In an attempt to improve the quality in finite element analysis of thermoformed components, a method for predicting the thickness distribution is presented. The strain induced anisotropic material behaviour in the amorphous polymers of concern is also taken into account in the method. The method comprises of obtaining raw material data from experiments, followed by a simulation of the vacuum thermoforming process where hyperelastic material behaviour is assumed. The theory of hyperelasticity that was applied was based on the Ogden model and implemented in the FE-software LS-DYNA. Material behaviour from thermoformed prototypes is examined by experiments and implemented together with the mapped results from the thermoforming simulation in a succeeding FE-model. For the latter, the three-parameter Barlat model was suggested, giving the possibility to account for anisotropic material behaviour based on an initial plastic strain.

A determinação das propriedades mecânicas em materiais hiperelásticos constitui uma atividade complexa, a qual requer a realização de ensaios mecânicos em laboratório, seleção de modelos matemáticos adequados a cada tipo de comportamento e ajuste de curva sobre os dados experimentais. O ensaio biaxial por inflação se caracteriza pela inflação de uma membrana fina após a aplicação de uma pressão uniforme agindo na direção normal a superfície e tem sido utilizado para obter a curva tensão versus deformação. O objetivo do presente trabalho é estudá-lo como um teste para a caracterização mecânicas de borrachas incompressíveis. É proposta uma metodologia e aspectos como a aplicabilidade da teoria de cascas finas, geometria esférica no topo da amostra, instabilidade e processo de deformação são investigados. Um código computacional foi desenvolvido para identificação de parâmetros da amostra deformada através de aquisição de imagem. A validação da metodologia foi realizada tanto através de análises numéricas por elementos finitos como através de ensaios experimentais realizados em laboratório. Um novo método analítico para a determincação da deformação no topo membrana inflada (ou bolha) foi proposto e testado. / The determination of mechanical properties of hyperelastic materials is a complex activity, which requires mechanical laboratory tests to obtain the stress-strain curve, selection of the appropriate mathematical model and curve fitting of the experimental data. The biaxial inflation test is characterized by the inflation of a thin membrane by applying uniform pressure acting on the normal direction of the surface. The purpose of this paper is to study it as a test for characterization of incompressible rubberlike materials. A methodology is proposed and aspects such as the applicability of the theory of thin shell, spherical geometry on top of the sample, instability and kinematic deformation process are investigated. A computer code was developed for identification of parameters of the deformed specimen by image acquisition. The validation of the methodology was carried out through both numerical analysis by finite elements and through experimental testing performed in laboratory. A new analytic method to determine the deformation of the apex of the inflated membrane (or bubble) is proposed and tested.

A determinação das propriedades mecânicas em materiais hiperelásticos constitui uma atividade complexa, a qual requer a realização de ensaios mecânicos em laboratório, seleção de modelos matemáticos adequados a cada tipo de comportamento e ajuste de curva sobre os dados experimentais. O ensaio biaxial por inflação se caracteriza pela inflação de uma membrana fina após a aplicação de uma pressão uniforme agindo na direção normal a superfície e tem sido utilizado para obter a curva tensão versus deformação. O objetivo do presente trabalho é estudá-lo como um teste para a caracterização mecânicas de borrachas incompressíveis. É proposta uma metodologia e aspectos como a aplicabilidade da teoria de cascas finas, geometria esférica no topo da amostra, instabilidade e processo de deformação são investigados. Um código computacional foi desenvolvido para identificação de parâmetros da amostra deformada através de aquisição de imagem. A validação da metodologia foi realizada tanto através de análises numéricas por elementos finitos como através de ensaios experimentais realizados em laboratório. Um novo método analítico para a determincação da deformação no topo membrana inflada (ou bolha) foi proposto e testado. / The determination of mechanical properties of hyperelastic materials is a complex activity, which requires mechanical laboratory tests to obtain the stress-strain curve, selection of the appropriate mathematical model and curve fitting of the experimental data. The biaxial inflation test is characterized by the inflation of a thin membrane by applying uniform pressure acting on the normal direction of the surface. The purpose of this paper is to study it as a test for characterization of incompressible rubberlike materials. A methodology is proposed and aspects such as the applicability of the theory of thin shell, spherical geometry on top of the sample, instability and kinematic deformation process are investigated. A computer code was developed for identification of parameters of the deformed specimen by image acquisition. The validation of the methodology was carried out through both numerical analysis by finite elements and through experimental testing performed in laboratory. A new analytic method to determine the deformation of the apex of the inflated membrane (or bubble) is proposed and tested.

