A method of detecting honeycombing damage in a reinforced concrete beam using the finite element model updating technique was proposed. A control beam and two finite element model srepresenting different severity of damage were constructed using available software and the defect parameters were updated. Analyses were performed on the finite element models to approximate the modal parameters. A datum and a control finite element model to match the datum test beams with honeycombs were prepared. Results from the finite element model were corrected by updating the Young’s modulus and the damage parameters. There was a loss of stiffness of 3% for one case, and a loss of 7% for another. The more severe the damage, the higher the loss of stiffness. There was no significant loss of stiffness by doubling the volume of the honeycombs.
This paper presents the results of a dynamic response evaluation of a segmental bridge during two construction stages: before connecting the final segment of the bridge and after connecting the final segment of the bridge but prior to opening the bridge to traffic. The vibration signals obtained from Ambient Vibration Testing (AVT) campaigns were processed in order to obtain the modal parameters of the bridge during the two construction stages. Modal parameters experimentally obtained for the first stage were compared with those obtained from Finite Element (FE) models considering different construction loads scenarios. Finally, modal parameters experimentally obtained for the second stage were used to update its corresponding FE model considering two scenarios, before and after the installation of the asphalt pavement. The results presented in this paper demonstrated that a rigorous construction control is needed in order to effectively calibrate FE models during the construction process of segmental bridges.
In the flexible road pavement design a mechanistic model of a multilayered half-space with linear elastic or viscoelastic layers is usually used for the pavement analysis.
This paper describes a domain selection for the purpose of a FE model creating of the linear elastic layered half-space and boundary conditions on borders of that domain. This FE model should guarantee that the key components of displacements, stresses and strains obtained using ABAQUS program would be in particular identical with those ones obtained by analytical method using VEROAD program.
It to achieve matching results with both methods is relatively easy for stresses and strains. However, for displacements, using FEM to obtain correct results is (understandably) highly problematic due to infinity of half-space. This paper proposes an original method of overcoming these difficulties.
The paper presents an FE model of coupled electromagnetic and thermal phenomena in Line Start Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors (LSPMSMs). An algorithm for solving equations of a discrete model using the FEM has been presented. On the basis of this algorithm the author’s personally developed software for the analysis of coupled electromagnetic-thermal phenomena in the LSPMS motors was elaborated. This software was used to analyze the start-up process of motors with identical stator and rotor magnetic circuits and different materials of the starting cage. The start-up process of motors with the squirrel-cage made of aluminum and copper was considered. The influence of temperature on the start-up process has been taken into account. The results of simulation tests were compared with the results of measurements.
The paper presents research on the development of a line-start synchronous reluctance motor (LSSynRM) and line-start permanent magnet synchronous motor (LSPMSM) based on components of a mass-produced three-phase low-power squirrel cage induction motor (IM). The aim of the research was to modify the squirrel cage rotor structure for which the best functional parameters characterizing the steady state of the LSSynRM and LSPMSM were obtained, while meeting the additional requirements for asynchronous start-up. Field-circuit models of the LSSynRM and LSPMSM have been developed in the professional finite element method (FEM) package, MagNet, and applied in the design and optimization calculations of the considered machines. Experimental testing on the designed LSSynRM and LSPMSM prototypes were carried out. The obtained results were compared with the performance of the reference IM. The conclusions resulting from the comparative analysis of these three motors are given and proposals for further work are discussed.