Confined masonry (CM) construction is being increasingly adopted for its cost-effectiveness and simplicity, particularly in seismic zones. Despite its known benefits, limited research exists on how the stiffness of confining elements influences the in-plane behavior of CM. This study conducted a comprehensive parametric analysis using experimentally validated numerical models of single-wythe, squat CM wall panels under quasi-static reverse cyclic loading. Various cross-sections and reinforcement ratios were examined to assess the impact of the confining element stiffness on the deformation response, the cracking mechanism, and the hysteretic behavior. The key findings included the observation of symmetrical hysteresis in experimental CM panels under cyclic loading, with a peak lateral strength of 114.3 kN and 108.5 kN in push-and-pull load cycles against 1.7% and 1.3% drift indexes, respectively. A finite element (FE) model was developed based on a simplified micro-modeling approach, demonstrating a maximum discrepancy of 2.6% in the peak lateral load strength and 5.4% in the initial stiffness compared to the experimental results. The parametric study revealed significant improvements in the initial stiffness and seismic strength with increased depth and reinforcement in the confining elements. For instance, a 35% increase in the lateral strength was observed when the depth of the confining columns was augmented from 150 mm to 300 mm. Similarly, increasing the steel reinforcement percentage from 0.17% to 0.78% resulted in a 16.5% enhancement in the seismic strength. These findings highlight the critical role of the stiffness of confining elements in enhancing the seismic performance of CM walls. This study provides valuable design insights for optimizing CM construction in seismic-prone areas, particularly regarding the effects of confining element dimensions and reinforcement ratios on the structural resilience.

Exploring high strength materials with a higher concentration of reinforcements in the alloy proves to be a challenging task. This research has explored magnesium-based composites (AZ31B alloy) with tungsten carbide reinforcements, enhancing strength for medical joint replacements via league championship optimisation. The primary objective is to enhance medical joint replacement biomaterials employing magnesium-based composites, emphasising the AZ31B alloy with tungsten carbide reinforcements. The stir casting method is utilised in the manufacture of magnesium matrix composites (MMCs), including varied percentages of tungsten carbide (WC). The mechanical characteristics, such as micro-hardness, tensile strength, and yield strength, have been assessed and compared with computational simulations. The wear studies have been carried out to analyse the tribological behaviour of the composites. Additionally, this study investigates the prediction of stress and the distribution of forces inside bone and joint structures, therefore offering significant contributions to the field of biomedical research. This research contemplates the use of magnesium-based MMCs for the discovery of biomaterials suitable for medical joint replacement. The study focuses on the magnesium alloy AZ31B, with particles ranging in size from 40 to 60 microns used as the matrix material. Moreover, the outcomes have revealed that when combined with MMCs based on AZ31B-magnesium matrix, the WC particle emerges as highly effective reinforcements for the fabrication of lightweight, high-strength biomedical composites. This study uses the league championship optimisation (LCO) approach to identify critical variables impacting the synthesis of Mg MMCs from an AZ31B-based magnesium alloy. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images are meticulously analysed to depict the dispersion of WC particulates and the interface among the magnesium (Mg) matrix and WC reinforcement. The SEM analysis has explored the mechanisms underlying particle pull-out, the characteristics of inter-particle zones, and the influence of the AZ31B matrix on the enhancement of the mechanical characteristics of the composites. The application of finite element analysis (FEA) is being used in order to make predictions regarding the distribution of stress and the interactions of forces within the model of the hip joint. This study has compared the physico-mechanical and tribological characteristics of WC to distinct combinations of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%, and its impact on the performance improvements. SEM analysis has confirmed the findings\' improved strength and hardness, particularly when 10%-15% of WC was incorporated. Following the incorporation of 10% of WC particles within Mg-alloy matrix, the outcomes of the study has exhibited enhanced strength and hardness, which furthermore has been evident by utilising SEM analysis. Using ANSYS, structural deformation and stress levels are predicted, along with strength characteristics such as additional hardness of 71 HRC, tensile strength of 140-150 MPa, and yield strength closer to 100-110 MPa. The simulations yield significant insights into the behaviour of the joint under various loading conditions, thus enhancing the study\'s significance in biomedical environments.

