Granular materials, such as sand, are systems consisting of huge numbers of particles that interact with each other through inter-particle contacts. Different from continuum materials, a granular material displays distinctive features due to the discrete nature of the microstructure, characterized by a spatial arrangement of inter-particle connection as well as a force-chain network. With a consideration of the contact force, the overall contact network is divided into a strong sub-network and a weak sub-network that carry contacts with normal contact forces larger and lower than the average normal contact force, respectively. Thus, the fabric anisotropy for different contact networks, are employed to characterize the microstructure of the granular material. In this research, the behavior of granular materials subjected to quasi-static shear was extensively investigated in terms of the fabric evolution including the magnitude and direction of anisotropy for different contact networks. Both statistical and micromechanical approaches were adopted to obtain the macroscopic properties, such as the fabric tensor, Cauchy stress tensor and the second-order work, in terms of the micro-scale variables. The discrete element method (DEM) was employed to simulate laboratory tests along fixed loading paths; for example, 2D tests along proportional strain paths, 2D simple shear tests and 3D tests along radial stress paths on the π-plane. Results demonstrated that the induced fabric anisotropy for the overall contact network can be related to the deviatoric stress ratio for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional conditions. The relation was found to be not unique, depending on the loading paths as well as the stress state. Nevertheless, a unique linear fabric-stress relation was presented between the stress tensor and fabric tensor for the strong sub-network. Specifically, the obliquity of this linear relation was found to be a function of the mean stress. This description held true for initially isotropic specimens subjected to proportional and non-proportional loading paths. On the other hand, for the initially anisotropic specimen, this correspondence only worked at the critical stress state. According to Nicot and Darve (2006), the macro second-order work cannot be interpreted as a summation of the local second-order work from the contact plane. The second-order work induced by the fabric evolution and the volumetric change must also be taken into account. The second-order work induced by the fabric evolution cannot be neglected in 2D analysis along proportional strain paths. Moreover, the vanishing of the second-order work is related to the fabric anisotropy in contact sub-networks that the decrease of fabric anisotropy for the weak sub-network or the degradation of weak sub-network was observed to be an indicator of deformation instability even though the strong sub-network dominants the shear resistance. The degradation of strong sub-network was a necessary but not a sufficient condition of instability. The direction of the fabric anisotropy for the strong sub-network was observed to be coaxial with the orientation of the principal stress. The principal direction of fabric anisotropy for the weak sub-network was always perpendicular to that of the strong sub-network, regardless of whether the principal stress rotated or not. For the overall contact network, however, the direction of the fabric anisotropy was not necessarily in line with the major principal stress direction, even for an initial isotropic granular assembly. Therefore, the finding by Radjaï et al.(1998) that the direction of the fabric anisotropy for the weak sub-network is perpendicular to that for the overall contact network only held true for the loadings in which the critical stress could be approached no matter if the principal stress orientation rotated or not. Under this circumstance, the fabric anisotropy for the overall contact network could be interpreted as a function of sub-networks’ anisotropy weighted by the ratio of contact number in each sub-network over the total number of contacts. At critical state, both the strong sub-network and the overall contact network developed high fabric anisotropy with the weak sub-network being mostly isotropic. When plotted on the π-plane, both the fabric anisotropy for the strong sub-network and the fabric anisotropy for the overall contact network depended on the stress paths but were independent of the mean stress level. The response surface of the former could be expressed as a Lade’s surface. The response envelope of the latter was an inverted Lade’s surface. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / In civil engineering, granular materials are ubiquitous, such as sand, gravel, rock, and concrete. Due to the discrete nature of microstructure, this type of material usually displays exceedingly complicated behaviours under shear, for example, dilatancy, non-coaxiality, critical state, instability, and anisotropy. These mechanical responses are notoriously difficult to model and most existing models are phenomenological and lack a clear physical meaning. To provide a clear physical meaning for the constitutive model of granular material, the current study explored the evolution of the microstructure within the granular material subjected to quasi-static shear and the micromechanical origins of those macroscopic behaviours such as critical state, non-coaxiality, and instability. Both micromechanical analysis and discrete element method were applied. Results showed that the evolution of the whole microstructure depended on the loading condition. However, the evolution of the microstructure joined by the ‘strong contacts’ was independent of the loading path. At critical state, the microstructure was highly anisotropic, not unique and depended on the stress paths. The rearrangement of the microstructure helped to maintain the stability of a granular material. The instability of the granular material was triggered by the failure of the microstructure joined by the ‘weak contacts’.

