Aims: The peak transmitral velocity/peak mitral annular velocity (E/e′) ratio has been used as a left ventricular (LV) filling pressure (LVFP) correlate. However, the E/e′ and its changes with haemodynamic alterations have not always correlated with changes in LVFP's. We hypothesized that indexing E/e′ to a measure of LV filling volume may enhance the correlation with LVFP and LVFP changes. Methods and results: We summarized previously obtained haemodynamic and Doppler echo data in 137 dogs with coronary microsphere embolization induced-chronic LV dysfunction prior to and following haemodynamic induced alterations in LVFP's. E/e′ values were obtained as E∗tau where tau is the inverse logarithmic LV pressure decay. E∗tau was indexed to LV filling volume by dividing by the diastolic time velocity integral (DVI) and correlated with LV mean diastolic pressure (LVmDP). Similarly, the relationship of E/e′ and E/e′/DVI to LV pre A wave pressure was evaluated in 84 patients by invasive haemodynamics and Doppler echo. Combining data from all interventions, LVmDP correlated with E∗tau (r = 0.408) but more strongly with E∗tau/DVI (r = 0.667, z = 3.03, P = 0.0008). The change in LVmDP correlated with the change in E∗tau/DVI (r = 0.742) more strongly than E∗Tau (r = 0.187, Z = 4.01, P < 0.0001). In the patient cohort, E/e′ was modestly correlated with LV pre A wave pressure (r = 0.301) but more strongly correlated with E/e′/DVI (r = 0.636, z = 2.36, P = 0.0161). Conclusion: Indexing E to both LV relaxation and filling volume results in a more robust relation with LVFP's and with LVFP changes.

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In this study, a series of laboratory model experiments carried on shallow foundations is intended to be simulated through numerical modeling. The laboratory model tests were conducted by Fukui et al. (2005), over square shaped, shallow surfacial foundations located over air-dried Toyoura sand. Tests included centered vertical and combined loading cases on sand with 60% and 80% relative densities. Plastic limit loads obtained from numerical analyses and available analytical solutions in literature are compared to the laboratory test results and the differences are discussed. Employment of Mohr - Coulomb yield criterion and linear elasticity, resulting in linear elastic perfectly plastic constitutive law, is one of the most common practices in modeling geotechnical problems. Accuracy of this approach for the modeled experiments is judged by comparison of analyses results with experimental findings and solutions in literature. Finite element method is utilized for modeling purposes, with Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion and linear elastic behavior. Abaqus 6-10.2 is selected as the analysis software, and two and three dimensional models are used in the analyses. Analyses, the results of which are compared with experimental findings, aim employment of associated flow rule. Additional analyses are conducted with varying dilation angles in order to examine the influence of unassociated flow rule on eccentric and concentric loading results. Differences between the results of numerical analyses and experimental observations varied between 2% and 34%. Main reason of the difference is attributed to employed soil behavior modeling approach in analyses and the eccentric placement of model weight in monotonic horizontal loading experiments. In the case when this eccentric placement is accounted for in numerical models, it is seen that the difference diminished to vary between 8% and 18%, and order of the difference was similar for similar experiment cases. Therefore, based on this condition, it is seen that results of the modeled experiments are consistent, while in general they are somewhat higher than the results obtained from analyses and solutions in literature. Difference between the results of analyses and average of selected solutions in literature in both cases is at most 9%. Finite element method employing Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion could provide results in close agreement with solutions in literature that inherently assume Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion as well. However, the same accuracy could not be obtained for experiments due to uncertainties involved in the material properties as well as the insufficiencies of the model to represent the behavior precisely. Finite element method has the potential to consider more advanced material models. Nonetheless, employment of Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion provides results with sufficient accuracy for most cases.