Numerical simulations have gained increasing importance in civil engineering in the recent past. The potential for research on the one hand and for practical application on the other hand is great. EN 1993-1-14 was developed to support users in the generation of numerical models, to provide security in the procedure and to achieve comparable results across the board. The accompanying publication of application examples is of extraordinary assistance. The data set presented in this article was also used to generate the benchmark examples No. 5 of Technical Report EN/TR 1993-1-141:2023 (E)_v2023-06 on EN 1993-1-14. Based on the data, the procedure for validating a numerical model on experimental component tests can be reproduced using a series of tests on cold-formed, C-shaped columns in axial compression. In this article, the measured imperfections of the test specimens and the recorded measured values during the test are first discussed in detail. The corresponding data are provided. Subsequently, the numerical models are provided and described as input files in the program language ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). The entire data set can be used as an aid to generate numerical models according to the specifications of EN 1993-1-14.

This paper presents an innovative approach to the design optimization of valved holding chambers (VHCs), crucial devices for aerosol drug delivery. We present the design of an optimal cylindrical VHC body and introduce a novel valve based on particle impaction theory. The research combines computational simulations and physical experiments to assess the performance of various VHCs, with a special focus on the deposition patterns of medication particles within these devices. The methodology incorporates both experimental and simulation approaches to validate the reliability of the simulation. Emphasis is placed on the deposition patterns observed on the VHC walls and the classification of fine and large particles for salbutamol sulfate particles. The study reveals the superior efficacy of our valve design in separating particles compared to commercially available VHCs. In standard conditions, our valve design allows over 95% of particles under 7 μm to pass through while effectively filtering those larger than 8 μm. The optimized body design accomplishes a 60% particle mass flow fraction at the outlet and an average particle size reduction of 58.5%. When compared numerically in terms of size reduction, the optimal design outperforms the two commercially available VHCs selected. This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of VHC design, offering significant potential for improved aerosol drug delivery. Our findings demonstrate a new path forward for future studies, aiming to further optimize the design and performance of VHCs for enhanced pulmonary drug delivery.

Millions of people worldwide live with corneal opacity, which continues to be one of the leading causes of blindness. Corneal opacity is treatable. However, the surgical methods for treating this condition, such as corneal transplantation and keratoprosthesis, have many complications. The use of an intraocular projector is a promising approach to treat corneal blindness. Like any device using electrical power, an intraocular projection device produces heat, which could potentially damage eye tissue. Australian and international standards state that there cannot be an increase of temperature of 2 °C caused by an implanted device. In order to determine if these standards are met, a 2D axisymmetric thermal analysis of the projector in the human eye is conducted in ANSYS Workbench. With the projector operating at its maximum wattage, our analysis shows that an air gap extension within the projector will help maintain the temperature increase below 2 °C.

Steel-concrete continuous composite beams are widely used in buildings and bridges and have many economic benefits. Slip has always existed in composite beams and will reduce the stiffness of composite beams. The effect of creep under a long-term load will also be harmful. Many scholars ignore the combined effects of slip and creep. In order to more accurately study the mechanical properties of steel-concrete continuous composite beams under long-term loads, this paper will consider the combined actions of slip and creep. By combining the elastic theory and the age-adjusted effective modulus method, the differential equation of the composite beam is derived via the energy variational method. The analytical solutions of axial force, deflection and slip under a uniform load are obtained by substituting the relevant boundary conditions. The creep equation is used to simulate the behavior of concrete with time in ANSYS. The analytical solution is verified by establishing a finite element model of continuous composite beams considering slip and creep. The results suggest the following: the analytical solution is consistent with the finite element simulation results, which verifies the correctness of the analytical solution. Considering the slip and creep effects will increase the deflection of the composite beam and the bending moment of the steel beam, reduce the bending moment of the concrete slab and have a significant impact on the structural performance of the continuous composite beam. The research results considering the coupling effect of slip and creep on continuous composite beams can provide a theoretical basis for related problems.

The article concerns the application of the FEM method for the prediction of stress and deformation states in a workpiece during the thread rolling process (TR). The analysis covered a new kinematic variant of the TR process in which the basket of the head rotates and is torque-driven, while the workpiece is stationary and the head with the rollers moves axially relative to the workpiece. The TR process was considered as a geometrical and physical non-linear initial and boundary problem with non-linear, moving, and variable in time and space boundary conditions. The boundary conditions in the contact areas of the tool with the workpiece were unknown. An updated Lagrange (UL) description was used to describe the physical phenomena at a typical incremental step. The states of strain and strain rate were described by non-linear relationships without linearization. New discrete systems of motion and deformation equations of the object in the TR were introduced, which take into account the change in the stiffness of the system during the TR process. This equation was solved by the central differences method (explicit). The material parameters were estimated during tensile tests to determine the characteristics of the C45 steel, and a new semi-empirical method was used to determine the relationship yield stress, effective true strain, and effective true strain rate in the thread rolling process. A modified Cowper-Symonds material model was also used to model the displacement process of the wedge on an elastic/visco-plastic body reflecting the TR process. A non-linear dependency of material hardening module depending on strain and strain rate was introduced. To confirm the plane state of deformation and spatial state of stress, an experimental investigation was carried out. The computer models were validated, and a good convergence of the results was obtained. Applications in the ANSYS/LS-Dyna program were developed to simulate the TR process. The developed applications enable a comprehensive time analysis of the states of displacement, strain, and stress occurring in an object consisting of a workpiece (shaft) and a tool (roller) for the case of a plane strain state and a spatial stress state. Exemplary results of numerical analyzes are presented to explain the influence of the friction coefficient on the condition of the thread quality, and the state of deformations and stresses were shown.