Micromechanics theories have been used to develop macro-level constitutive relations for infinitesimal elastoplastic deformations of unidirectional fiber reinforced laminates. The matrix is assumed to be isotropic and deform elasto-plastically and the fibers transversely isotropic and linear elastically. We have analyzed damage initiation, damage progression, and failure of 16-ply unidirectional fiber reinforced laminates impacted at normal incidence by a rigid sphere. The damage is assumed to initiate when at least one of Hashin's failure criteria is satisfied with the evolving damage modeled by an exponential relation. Transient three dimensional impact problems have solved using the finite element method (FEM) by implementing the material damage model as a user defined subroutine in the FE software ABAQUS. From strains supplied by ABAQUS the subroutine uses the free shear traction technique and values of material parameters of the constituents to find average stresses in a FE, and checks for Hashin's failure criteria. If the damage has initiated, the subroutine evaluates the damage developed, computes resulting stresses, and provides them to ABAQUS. The irreversibility of the damage is satisfied by requiring that the damage evolved does not decrease during unloading. The delamination failure mode is simulated by using the cohesive zone model and the degradation of material properties already available in ABAQUS. The computed time histories of the axial load acting on the impactor are found to agree well with the experimental ones available in the literature. The effect of stacking sequence in the laminate upon the impact load has been ascertained. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Il y a à l'heure actuelle un grand besoin en systèmes et composants agiles pour les dispositifs front-end RF. Dans cette thèse, deux approches innovantes sont développées pour la conception de tels dispositifs RF. Dans un premier temps, un mécanisme de reconfiguration micro-mécanique est développé. Cette approche vise à contrôler la hauteur d'un gap d'air inséré dans le substrat de composants microrubans afin d'en modifier les dimensions électriques. Les choix de conception et la fabrication d'un déphaseur à ligne micro-ruban ainsi que d'une antenne accordable en fréquence sont discutés. Une solution d'actionnement piézoélectrique basse tension (+/- 30 V) est retenue. La figure de mérite obtenue dans le cas du déphaseur atteint jusqu'à 313 °/dB ce qui dépasse l'état de l'art en matière de déphasage analogique. Dans le cas de l'antenne, le potentiel d'agilité en fréquence atteint 35 % autour d'une fréquence centrale de 55 GHz. Contrairement aux solutions classiques à base de semiconducteurs ou de RF-MEMS, ce mécanisme de reconfiguration n'impacte pas les performances de l'antenne dont l'efficacité de rayonnement est proche de 94 %. Dans un second temps, c'est un mécanisme micro-fluidique qui est étudié. L'agilité en fréquence d'antennes est créée par l'écoulement successif de liquides de permittivités différentes dans des micro-canaux intégrés au substrat. L'accord en fréquence atteint alors la très large ampleur de 51 % pour une fréquence centrale de 22 GHz. Cette étude s'accompagne de la recherche et caractérisation diélectrique de plusieurs fluides dans l'optique d'augmenter aussi bien la plage d'accord en fréquence que les performances de rayonnement des antennes / As wireless networks evolve, the frequency bands they exploit multiply. Frequency multiplexing, beamforming and tracking, networks interoperability, those mutations increase the need for agility and tunability in the RF-front end systems. In this thesis, two innovative approaches for the design of tunable RF components are studied. First, a micro-mechanical reconfiguration mechanism is developed. This approach means to control the height of an air gap within the substrate of microstrip components in order to control their electrical dimensions. Considerations for the design and fabrication of a phase-shifter and a frequency tunable patch antenna are made and a low voltage piezoelectric actuation (+/- 30 V) is chosen. The phase-shifter figure of merit reaches up to 312 °/dB which is beyond the state of the art in terms of analogic phase-shifting. Regarding the antenna, the frequency tuning potentially reaches up to 35 \% of a central frequency of 55 GHz. Unlike the classic solidstate or RF-MEMS based solutions, this reconfiguration mechanism does not impact the radiation performance of the antenna whose radiation efficiency is 94 \%. In a second approach, a micro-fluidic solution is studied. Frequency tuning capability is created in different antennas by the flow of successive liquids with different permittivities in integrated micro-channels. A large frequency tuning of 51 \% for a central frequency of 22 GHz is achieved. This study goes along with the search and characterization of several fluids with the objective of increasing both the frequency shift and the radiation performance of those antennas

