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The paper discusses the possibility of modeling the strength anisotropy of layered elastic medium using a scalar damage parameter. Thermodynamically consistent constitutive equations are formulated. Using SIMULIA / Abaqus we numerically simulated the stretching and compression of the samples. The results of calculation using the proposed model are compared with the known experimental data from the literature and the predictions of traditional models.

Corrosion damage to metals and alloys is one of the main problems of strength and durability of metal structures and products operated in contact with chemically aggressive environments. Recently, there has been a growing interest in computer modeling of the evolution of corrosion damage, especially pitting corrosion, for a deeper understanding of the corrosion process, its impact on the morphology, physical and chemical properties of the surface and mechanical strength of the material. This is mainly due to the complexity of analytical and high cost of experimental in situ studies of real corrosion processes. However, the computing power of modern computers allows you to calculate corrosion with high accuracy only on relatively small areas of the surface. Therefore, the development of new mathematical models that allow calculating large areas for predicting the evolution of corrosion damage to metals is currently an urgent problem.

In this paper, the evolution of the corrosion front in the interaction of a polycrystalline metal surface with a liquid aggressive medium was studied using a computer model based on a cellular automat. A distinctive feature of the model is the specification of the solid body structure in the form of Voronoi polygons used for modeling polycrystalline alloys. Corrosion destruction was performed by setting the probability function of the transition between cells of the cellular automaton. It was taken into account that the corrosion strength of the grains varies due to crystallographic anisotropy. It is shown that this leads to the formation of a rough phase boundary during the corrosion process. Reducing the concentration of active particles in a solution of an aggressive medium during a chemical reaction leads to corrosion attenuation in a finite number of calculation iterations. It is established that the final morphology of the phase boundary has a fractal structure with a dimension of 1.323 ± 0.002 close to the dimension of the gradient percolation front, which is in good agreement with the fractal dimension of the etching front of a polycrystalline aluminum-magnesium alloy AlMg6 with a concentrated solution of hydrochloric acid. It is shown that corrosion of a polycrystalline metal in a liquid aggressive medium is a new example of a topochemical process, the kinetics of which is described by the Kolmogorov–Johnson– Meil–Avrami theory.

In this paper we propose a mathematical model of cancer tumour occurrence in a quasi twodimensional epithelial tissue. Basic model of the epithelium growth describes the appearance of intensive movement and growth of tissue when it is damaged. The model includes the effects of division of cells and intercalation. It is assumed that the movement of cells is caused by the wave of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), which in turn activated by the chemo-mechanical signal propagating along tissue due to its local damage. In this paper it is assumed that cancer cells arise from local failure of spatial synchronization of circadian rhythms. The study of the evolutionary dynamics of the model could determine the chemo-physical properties of a tumour, and spatial relationship between the occurrence of cancer cells and development of the entire tissue parameters coordinating its evolution through the exchange of chemical and mechanical signals.

The article deals with the development of a methodological approach to forecasting and modeling the socioeconomic consequences of viral epidemics in conditions of heterogeneous economic development of territorial systems. The relevance of the research stems from the need for rapid mechanisms of public management and stabilization of adverse epidemiological situation, taking into account the spatial heterogeneity of the spread of COVID-19, accompanied by a concentration of infection in large metropolitan areas and territories with high economic activity. The aim of the work is to substantiate a methodology to assess the spatial heterogeneity of the spread of coronavirus infection, find poles of its growth, emerging spatial clusters and zones of their influence with the assessment of inter-territorial relationships, as well as simulate the effects of worsening epidemiological situation on the dynamics of economic development of regional systems. The peculiarity of the developed approach is the spatial clustering of regional systems by the level of COVID-19 incidence, conducted using global and local spatial autocorrelation indices, various spatial weight matrices, and L.Anselin mutual influence matrix based on the statistical information of the Russian Federal State Statistics Service. The study revealed a spatial cluster characterized by high levels of infection with COVID-19 with a strong zone of influence and stable interregional relationships with surrounding regions, as well as formed growth poles which are potential poles of further spread of coronavirus infection. Regression analysis using panel data not only confirmed the impact of COVID-19 incidence on the average number of employees in enterprises, the level of average monthly nominal wages, but also allowed to form a model for scenario prediction of the consequences of the spread of coronavirus infection. The results of this study can be used to form mechanisms to contain the coronavirus infection and stabilize socio-economic at macroeconomic and regional level and restore the economy of territorial systems, depending on the depth of the spread of infection and the level of economic damage caused.

Industrial robots have made it possible for robotics to become a worldwide discipline both in economy and in science. However, their capabilities are limited, especially regarding contact tasks where it is required to regulate or at least limit contact forces. At one point, it was noticed that elasticity in the joint transmission, which was treated as a drawback previously, is actually helpful in this regard. This observation led to the introduction of elastic joint robots that are well-suited to contact tasks and cooperative behavior in particular, so they become more and more widespread nowadays. Many researchers try to implement such devices not with trivial series elastic actuators (SEA) but with more sophisticated variable stiffness actuators (VSA) that can regulate their own mechanical stiffness. All elastic actuators demonstrate shock robustness and safe interaction with external objects to some extent, but when stiffness may be varied, it provides additional benefits, e. g., in terms of energy efficiency and task adaptability. Here, we present a novel variable stiffness actuator with a magnetic coupler as an elastic element. Magnetic transmission is contactless and thus advantageous in terms of robustness to misalignment. In addition, the friction model of the transmission becomes less complex. It also has milder stiffness characteristic than typical mechanical nonlinear springs, moreover, the stiffness curve has a maximum after which it descends. Therefore, when this maximum torque is achieved, the coupler slips, and a new pair of poles defines the equilibrium position. As a result, the risk of damage is smaller for this design solution. The design of the joint is thoroughly described, along with its mathematical model. Finally, the control system is also proposed, and simulation tests confirm the design ideas.

A new method for calculating the initiation and development of narrow local damage zones in specimens and structural elements subjected to various modes cyclic loadings is proposed based on multi regime two criteria model of fatigue fracture. Such narrow zones of damage can be considered as quasi-cracks of two different types, corresponding to the mechanism of normal crack opening and shear.

Numerical simulations that are aimed to reproduce the left and right branches of the full fatigue curves for specimens made from titanium and aluminum alloy and to verify the model. These branches were constructed based on tests results obtained under various modes and cyclic loading schemes. Examples of modeling the development of quasi-cracks for two types (normal opening and shear) under different cyclic loading modes for a plate with a hole as a stress concentrator are given. Under a complex stress state in the proposed multi regime model, a natural implementation of any considered mechanisms for the quasi-cracks development is possible. Quasi-cracks of different types can develop in different parts of the specimen, including simultaneously.

Hemostatic system serves the organism for urgent repairs of damaged blood vessel walls. Its main components – platelets, the smallest blood cells, – are constantly contained in blood and quickly adhere to the site of injury. Platelet migration across blood flow and their hit with the wall are governed by blood flow conditions and, in particular, by the physical presence of other blood cells – erythrocytes. In this review we consider the main regularities of this influence, available mathematical models of platelet migration across blood flow and adhesion based on "convection-diffusion" PDEs, and discuss recent advances in this field. Understanding of the mechanisms of these processes is necessary for building of adequate mathematical models of hemostatic system functioning in blood flow in normal and pathological conditions.