Wood is a cellulosic material that is most abundantly available in nature. Wood has been extensively used as reinforcement in polymer composite materials. Wood polymer composite (WPC) is an environmentally friendly and sustainable material exploited in building and construction within the marine, packaging, housewares, aerospace, and automotive industries. However, the precision of testing equipment for finding the properties of WPCs becomes less feasible compared to experimental analysis due to a high degree of differences in the measurement of properties such as stress, strain and deformation. Thus, evaluating the mechanical properties of WPCs using finite element analysis (FEA) can aid in overcoming the inadequacies in measuring physical properties prior to experimental analyses. Furthermore, the prediction of mechanical properties using simulation tools has evolved to analyze novel material performance under various conditions. The current study aimed to examine the mechanical properties of saw dust-reinforced recycled polypropylene (rPP) through experimentation and FEA. A model was developed using SolidWorks, and simulation was performed in ANSYS to predict the mechanical properties of the WPCs. To validate the obtained results, the simulated static tension test results were confirmed with experimental tension tests, and both assessments were well in accordance with each other. Using FEA to predict material properties could be a cost-effective technique in studying new materials under varied load conditions.

Recently, there has been growing interest in using lightwave-driven scanning probe microscopy (LD-SPM) to break through the Abbe diffraction limit of focusing, yielding insight into various energy couplings and conversion processes and revealing the internal information of matter. We describe a compact and efficient optical cryostat designed for LD-SPM testing under magnetic fields. The exceptional multilayer radiation shielding insert (MRSI) forms an excellent temperature gradient when filled with heat conducting gas, which removes the requirement to install an optical window in the liquid helium cooling shell. This not only critically avoids the vibration and thermal drift caused by solid heat conduction but also minimizes light transmission loss. The application of gate valves and bellows allows a simpler and more effective replacement of the sample and working cell in the test cavity. ANSYS software is used for steady-state thermal analysis of the MRSI to obtain the temperature distribution and heat transfer rate, and the necessity of the flexible copper shielding strips is illustrated by the simulations. The topography and magnetic domain images of 45 nm-thick La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 thin films on NdGaO3(001) substrates under a magnetic field were obtained by a self-made lightwave-driven magnetic force microscope in this cryostat. The resolution and noise spectra during imaging reveal temperature stability and low vibration throughout the cryostat. The experience acquired during the development of this cryostat will help to establish cryostats of similar types for a variety of optic applications requiring the use of cryogenic temperatures.

Sophisticated muscle material models are required to perform detailed finite element simulations of soft tissue; however, state-of-the-art muscle models are not among the built-in materials in popular commercial finite element software packages. Implementing user-defined muscle material models is challenging for two reasons: deriving the tangent modulus tensor for a material with a complex strain energy function is tedious and programing the algorithm to compute it is error-prone. These challenges hinder widespread use of such models in software that employs implicit, nonlinear, Newton-type finite element methods. We implement a muscle material model in Ansys using an approximation of the tangent modulus, which simplifies its derivation and implementation. Three test models were constructed by revolving a rectangle (RR), a right trapezoid (RTR), and a generic obtuse trapezoid (RTO) around the muscle\'s centerline. A displacement was applied to one end of each muscle, holding the other end fixed. The results were validated against analogous simulations in FEBio, which uses the same muscle model but with the exact tangent modulus. Overall, good agreement was found between our Ansys and FEBio simulations, though some noticeable discrepancies were observed. For the elements along the muscle\'s centerline, the root-mean-square-percentage error in the Von Mises stress was 0.00%, 3.03%, and 6.75% for the RR, RTR, and RTO models, respectively; similar errors in longitudinal strain were observed. We provide our Ansys implementation so that others can reproduce and extend our results.