Les bois sont une combinaison complexe de très fortes hétérogénéités multi-échelles, avec une trame de fond par espèce qui caractérise ses trois plans d'anisotropie. Les propriétés macroscopiques des bois dépendent de l'ensemble des échelles inférieures d'hétérogénéités : les cernes de croissance, les cellules, ainsi que l'organisation et la concentration des composés chimiques des parois cellulaires. Alors que l'effet des microfibrilles de cellulose cristalline de la phase solide sur les propriétés macroscopiques a été étudié, l'un des défis actuels consiste à évaluer le déterminisme des arrangements moléculaires au sein des parois sur les propriétés des cellules au sein d'un tissu. Dans ce contexte, le présent travail de thèse se développe selon deux axes : (i) La collecte d'informations sur les organisations pariétales à travers la diversité des cellules, et (ii) la caractérisation des propriétés micro-mécaniques à l'échelle du tissu, avec la prise en compte des échelles inférieures d'hétérogénéités. L'essentiel des descriptions sub-pariétales a été réalisé à l'aide d'un micro-spectromètre confocal Raman, et d'outils d'analyses dédiés qui ont été développés dans le cadre de cette étude. Les résultats obtenus ont par exemple permis de caractériser la paroi d'une cellule en formation (thylle), l'installation de la paroi secondaire dans des fibres, l'influence de stimuli environnementaux sur l'organisation sub-pariétale, ou encore le caractère continu de l'organisation spatiale des microfibrilles dans l'épaisseur des parois de différents types de cellules matures. La caractérisation mécanique a été réalisée selon la direction longitudinale des cellules, dans des essais de traction sur des éprouvettes de très faibles dimensions (épaisseur inférieure à 100 µm). La mise en évidence des phénomènes complexes en jeu dans le comportement mécanique a fait l'objet d'une étude sur la variation des propriétés structurales et mécaniques à l'intérieur d'un cerne. Les différentes phases de la relation contrainte-déformation ont été discutées, et une modélisation simplifiée par homogénéisation multi-échelle a notamment permis de poser un ensemble de pistes de réflexions sur le déterminisme de l'organisation sub-pariétale sur les propriétés mécaniques des cellules au sein d'un tissu. / Woods are a highly complex combination of multi-scale heterogeneities. Macroscopic properties of wood depend on all smaller scales of heterogeneity: growth rings, cells, as well as organization and concentration of cell wall chemical compounds. While the effect of the crystalline elements (microfibrils) of the solid phase on the macroscopic properties has been studied, one of the challenges is to estimate the determinism of the cell-wall molecular arrangements on the cells' properties inside a tissue. In this context, the present study is developed along two lines: (i) The collection of information on cell wall organization across the diversity of cells, and (ii) the characterization of micro-mechanical properties at the tissue level, with the consideration of smaller scales of heterogeneity. Most sub-cell wall descriptions were performed using a confocal Raman micro-spectrometer, and tools of analysis that were developed in this study. For example, obtained results have highlighted the cell wall of a living cell (thyllose), the cell wall formation in poplar fibers close to the cambial region, the impact of environmental stimuli on sub-cell wall organization, or else the continuous variation of the spatial organization of crystalline compounds in wall of different mature cells. The mechanical characterization was realized in the longitudinal direction on small samples (thickness below 100µm). The understanding of complex phenomena involved in the mechanical behavior was approached through a study on the variation of structural and mechanical properties within a ring. The different parts of the stress-strain curve have been discussed, and a simplified homogenization model has help to highlighted the determinism of sub-cell wall organization on the mechanical properties of cells at the tissue level.