Dans le cadre de la sécurité routière, les essais de choc ne permettent pas la prédiction des blessures internes, notamment aux organes abdominaux. La simulation numérique apparaît comme un outil prometteur pour évaluer le risque lésionnel d'une configuration d'impact en permettant de décrire les sollicitations relatives aux différents organes. Afin de quantifier le risque de blessure, il est nécessaire de connaître le comportement à rupture des tissus du corps humain. L'objet de cette étude est le foie, dont les blessures sont souvent graves. L'attention s'est portée sur les lacérations surfaciques, qui impliquent le parenchyme et la capsule hépatiques. L'objectif de cette thèse est de caractériser et modéliser le comportement et la rupture de ces deux tissus. L'étude expérimentale s'est progressivement focalisée sur les tissus impliqués dans la lacération surfacique. Un protocole de compression de foie entier pressurisé a mis en évidence le mécanisme d'apparition des lésions, liées à une sollicitation de traction biaxiale. Une série d'essais de traction uniaxiale sur parenchyme et capsule a permis la quantification des propriétés à rupture de ces tissus. Enfin, les essais de gonflement de capsule ont permis la caractérisation indépendante de celle-ci sous une sollicitation plus réaliste. La mesure de champ par corrélation d'images 2D puis 3D a été utilisée dans ces deux derniers protocoles, révélant les phénomènes locaux tels que la localisation de la déformation avant rupture. Le module élastique du parenchyme a été évalué ; un modèle linéaire puis hyperélastique a été identifié pour le comportement de la capsule. Lors de ces campagnes d'essais, les influences de l'origine biologique -porc ou humain - et de la congélation sur les propriétés mécaniques des tissus ont été évaluées par des tests statistiques. Le travail de modélisation s'est porté sur l'endommagement et la rupture d'un tissu fibreux membranaire initialement isotrope. Les fibres sont supposées élastiques linéaires fragiles. L'endommagement est modélisé comme le résultat de la rupture des fibres à l'échelle microscopique. Deux méthodes d'homogénéisation issues de la littérature sont utilisées et comparées. Le modèle obtenu permet de décrire l'endommagement par deux variables scalaires macroscopiques. Plusieurs phénomènes observés expérimentalement - dépliement progressif des fibres, fibres endommageables, propriétés variables d'une fibre à l'autre - constituent des extensions au modèle. Construit dans un cadre très général, ce modèle est identifié sur les essais de gonflement de la capsule hépatique. La simulation des essais est réalisée en appliquant les conditions aux limites expérimentales ; le module élastique et la déformation à rupture des fibres sont identifiés par un algorithme d'optimisation. Les modèles et propriétés mécaniques à rupture ainsi définis peuvent être inclus dans un modèle de foie entier en vue de la simulation d'un choc. / In the field of road safety, internal injuries including abdominal injuries cannot be predicted through crash-tests using dummies. Numerical simulation is a promising tool to evaluate the risk of injury of a given impact configuration by descripting the loadings on the organs. Quantifying the risk of failure requires knowledge about the mechanical behaviour and the failure properties of the tissues of the human body. As the liver injuries account for a large amount of the serious injuries, the present study is focused on this organ and more specifically on the surface laceration. The aim of this study is to characterize and model the failure behaviour of the two tissues involved in the surface laceration : the parenchyma and the hepatic capsule. The experimental study includes three protocols which range from the organ scale to the tissue scale. Compression tests on whole perfused porcine and human livers enhanced the failure mechanism of the liver surface ; surface laceration seems to be caused by multiaxial tension. Uniaxial tensile tests on parenchyma and capsule samples from human and porcine livers allowed the determination of the failure properties of these two tissues. Independent characterization of the human liver capsule was conducted through inflation tests, which correspond to a more realistic loading than uniaxial tension. Full-strain fields were computed by digital image correlation and stereocorrelation on the second and third protocols ; local phenomena such as the localization of the strain field before failure or material heterogeneities were observed. The linear modulus of the parenchyma was determined. The capsule behaviour was modeled as linear first, then as hyperelastic. Statistical tests based on the results of the uniaxial tests assessed the influence of the biological origin of the tissues - porcine or human - and the preservation method - keeping fresh of freezing. The modeling part of this study is focused on the damage and rupture of an isotropic fibrous membrane. The fibers are linear elastic and brittle. The failure of the fibers at the microscopic scale creates macroscopic damage in the tissue which can be described by two scalars. The homogenization of the behaviour is conducted through two methods available in the literature ; they can therefore be compared. Several phenomena observed on biological fibrous tissues - damageable fibers, crimped fibers, random mechanical properties of the fibers - have been included in the model. This damage model is finally identified on the inflation tests of the capsule which are simulated using the experimental boundary conditions catched by stereocorrelation. The elastic modulus as well as the ultimate strain of the fibers are determined by an optimization algorithm. The material and failure properties as well as the damage model determined in this study can be included in a liver model to simulate a crash. The occurence of surface laceration could then be predicted.

