This volume takes a much needed multiphysical approach to the numerical and experimental evaluation of the mechanical properties of MEMS and NEMS. The contributed chapters present many of the most recent developments in fields ranging from microfluids and damping to structural analysis, topology optimization and nanoscale simulations. The book responds to a growing need emerging in academia and industry to merge different areas of expertise towards a unified design and analysis of MEMS and NEMS.

This volume takes a much needed multiphysical approach to the numerical and experimental evaluation of the mechanical properties of MEMS and NEMS. The contributed chapters present many of the most recent developments in fields ranging from microfluids and damping to structural analysis, topology optimization and nanoscale simulations. The book responds to a growing need emerging in academia and industry to merge different areas of expertise towards a unified design and analysis of MEMS and NEMS.

This book presents recent advances in the field of computational coupling and contact mechanics with particular emphasis on numerical formulations and methodologies necessary to solve advanced engineering applications.Featuring contributions from leading experts and active researchers in these fields who provide a detailed overview of different modern numerical schemes that can be considered by main numerical methodologies to simulate interaction problems in continuum mechanics.A number of topics are addressed, including formulations based on the finite element method (FEM) and their variants (e.g. isogeometric analysis or standard and generalized high-order FEM: hp-FEM and GFEM, respectively), the boundary element method (BEM), the material point method (MPM) or the recently proposed finite block method (FBM), among many more.Written with PhD students in mind, Advances in Computational Coupling and Contact Mechanics also includes the most recent numerical techniques which could be served as reference material for researchers and practicing engineers. All chapters are self-contained and can be read independently, with numerical formulations accompanied by practical engineering applications.Related Link(s)

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is a relatively new and alternative way of non-destructive inspection (NDI). It is the process of implementing a damage detection and characterization strategy for composite structures. The basis of SHM is the application of permanent fixed sensors on a structure, combined with minimum manual intervention to monitor its structural integrity. These sensors detect changes to the material and/or geometric properties of a structural system, including changes to the boundary conditions and system connectivity, which adversely affect the system's performance.This book's primary focus is on the diagnostics element of SHM, namely damage detection in composite structures. The techniques covered include the use of Piezoelectric transducers for active and passive Ultrasonics guided waves and electromechanical impedance measurements, and fiber optic sensors for strain sensing. It also includes numerical modeling of wave propagation in composite structures. Contributed chapters written by leading researchers in the field describe each of these techniques, making it a key text for researchers and NDI practitioners as well as postgraduate students in a number of specialties including materials, aerospace, mechanical and computational engineering.

This book provides an in-depth treatment of the study of the stability of engineering structures. Contributions from internationally recognized leaders in the field ensure a wide coverage of engineering disciplines in which structural stability is of importance, in particular the experimental, analytical and numerical modelling of structural stability applied to aeronautical, civil and marine structures. This second volume in buckling and postbuckling structures builds on the first, and reports on the development of fast semi-analytical methods for the rapid characterization of postbuckling structures; optimization approaches for the design of stiffened composite panels, and a discourse on imperfection sensitivity. This book will be a particularly useful reference to professional engineers, graduate students and researchers interested in structural stability.

This book provides an in-depth treatment of the study of the stability of engineering structures. Contributions from internationally recognized leaders in the field ensure a wide coverage of engineering disciplines in which structural stability is of importance, in particular the analytical and numerical modelling of structural stability applied to aeronautical, civil, marine and offshore structures. The results from a number of comprehensive experimental test programs are also presented, thus enhancing our understanding of stability phenomena as well as validating the analytical and computational solution schemes presented. A variety of structural materials are investigated with special emphasis on carbon-fibre composites, which are being increasingly utilized in weight-critical structures. Instabilities at the meso- and micro-scales are also discussed. This book will be particularly relevant to professional engineers, graduate students and researchers interested in structural stability./a

Selected, peer reviewed papers from the International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies 2009, (ICMAT 2009), Symposium L, 28 June – 3 July, Singapore