This study explores the performance of porous Paptic paper materials composed of a mixture of softwood and lyocell fibers. The investigation involves laboratory experiments and numerical simulations to analyse the impact of various parameters on the paper's characteristics. Tensile and hygroexpansion tests were conducted on sheets with different binder quantities and drying methods. VTT aided in the analysis of mechanical properties using tomography images. The objective was to determine the optimal binder content, to understand the behaviour of the paper under different drying conditions and to optimise the pulp mixture through numerical simulations. Experimental tests involved producing paper sheets with varying binder amounts and different drying methods. Tensile tests were conducted to assess the elastic stiffness, strength, and strain at break. Constrained dried and freely dried papers were compared to evaluate the influence of drying conditions. Hygroexpansion tests were performed to examine the water storage behaviour of papers with added binders. Tomography measurements provided the density profile, which was replicated in the numerical sheets. A micro-mechanical model was employed for numerical simulations, representing each fiber as a beam. The model was calibrated using stress-strain data from VTT's tensile testing of the paper with the highest binder content. The influence of altering the amount and length of lyocell fibers was examined to optimise the pulp. From the tensile tests, an optimal binder content was identified that yielded the highest elastic stiffness while considering the density increase caused by binders. Further additions of binders did not enhance elastic stiffness. However, no optimal value was found for strength and strain at break, as both parameters continued to increase with additional binders. Tensile tests comparing constrained dried and freely dried papers showed similar behaviour, suggesting inadequate constraint in the former. Hygroexpansion tests confirmed the similarities between the two drying methods and revealed that papers with added binders stored less water at a given humidity. Additionally, the drying-moistening cycling exhibited an unusual behaviour not observed in conventional paper, with irreversible expansion occurring during the first drying cycle. Numerical simulations using a micro-mechanical model demonstrated that higher amounts of lyocell fibers improved performance, increasing strength and strain at break. However, varying fiber length did not yield significant improvements in these parameters, although stiffness showed a slight increase. While the literature suggests that the addition of long lyocell fibers decreases paper strength, this study found that when maintaining constant bulk, strength increased under the assumption that the bonding strength was unaffected by lyocell fibers. Furthermore, numerical simulations indicated that an even density profile throughout the paper thickness resulted in higher strength and strain at break. The tomography data revealed that the density profile is affected by the binder quantity. With the addition of binders, the thickness decreased even though the grammage increased. The density is high on the top and bottom surface of the papers which contain more binders while the density is lower in the middle. This difference in density is more pronounced with higher amounts of binders. / Denna studie undersöker prestandan hos porösa pappersmaterial från Paptic som består av en blandning av barrträd och lyocell-fibrer. Undersökningen innefattar laboratorieexperiment och numeriska simuleringar för att analysera effekten av olika parametrar på papperets egenskaper. Drag- och hygroexpansionstester utfördes på ark med olika mängder bindemedel och torkningsmetoder. VTT hjälpte till med analysen av mekaniska egenskaper genom tomografibilder. Målet var att bestämma optimalt innehåll av bindemedel, att förstå papperets beteende under olika torkningsförhållanden och att optimera pappersmassan genom numeriska simuleringar.  