La simulation des procédés de production des composites à renforts tissés est un enjeu majeur pour les industries de pointe, où leur utilisation s’intensifie. La maitrise des procédés d’obtention des composites à matrice et fibres en céramique, notamment les étapes de mise en forme et de pyrolyse, s’avère primordiale. La connaissance et la simulation du comportement mécanique aux différentes étapes est nécessaire pour optimiser les performances des pièces finales. Deux approches de modélisation macroscopique des renforts tissés épais de composite sont détaillées : une approche continue classique et une approche semi-discrète. Pour cela, une loi de comportement hyperélastique initialement orthotrope est développée. Cette loi est basée sur l’observation phénoménologique des modes de déformation privilégiés, à partir desquels sont proposés des invariants physiques de la transformation. L’identification des paramètres matériaux nécessaires est décrite. Une version modifiée de cette loi, sans contribution en tension, est implémentée dans un élément semi-discret, où le travail en tension est alors pris en compte par des barres discrétisant le tissage réel. Les importantes différences de rigidités entre sollicitations en tension et en cisaillements font des renforts tissés épais des matériaux fortement anisotropes. Leur modélisation numérique met en évidence des phénomènes parasites ou des limitations liés à cette spécificité. Le phénomène de verrouillage en tension est tout d’abord mis en évidence. Une solution basée sur une formulation éléments finis enhanced assumed strain est proposée pour des éléments continus classiques ou semi-discrets. Puis des problèmes liés aux simulations numériques dominées par la flexion sont soulevés : l’hourglassing transverse et l’absence de résistance locale à la courbure. Dans le cas de l’hourglassing transverse, deux méthodes de rigidification de ces modes de déplacement sont proposées : par moyennage des dilatations dans l’élément ou par ajout d’une rigidité matérielle tangente supplémentaire. Pour l’introduction d’une résistance à la courbure, une méthode basée sur l’utilisation purement numérique de plaques rotation free est proposée. Celles-ci permettent le calcul de la courbure induisant, par l’intermédiaire d’un moment de flexion, des efforts internes supplémentaires. Finalement, la modélisation du retour élastique après pyrolyse de la matrice organique à précurseurs céramique est réalisée. Le comportement de la matrice pyrolysée est identifié expérimentalement à l’aide d’une loi hyperélastique isotrope transverse. L’addition de cette loi, qui prend comme référence la préforme déformée, à la loi de comportement initiale du renfort tissé permet de visualiser les déformations obtenues en fin de pyrolyse. Cette modélisation est comparée à des résultats expérimentaux. / Manufacture processes modeling of woven fabrics composites is a major stake for state-of-the-art industrial parts, where their usage is intensifying. Control of all the manufacturing stages of ceramic matrix composites, particularly the forming and pyrolysis steps, is essential. Understanding and simulation of the mechanical behavior at each stage is required to optimize the final product performances. Two macroscopic modeling approaches of thick woven fabric reinforcements are detailed: a continuous classical one and a semi-discrete one. An initially orthotropic hyperelastic constitutive law is thus established. This law is based on a phenomenological observation of the main fabric deformation modes, from where physical invariants of the deformation are suggested. The required material parameters identification is explained. A modified version of this law, without any tensile energetic contribution, is implemented in a semi-discrete element where the tensile work is taken into account by bars that discretize the real weaving. Thick woven reinforcements are highly anisotropic materials due to the large ratio between the tensile rigidity and the others. Their numerical modeling highlights spurious phenomena and limitations related to this specificity. The tension locking is firstly tackled. A remedy based on an enhanced assumed strain finite element formulation is suggested for classical continuum and semi-discrete elements. Problems linked to bending-dominated numerical simulations are brought to attention : transverse hourglassing and lack of local bending stiffness. For the transverse hourglassing situation, two stiffening technics are proposed : averaging the dilatation through the whole element or adding a supplementary tangent material rigidity in a specific direction. The local bending stiffness problem is solved by calculating the curvature inside the element by using rotation free plates. The induced bending moment leads to supplementary internal loads. Finally, the elastic springback following the pyrolysis of the polymer matrix with ceramic precursors is modeled. The constitutive behavior is experimentally identified with a transverse isotropic hyperelastic law. Added to the initial reinforcements’ hyperelastic law, with the preformed fabric as reference configuration, the pyrolysis induced deformations can be visualized. This final model is compared with experimental results.

