Title: Characterisation of pattern formation in constrained multiblock assembly subjected to horizontal harmonic excitation

Authors: Nenad Bićanić; Jean-Francois Camenen; Nina Čeh; Tomasz Koziara

Addresses: Deceased; formerly of: Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 3, Rijeka, Croatia ' Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 3, Rijeka, Croatia ' Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 3, Rijeka, Croatia ' Rullion Engineering Ltd., Masovian District, Wolomin County, Poland

Abstract: Pattern formation for a constrained one-dimensional assembly comprising a number of blocks undergoing external harmonic excitation of the basin boundary is investigated. The importance of the relationship between the excitation amplitude and the basin size which leads to repeatable response patterns of the single and multiple blocks is established, considering in addition the role of the energy dissipation due to inter block collisions and collisions with the moving boundary. Experimental results for the four- and eight-block assembly control problems, exposed to a range of amplitudes and frequencies, are included and compared with the two sets of computational simulation frameworks, the explicit discrete element method and the non-smooth contact dynamics. In the characterisation of the dynamic sensitivity response of the multiblock assemblies, several attributes and indices (kinetic energy index, block assembly mass centroid and mass inertia index, presented through time histories and phase planes) are extracted from both the experimental and computational simulation results and successfully compared.

Keywords: multiblock collisions; multiblock systems; vibration patterns; blocky media; pattern formation; constrained multiblock assembly; horizontal harmonic excitation; basin boundary; energy dissipation; block assembly control; simulation; discrete element method; DEM; non-smooth contact dynamics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2016.081271

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2016 Vol.1 No.4, pp.375 - 397

Received: 11 Jan 2016
Accepted: 01 Jul 2016
Published online: 01 Jan 2017 *

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