frequency and the power output harvester. Through experimental tests it has been confirmed the benefits of introducing nonlinearities in piezoelectric energy harvesters.