De experimentella testerna innefattade framställning av pappersark med varierande mängder bindemedel och olika torkningsmetoder. Dragtester utfördes för att bedöma elastisk styvhet, styrka och töjning vid brott. Inspännt samt fritt torkade papper jämfördes för att utvärdera inflytandet av torkningsförhållanden. Hygroexpansionstester utfördes för att undersöka vattenlagringsbeteendet hos papper med tillsatt bindemedel. Tomografimätningar gav papprens densitetsprofilen, som återskapades i de numeriska arken. En mikromekanisk modell användes för de numeriska simuleringarna, där varje fiber representeras som en balk. Modellen kalibrerades med hjälp av spännings-töjnings-data från VTT:s dragprovning av papperet med högst mängd bindemedel. Inflytandet av att ändra mängden och längden på lyocell-fibrer undersöktes för att optimera pappersmassan.  Från dragtesterna identifierades en optimal mängd bindemedel som gav högst elastisk styvhet när den densitetsökning som orsakas av bindemedel har tagits till hänsyn. Ytterligare tillsatser av bindemedel förbättrade inte den elastiska styvheten. Dock hittades ingen optimal värde för styrka och brottsträckning, eftersom båda parametrarna fortsatte öka med ytterligare bindemedel. Dragtester som jämförde inspännt och fritt torkat papper visade liknande beteende, vilket tyder på otillräcklig begränsning i det förstnämnda fallet. Hygroexpansionstester bekräftade likheterna mellan de två torkningsmetoderna och avslöjade att papper med tillsatt bindemedel lagrade mindre vatten vid en given luftfuktighet. Dessutom uppvisade torknings-fuktnings-cykeln ett ovanligt beteende som inte observerats i konventionellt papper, där irreversibel expansion inträffade under den första torkningscykeln. Numeriska simuleringar med en mikromekanisk modell visade att högre mängder lyocell-fibrer förbättrade prestandan genom att öka styrka och töjning vid brott. Ändringar i fibrernas längd gav dock inte märkvärda förbättringar i dessa parametrar, även om styvheten visade en liten ökning. Medan litteraturen föreslår att tillsatsen av långa lyocell-fibrer minskar papperets styrka, fann denna studie att när densiteten hålls konstant ökar styrkan under antagandet att bindestyrkan inte påverkas av lyocell-fibrer. Dessutom indikerade de numeriska simuleringarna att en jämn densitetsprofil genom papperets tjocklek resulterade i högre styrka och töjning vid brott. Tomografidata visade att densitetsprofilen påverkas av mängden bindemedel. När mängden bindemedel ökade, minskade tjockleken trots att ytvikten ökade. Densiteten är hög på papperets över- och undersida, medan densiteten är lägre i mitten. Skillnaden i densitet är mer uttalad med högre mängder bindemedel.

First, the theory of MSG is extended to aperiodic heterogeneous solid structures. Integral constraints are introduced to decompose the displacements and strains of the heterogeneous material into a fluctuating part and a macroscopic part, of which the macroscopic part represents the responses of the homogenized material. One advantage of this theory is that boundary conditions are not required. Consequently, it is capable of handling micro-structures of arbitrary shapes. In addition, periodic constraints can be incorporated into this theory as needed to model periodic or partially periodic materials such as textile composites. In this study, the newly developed method is employed to investigate the finite thickness effect of textile composites.<div><br></div><div>Second, MSG is enabled to deal with Timoshenko beam-like structures with spanwise heterogeneity, which provide higher accuracy than the previous available Euler–Bernoulli beam model. Its reduced form, the MSG beam cross sectional analysis, is found to be able to analyze generalized free-edge problems with arbitrary layups and subjected to general loads. In this method, the only assumption applied is that the laminate is long enough so that the Saint-Venant principle can be adopted. There is no limitation on the cross section of the laminate since no ad hoc assumption is involved with the microstructure geometry. This method solve the free-edge problem from a multiscale simulation point of view.<br></div><div><br></div>

