Dynamics of Pseudo-Rigid Bodies

Research in the dynamics of coarsely deformable continua, such as pseudo-rigid bodies, is driven by the need to develop inexpensive, yet sufficiently accurate models of particulates that may undergo ``long'' motions involving boundary interaction (i.e., contact). Representative applications include the flow of rocks, sands, and aggregates, the dynamics of traffic accidents involving platoons of vehicles, etc.

Current specific interests include: analysis of higher-order pseudo-rigid bodies incorporating inhomogeneous deformation modes; simulation of systems involving o(10^6) deformable particles; investigation of the chaotic dynamic of elastic pseudo-rigid bodies under impact loading.

The following animation depicts the impact between two non-linearly elastic pseudo-rigid bodies which, in their reference configuration, have the shape of identical superellipsoids:


(Internet Explorer or Netscape users, please click above image to view animation.)

Related Publications:

  • P. Papadopoulos. ``On a Class of Higher-order Pseudo-rigid Bodies'', Math. Mech. Sol., 6, pp. 631-640, (2001).

  • J.M. Solberg and P. Papadopoulos. ``Impact of an Elastic Pseudo-rigid Body on a Rigid Foundation'', Int. J. Engrg. Sci., 38, pp. 589-603, (2000).

  • P.C. Varadi, G.-J. Lo, O.M. O'Reilly and P. Papadopoulos. ``A Novel Approach to Vehicle Dynamics using the Theory of a Cosserat Point and its Application to Collision Analyses of Platooning Vehicles'', Veh. Sys. Dyn., 32, pp. 85-108, (1999).

  • J.M. Solberg and P. Papadopoulos. ``A Simple Finite Element-based Framework for the Analysis of Elastic Pseudo-rigid Bodies'', Int. J. Num. Meth. Engrg., 45, pp. 1297-1314, (1999).