Disposer d’un modèle numérique de doigt permettant de simuler le contact de façon réaliste serait un atout pour les domaines d’applications de la réalité virtuelle et de l’aide à la conception adaptée de matériel. De plus, savoir simuler un contact « biofidèle » entre les doigts et un objet permettrait de répondre à des questions de recherche fondamentale concernant la préhension (évaluation de la qualité d’une prise, choix de stratégies de préhension…).Les modèles existants dans la littérature sont variés en termes de propriétés matériaux et de géométrie mais aucun modèle ne s’impose pour prédire de façon satisfaisante le comportement mécanique de la pulpe des doigts. Cette thèse a pour objectif de proposer des lignes directrices pour le développement d’un modèle éléments finis de l’extrémité du doigt orienté vers la simulation de la manipulation fine.Dans un premier temps, la loi de comportement la plus simple possible mais rendant bien compte du comportement hyperélastique des tissus est identifiée. Ensuite, l’étude de modèles géométriques simplifiés permet de proposer un jeu de marqueurs géométriques permettant de construire un modèle idéalisé. Enfin, une campagne expérimentale innovante de chargements mécaniques sur le doigt sous IRM (8 sujets) permet d’enrichir la base de données des essais existants et de valider les hypothèses de modélisation faites en termes de loi de comportement et de géométrie / A fingertip model enabling realistic contact simulations would be an attractive feature in the virtual reality field and could help the design process of new products. Furthermore, such a tool would allow investigating fundamental research questions associated with prehension (assessment of the efficiency of a grasp, choice of a grasping strategy,…).Existent fingertip models exhibit various material properties and geometries but none of them stand out in the prediction of the mechanical behavior of the fingertip.The main topic of this PhD work is to propose general guidelines for the development of fingertip models dedicated to fine manipulation tasks. First a hyperslastic behavior law is identified, being both as simple as possible and enough complex to reproduce the non-linear behavior of the soft tissue. Then, a geometrical study permits to determine a set of geometric markers enabling the development of an idealized geometrical model. Finally, an MRI innovative experimental campaign of fingertip loading tests is performed (on 8 subjects) to expand the existent experimental database and validate the modeling assumptions made concerning the behavior law and the geometrical approach