Hot-mix asphalt concrete (HMAC) mixture fatigue characterization constitutes a fundamental component of HMAC pavement structural design and analysis to ensure adequate field fatigue performance. HMAC is a heterogeneous complex composite material of air, binder, and aggregate that behaves in a non-linear elasto-viscoplastic manner, exhibits anisotropic behavior, ages with time, and heals during traffic loading rest periods and changing environmental conditions. Comprehensive HMAC mixture fatigue analysis approaches that take into account this complex nature of HMAC are thus needed to ensure adequate field fatigue performance. In this study, four fatigue analysis approaches; the mechanistic empirical (ME), the calibrated mechanistic with (CMSE) and without (CM) surface energy measurements, and the proposed NCHRP 1-37A 2002 Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) were comparatively evaluated and utilized to characterize the fatigue resistance of two Texas HMAC mixtures in the laboratory, including investigating the effects of binder oxidative aging. Although the results were comparable, the CMSE/CM approaches exhibited greater flexibility and potential to discretely account for most of the fundamental material properties (including fracture, aging, healing, visco-elasticity, and anisotropy) that affect HMAC pavement fatigue performance. Compared to the other approaches, which are mechanistic-empirically based, the CMSE/CM approaches are based on the fundamental concepts of continuum micromechanics and energy theory.

Hot-mix asphalt concrete (HMAC) mixture fatigue characterization constitutes a fundamental component of HMAC pavement structural design and analysis to ensure adequate field fatigue performance. HMAC is a heterogeneous complex composite material of air, binder, and aggregate that behaves in a non-linear elasto-viscoplastic manner, exhibits anisotropic behavior, ages with time, and heals during traffic loading rest periods and changing environmental conditions. Comprehensive HMAC mixture fatigue analysis approaches that take into account this complex nature of HMAC are thus needed to ensure adequate field fatigue performance. In this study, four fatigue analysis approaches; the mechanistic empirical (ME), the calibrated mechanistic with (CMSE) and without (CM) surface energy measurements, and the proposed NCHRP 1-37A 2002 Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) were comparatively evaluated and utilized to characterize the fatigue resistance of two Texas HMAC mixtures in the laboratory, including investigating the effects of binder oxidative aging. Although the results were comparable, the CMSE/CM approaches exhibited greater flexibility and potential to discretely account for most of the fundamental material properties (including fracture, aging, healing, visco-elasticity, and anisotropy) that affect HMAC pavement fatigue performance. Compared to the other approaches, which are mechanistic-empirically based, the CMSE/CM approaches are based on the fundamental concepts of continuum micromechanics and energy theory.

Dans un composite stratifié, les plis orientés à 0° par rapport à la direction du chargement pilotent souvent la rupture sous chargement de traction. Les fibres procurent l’essentiel de la rigidité et la résistance de ces plis. Dans ces travaux de thèse, le comportement en fatigue des plis à 0° est analysé dans des stratifiés unidirectionnels (UD) et multidirectionnels, au moyen d’essais de fatigue multi-instrumentés. Un protocole expérimental est mis en place pour éviter les ruptures prématurées typiques des essais sur UD. L’évolution en fatigue des ruptures de fibres est identifiée par leur émission acoustique. Les mécanismes de fatigue dominés par la rupture des fibres sont analysés par un modèle aux éléments finis développé à l’échelle des constituants. / Under quasi-static and fatigue tension loads, the failure of a carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminate (CFRP) is usually driven by 0° plies. Carbon fibres give most of the stiffness and strength of these plies. In this work, the fatigue behaviour of 0° plies inside unidirectional (UD) and multidirectional laminates is analysed via multi-instrumented tension-tension fatigue tests. A numerical and experimental study is addressed to perform fatigue tests without the typical premature failures of the UD laminates. The acoustic emissions technique is used to identify the evolution law of fibre breaks. A finite element model is developed at the microscale (fibres and matrix) to analyse the fibre-driven fatigue mechanisms.