Mathematical Methods and Models in Composites (Second Edition) provides an in-depth treatment of modern and rigorous mathematical methods and models applied to composites modeling on the micro-, meso-, and macro scale. There has been a steady growth in the diversity of such methods and models that are used in the analysis and characterization of composites, their behavior, and their associated phenomena and processes. This second edition expands upon the success of the first edition, and has been substantially revised and updated.Written by well-known experts in different areas of applied mathematics, physics, and composite engineering, this book is mainly focused on continuous fiber reinforced composites and their ever increasing range of applications (for example, in the aerospace industry), though it also covers other kind of composites. The chapters cover a range of topics including, but not limited to: scaling and homogenization procedures in composites, thin plate and wave solutions in anisotropic materials, laminated structures, fiber-reinforced nonlinearly elastic solids, buckling and postbuckling, fracture and damage analysis of composites, and highly efficient methods for simulation of composites manufacturing such as resin transfer molding. The results presented are useful for the design, fabrication, testing and industrial applications of composite components and structures.This book is an essential reference for graduate and doctoral students, as well as researchers in mathematics, physics and composite engineering. Explanations and references in the book are sufficiently detailed so as to provide the necessary background to further investigate the fascinating subject of composites modeling and explore relevant research literature. It is also suitable for non-experts who wish to have an overview of the mathematical methods and models used for composites, and of the open problems in this area that require further research.

This book presents a guided wave-based structural health monitoring (GWSHM) system for aeronautical composite structures. Particular attention is paid to the development of a reliable and reproducible system with the capability to detect and localise barely visible impact damage (BVID) in carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures.TThe authors introduce a novel sensor installation method that offers ease of application and replacement as well as excellent durability. Electromechanical Impedance (EMI) is also explored to assess the durability of the sensor installation methods in simulated aircraft operational conditions including thermal cycles, fatigue loading, and hot-wet conditions.Damage characterisation using GWSHM is described and used to investigate damage in different CFRP structures. Key issues in guided wave-based damage identification are addressed, including wave mode and frequency selection, the influence of dynamic load, the validity of simulated damage, and the sensitivity of guided waves to impact damage in different CFRP materials.The influence of temperature on guided wave propagation in anisotropic CFRP structures is described, and a novel baseline reconstruction approach for temperature compensation is presented. Finally, a multi-level hierarchical approach for the quantification of an ultrasonic GWSHM system is put forth.

This unique volume presents the state of the art in the field of multiscale modeling in solid mechanics, with particular emphasis on computational approaches. For the first time, contributions from both leading experts in the field and younger promising researchers are combined to give a comprehensive description of the recently proposed techniques and the engineering problems tackled using these techniques. The book begins with a detailed introduction to the theories on which different multiscale approaches are based, with regards to linear Homogenisation as well as various nonlinear approaches. It then presents advanced applications of multiscale approaches applied to nonlinear mechanical problems. Finally, the novel topic of materials with self-similar structure is discussed. Sample Chapter(s). Chapter 1: Computational Homogenisation for Non-Linear Heterogeneous Solids (808 KB). Contents: Computational Homogenisation for Non-Linear Heterogeneous Solids (V G Kouznetsova et al.); Two-Scale Asymptotic Homogenisation-Based Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materials (Q-Z Xiao & B L Karihaloo); Multi-Scale Boundary Element Modelling of Material Degradation and Fracture (G K Sfantos & M H Aliabadi); Non-Uniform Transformation Field Analysis: A Reduced Model for Multiscale Non-Linear Problems in Solid Mechanics (J-C Michel & P Suquet); Multiscale Approach for the Thermomechanical Analysis of Hierarchical Structures (M J Lefik et al.); Recent Advances in Masonry Modelling: Micro-Modelling and Homogenisation (P B Louren o); Mechanics of Materials with Self-Similar Hierarchical Microstructure (R C Picu & M A Soare). Readership: Researchers and academics in the field of heterogeneous materials and mechanical engineering; professionals in aeronautical engineering and materials science.