Les applications pour lesquelles des élastomères sont soumis à des sollicitations cycliques sont nombreuses. Des charges sont généralement utilisées afin d'améliorer leurs propriétés, cependant, elles induisent également un adoucissement important de la contrainte lors de sollicitations cycliques. A ce jour, les phénomènes physiques conduisant à l’apparition de cet adoucissement ne sont pas clairement établis et sa modélisation demeure une difficulté majeure.Afin d'étudier l'adoucissement, des élastomères chargés sont soumis à des chargements cycliques. Des méthodes de caractérisations originales sont proposées afin de quantifier les effets de l'intensité du chargement et du nombre de cycles. Pour faire le lien avec la microstructure du matériau, plusieurs mélanges de compositions différentes sont utilisés. Des chargements non proportionnels de traction uniaxiale et biaxiale sont appliqués afin de mettre en évidence l'anisotropie induite par l'adoucissement. Ces données expérimentales non conventionnelles sont utilisées afin de définir un critère général pour l'activation de l'adoucissement Mullins. Une loi de comportement fondée sur une analyse approfondie des données expérimentales est proposée. La modélisation est basée sur une approche directionnelle. L'adoucissement Mullins est modélisé en utilisant le concept d'amplification de la déformation et son activation est pilotée par un critère directionnel. La capacité du modèle à prédire les réponses d'un matériau ayant subit un historique de chargement non proportionnel est validée / Rubber-like materials are submitted to cyclic loading conditions in various applications. Fillers are always incorporated within rubber compounds. They improve the mechanical properties but induce a significant stress-softening under cyclic loadings. The physical source of the softening is not yet established and its modeling remains a challenge. For a better understanding of the softening, filled rubbers are submitted to cyclic loadings. In order to quantify the effects of the loading intensity and the number of cycles, original methods are proposed to characterize the softening. To study the influence of the material microstructure on the softening, compounds with various compositions are considered.Non proportional tensile tests including uniaxial and biaxial loading paths are applied in order to highlight the softening induced anisotropy. Such unconventional experimental data are used to provide a general criterion for the softening activation. A constitutive modeling grounded on a thorough analysis of experimental data is proposed. The model is based on a directional approach. The Mullins softening is accounted for by the strain amplification concept and is activated by a directional criterion. The model ability to predict non proportional softened material responses is demonstrated

This thesis deals with computational modelling of rubber damper using Finite element method (FEM). This thesis includes experimental measurement of material properties of rubber subjected to static and dynamic loading and their implementation into viscoelastic and hyperelastic material models with respect to given task. Dependance of dynamic stiffness on loading frequency obtained from the simulation is validated with experimental measurement. In the end the difference between results is investigated and possible causes of that are introduced.

Constitutive modelling of fibre reinforced solids is the focus of this work. To account for the resulting anisotropy of material, the corresponding strain energy function contains additional terms. Thus, tensile stiffness in the fibre direction is characterised by additional strain invariant and respective material constant. In this way deformation in the fibre direction is penalised. Following this logic, the model investigated in this work includes the term that penalises change in curvature in the fibre direction. The model is based on the large strain anisotropic formulation involving couple stresses, also referred to as “polar elasticity for fibre reinforced solids”. The need of such formulation arises when the size effect becomes significant. Mechanical tests are carried out to confirm the limits of applicability of the classical elasticity for constitutive description of composites with thick fibres. Classical unimaterial models fail to take into account the size affect of fibres and their bending stiffness contribution. The specific simplified model is chosen, which involves new kinematic quantities related to fibre curvature and the corresponding material stiffness parameters. In particular, additional constant k3 (associated with the fibre bending stiffness) is considered. Within the small strains framework, k3 is analytically linked to the geometric and material properties of the composite and can serve as a parameter augmenting the integral stiffness of the whole plate. The numerical tests using the updated finite element code for couple stress theory confirm the relevance of this approach. An analytical study is also carried out, extending the existing solution by Farhat and Soldatos for the fibre-reinforced plate, by including additional extra moduli into constitutive description. Solution for a pure bending problem is extended analytically for couple stress theory. Size effect of fibres is observed analytically. Verification of the new constitutive model and the updated code is carried out using new exact solution for the anisotropic couple stress continuum with the incompressibility constraint. Perfect agreement is achieved for small strain case. Large strain problem is considered by finite element method only qualitatively. Three cases of kinematic constraints on transversely isotropic material are considered in the last section: incompressibility, inextensibility and the double constraint case. They are compared with a general material formulation in which the independent elastic constants are manipulated in order to converge the solution to the “constraint” formulation solution. The problem of a thick plate under sinusoidal load is used as a test problem. The inclusion of couple stresses and additional bending stiffness constant is considered as well. The scheme of determination of the additional constant d31 is suggested by using mechanical tests combined with the analytical procedure.

The diploma thesis is focused on the creation of the aneurysm finite element model and the making of the aneurysm wall stess-strain analysis using ANSYS software. The model of abdominal aortic aneurysm geometry starts from the CT scan of the particular patient. In the thesis there are compared two chosen constitutive models, each of them appears from different mechanical tests done on human arterial fibre samples. Furthermore, a limiting condition for aneurysm wall structure damage is expressed. On the basis of the results of stress calculation in the aneurysm wall and the limiting condition, the safety coefficient and rupture factors risk are worked out.