AIMS The aim of our study was to assess the two-dimensional carotid strain as an index of arterial stiffness in a population of patients without carotid atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS AND RESULTS Two-dimensional carotid strain, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), stiffness index (β), Peterson's elastic modulus, and distensibility coefficient were evaluated in 47 patients. For all patient...

Experimental reports suggest that cartilage damage depends on strain magnitude. Additionally, because of its poro-viscoelastic nature, strain magnitude in cartilage can depend on strain rate. The present study explores whether cartilage damage may develop dependent on strain rate, even when the presented damage numerical model is strain-dependent but not strain-rate-dependent. So far no experim...

In traditional finite element based modal analysis of linear non-conservative structures, the modal shapes are determined solely based on stiffness and mass. Damping effects are included by implicitly assuming that the damping matrix can be diagonalized by the undamped modes. The approach gives real valued mode shapes and modal coordinates. While this framework is suitable for analysis of most ...

THE MECHANICAL behavior of brittle matrix composites is strongly affected by the bridging of cracks by fibers. In random fiber composites, libers can lie at an angle to the crack plane. Under such conditions, the bridging stress for a certain crack opening is governed by various micromcchanisms including fiber debonding, fiber bending and rupture as well as matrix spailing. While fiber debondin...

In this study, the buckling and free vibration of Timoshenko beams resting on variable elastic foundation analyzed by means of a new finite element formulation. The Winkler model has been applied for elastic foundation. A two-node element with four degrees of freedom is suggested for finite element formulation. Displacement and rotational fields are approximated by cubic and quadratic polynomia...

linear dynamic response of simply supported nanobeams subjected to a variable axial force is assessed by galerkin numerical approach. constitutive behavior is described by three functional forms of elastic energy densities enclosing nonlocal and strain gradient effects and their combination. linear stationary dynamics of nanobeams is modulated by an axial force which controls the global stiffne...

In inclined U-notches, the mixed mode (I + II) loading occurs and the mode ratio can be increased by varying the notch angle. In this paper, the effect of the inclined U-notch geometry, i.e. the notch depth, the notch angle, the notch root radius, and the position of the notch with respect to supports, on the mode ratio (KII/KI) have been studied. Three-point bending and plane strain condition ...

In this study, nonlinear vibration of a composite cable is investigated by considering nonlinear stress-strain relations. The composite cable is composed of an aluminum wire as reinforcement and a rubber coating as matrix. The nonlinear governing equations of motion are derived about to an initial curve and based on the fundamentals of continuum mechanics and the nonlinear Green-Lagrangian stra...

In this paper, full scale load test of a horizontally curved steel box-girder bridge is carried out in order to detect structural defects, which reportedly result in unwanted vibrations in nearby buildings. The bridge is tested under the passage of six heavy vehicles at different speeds, so as to determine its static and dynamic responses. A total number of one hundred and two (102) sensors are...