De nouvelles approches phénoménologiques sur la modélisation du comportement des AMFs sont nécessaires pour tenir en compte leur réponse complexe sous chargement multiaxial. L’effet de l’anisotropie induit une dépendance de leur comportement inélastique de la direction du chargement pour des cas superélastiques. La réorientation martensitique affecte drastiquement la réponse du matériau sous chargement non-proportionnel. La charge répétitive modifie aussi certaines propriétés du matériau. L’objectif de cette étude est de proposer un nouveau modèle constitutif thermodynamique robuste pour les AMFs, focalisé surtout sur des compositions NiTi équiatomiques pour capter la transformation martensitique anisotrope et la réorientation des variantes martensitiques. Une nouvelle approche mathématique est introduite pour permettre la prise en compte de l’anisotropie de contraintes et l’évolution des déformations inélastiques lors de la transformation directe, causée par les conditions de mise en forme de structures en AMFs. Cette méthode est évaluée en employant des courbes contraintes-déformations résultant de chargements proportionnels simulés par un modèle micromécanique. Un modèle phénoménologique considérant surtout la réorientation martensitique et mettant en évidence le fort couplage thermomécanique est développé. Il est implémenté dans une plate-forme numérique en C++, SMART+, et évalué en exécutant des simulations des expériences non-proportionnelles existantes. Des structures complexes sont également simulées en employant la Méthode des Élements Finis. La dernière partie de ce travail concerne l’étude expérimentale des effets du chargement cyclique sur l’évolution des déformations résiduelles et le seuil de transformation des alliages NiTi sous sollicitation uniaxiale et biaxiale. / New phenomenological approaches in modeling the behavior of SMAs are needed to account for their complex response under multiaxial loading. The effect of anisotropy induces a dependence of their inelastic behavior to the direction of the loading for superelastic cases. Martensitic reorientation affects drastically material response under non-proportional loading. Repeated loading also alters certain material properties. The goal of this study is to propose a new robust thermodynamic constitutive model for SMAs with focus on equiatomic NiTi compositions to capture anisotropic martensitic transformation and reorientation of martensitic variants, always taking in mind the strong thermomechanical coupling. A new mathematical approach is introduced to account for the anisotropy of stresses and the evolution of inelastic strains during forward transformation caused by the forming conditions of SMA structures. This method is evaluated by utilizing stress-strain curves resulting from proportional loading simulated with a micromechanical model. A phenomenological thermodynamic model considering especially martensitic reorientation and exhibiting the strong thermomechanical coupling is developed. It is implemented on a numerical platform in C++, SMART, and evaluated by simulating existing non-proportional experiments. Complex structures are also simulated using Finite Element Analysis. The last part of this work concerns the experimental study of the effects of cyclic loading to the evolution of residual strain and transformation threshold of NiTi under uniaxial and biaxial testing.

The research presented in this work addresses open questions regarding (i) the fundamental understanding of powder compaction, and (ii) the complex mechanical response of particle-binder composites under large deformations. This work thus benefits a broad range of industries, from the pharmaceutical industry and its recent efforts on continuous manufacturing of solid tablets, to the defense and energy industries and the recurrent need to predict the performance of energetic materials. Powder compacts and particle-binder composites are essentially confined particulate systems with significant heterogeneity at the meso (particle) scale. While particle mechanics strategies for modeling evolution of mesoscale microstructure during powder compaction depend on the employed contact formulation to accurately predict macroscopic quantities like punch and die wall pressures, modeling of highly nonlinear, strain-path dependent macroscopic response without a distinctive yield surface, typical of particle-binder composites, requires proper constitutive modeling of these complex deformation mechanisms. Moreover, continued loading of particle-binder composites over their operational life may introduce significant undesirable changes to their microstructure and mechanical properties. These challenges are addressed with a combined effort on theoretical, modeling and experimental fronts, namely, (a) novel contact formulations for elasto-plastic particles under high levels of confinement, (b) a multi-scale experimental procedure for assessing changes in microstructure and mechanical behavior of particle-binder composites due to cyclic loading and time-recovery, and (c) a finite strain nonlinear elastic, endochronic plastic constitutive formulation for particle-binder composites.