Corneliu Cismasiu

The unique superelastic behaviour exhibited by shape memory alloys (SMAs) allows the material to recover after withstanding large deformations. This recovery takes place without any residual strains, while dissipating a considerable amount of energy. This property makes the SMAs particularly suitable for applications in vibration control devices. Numerical models, calibrated with experimental laboratory tests, are used to investigate the dynamic response of vibration control devices. These devices are built up of austenitic superelastic wires. The energy dissipation and re-centring capabilities, important features of these devices, are clearly illustrated by the numerical tests. One of these devices is tested as a seismic passive vibration control system in a simplified numerical model of a railway viaduct.

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This work studies the low-velocity impact response of 3D-printed layered structures made of thermoplastic materials (PLA and PETg), which form sacrificial claddings for impact protection. The analyzed structures are composed of crushable cellular cores placed in between terminal stiffening plates. The cores tessellate either honeycomb hexagonal unit cells, or hexagonal cells with re-entrant corners, with the latter exhibiting auxetic response. The given results highlight that the examined PETg protectors exhibit higher energy dissipation ratios and lower restitution coefficients, as compared to PLA structures that have the same geometry. It is concluded that PETg qualifies as an useful material for the fabrication of effective impact protection gear through ordinary, low-cost 3D printers.

This paper analyses and compares the dynamic behavior of superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) systems based on two different constitutive models. The first model, although being able to describe the response of the material to complex uniaxial loading histories, is temperature and rate independent. Thesecond model couples the mechanical and kinetic laws of the material with a balance equation considering the thermal effects. After numerical validation and calibration, the behavior of these two models is tested in single degree of freedom dynamic systems, with SMAs acting as restoring elements. Different dynamic loads are considered, including artificially generated seismic actions, in a numerical model of a railway viaduct. Finally, it is shown that, in spite of its simplicity, the temperature- and rate-independent modelproduces a set of very satisfying results. This, together with its robustness and straightforward computational implementation, yields a very appealing numerical tool to simulate superelastic passive control applications.

The paper reports experimental and numerical simulation of ballistic impact problems on thin composite laminated plates reinforced with Kevlar 29. Ballistic impact was imparted with simulated fragments designed in accordance with STANAG-2920 on plates of different thickness. Numerical modelling was developed and used to obtain an estimate for the limit perforation velocity V50 and simulate failure modes and damage. Computations were carried out using a commercial code based on nite differences and values obtained are compared with the experimental data to evaluate the performance of the simulation. Good correlation between computational simulation and experimental results was achieved, both in terms of deformation and damage of the laminates. Future work is advanced to include the interposition of an outer ceramic layer as well as examining the influence of dry-wet and temperature cycles on the mechanical strength of the plates and their temporal evolution under accelerated ageing.

The paper reports on numerical simulation of impact problems on fiber reinforced plastic composite laminated plates reinforced with Kevlar 29. The ballistic impact caused by STANAG-2920 projectile is analyzed to obtain an estimate for the V50 and the global damage. All estimate have been carried out using the finite difference numerical code AUTODYN-3D, are compared with the experimental data to illustrate the performance of the simulation. Good correlation between resulting simulations and experimental results is demonstrated both in terms of deformation and damage of the laminates and ballistic performance.

The present study reports low velocity impact tests on composite laminate plates reinforced either with Kevlar 29 or Dyneema. The tests are produced using a Rosand Precision Impact tester. The experimental results obtained for Kevlar 29 are simulated numerically. The deflection history and the peak of the impact force are compared with experimental data and used to calibrate the numerical model.