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The purpose of this paper is the numerical assessment of concrete behaviour close to failure, via the development of robust elastoplastic models inclusive of damage effects. If mesoscale investigations are to be considered, the model must take into account the local confinement effects because of the presence of aggregate inclusions in the cement paste and, correspondingly, the possibility to account for local 3D stress states even under uniaxial compression. Additionally, to enhance the predictive capabilities of a mesoscale representation, the reconstructed geometry must accurately follow the real one.

The work provides a procedure that combines a 3D digital image technique with finite element (FE) modelling thus maintaining the original 3D morphology of the composite.

The potentialities of the proposed approach are discussed, giving new insights to a FE modelling (FEM)-based approach applied together with a computer-aided design. Coupled mechanisms of mechanical mismatch and confinement, characterizing the combined cement matrix-aggregates effect, are captured and highlighted via the numerical tests.

The novelty of this research work lies in the proposal of a digitally based methodology for a precise concrete reconstruction together with the adoption of an upgraded elastic–plastic damage model for the cement paste.

The purpose of this paper is to show how to find the regions of dynamic instability of a beam axially loaded and visco‐elastically constrained at its ends by Kelvin‐Voigt translational and rotational units variously arranged according to different configurations, by using the equation of boundary frequencies.

With respect to visco‐elasticity the time variable is present as a parameter so that the above‐mentioned exact approach is exploited to draw three‐dimensional diagrams of the dynamic component of the periodic load and its frequency, varying with time and with the viscosity parameter μ characterizing the restraints.

For not rigidly constrained configurations a peculiar asymptotic tendency is recognizable in both cases.

The study allows for identifying the influence of visco‐elastic restraints in the response of a beam under a dynamic axial load. Dynamic excitation occurs in several fields of mechanics: dynamic loads are encountered in structural systems subjected to seismic action, aircraft structures under the load of a turbulent flow and industrial machines whose components transmit time‐dependant forces.

Visco‐elasticity accounts for possible vibration control solutions planned to improve the dynamic response of the rod; they can consist of layers of visco‐elastic material within the body of the modelled element or local viscous instruments affecting the boundary conditions; the latter is the application this paper focuses on.

With this paper a calculation procedure to get an exact solution for particular static configurations of the beam is followed in order to define the influence of visco‐elastic restraints under a dynamic axial load; the responses are given in terms of boundary frequencies domains and are supposed to be useful to learn the behaviour in time and in dependence of the intrinsic viscosity of the restraints.

The aim of this paper is to obtain an extensive experimental characterization of a DC magnetron sputtering device used for plasma processing of materials.

Models and measurements are combined for an interdisciplinary characterization of a DC magnetron sputtering device. Langmuir probes are used for the plasma characterization; the magnetic field is measured by using Hall probes and the data are used to validate a magnetostatic three‐dimensional numerical analysis of the device; precision mechanical measurements are done for the target erosion profile and the results are related to a simple estimation formula; a simple model is proposed for the target heating.

Data on magnetic and electric fields, electron temperature and density, plasma potential and target erosion are provided. An estimation of the target heating is proposed. Finally, an application concerning thin film deposition is reported.

Measurement of the target surface temperature for the validation of the proposed target heating estimation has not been done.

In the field of the electromagnetic processing of materials, the reported extensive device characterization is a valuable set of information for an optimized utilization of DC magnetron sputtering devices.