Influence of External Mechanical Stimulus on Response of Linked Structures Made from Lightweight Metals

A progressive increase in interest in the use of linked metal structures has become increasingly evident in the time spanning the last three decades. These structures are gaining increasing attention and use in a spectrum of performance-related applications. This has certainly necessitated the need to study their mechanical response when subject to the influence of an external mechanical stimulus.Use of the finite element approach for purpose of analyzing the deformation response of linked structures when subject to loading, both in the elastic regime and plastic regime, was chosen for purpose of analysis. Simulation of the deformation behavior and/or response of structures containing a network of thin links and thick links were carefully studied. The approach was applied to two light-weight metals.The two light-weight metals chosen were an aluminum alloy and pure copper. For various levels of loading, as fractions of the yield load of the chosen metal, the analysis was computationally conducted using the finite element method.Results were carried out to study the variation of stress with strain under conditions of plane stress. The mechanical response quantified by displacement experienced by the centroidal nodes was recorded and compared using 3-D bar graphs for the chosen five load levels. The load levels chosen represent both the elastic regime and inelastic regime of the stress versus strain response of the chosen metal. This formulation is useful for purpose of studying the mechanical response of linked metal structures under the influence of an external mechanical stimulus.