Characterization of the Grain-Level Mechanical Behavior of Eglin Sand by Nanoindentation

Characterization was made on the structure and grain-level mechanical behavior of Eglin sand (Quikrete #1961 sand quarried in Pensacola, FL). The as-received assorted sand was sorted to six grain sizes: 0.60 mm, 0.50 mm, 0.42 mm, 0.30 mm, 0.212 mm, and 0.15 mm. The sand chemical constituents and crystalline structures were determined using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The Young’s modulus and hardness were determined using nanoindentation with a Berkovich tip, and the fracture toughness was measured using a cube-corner tip. The median Young’s modulus, hardness and fracture toughness were determined as 90.4 GPa, 12.8 GPa and 2.32 MPa?m^0.5, respectively. The mechanical properties were analyzed statistically and the parameters of the Weibull distribution were determined. The grains show highly ductile behavior under nanoindentation due to confinement by high pressure induced by Berkovich tip. An inverse problem solving approach using finite element method (FEM) with the consideration of the Ramberg-Osgood model was used to determine the stress–strain relationship for individual sand grains.     

Dynamic mechanical and fracture properties of an infiltrated TiC-1080 steel cermet

The dynamic mechanical and fracture properties of a TiC porous network infiltrated with1080 steel are reported. Following infiltration, the cermet is subjected to various heat treatments that affect essentially the steel matrix. Dynamic compression tests show that the heat treatments increase the fracture strength of the cermet. The quasi-static fracture toughness (K_Ic) is also increased by the heat treatments. The dynamic (initiation) fracture toughness (K_Id) is substantially higher (by about a factor of 3) than its static counterpart. Failure mechanisms consist mainly of cleavage of the TiC and matrix grains, along with minor interfacial decohesion. However, dynamic loading induces substantial damage around the crack tip, consisting essentially of cleavage of TiC grains. Microcrak toughnening is believed to be responsible for the high dynamic toughness of the material. The critical microstructural fracture event is thus identified as the spreading of TiC cleavage microcracks into the neighboring steel grains.     

Effects of static electric field on the fracture behavior of piezoelectric ceramics

The paper gives an overview on experimental observations of the failure behavior of electrically insulating and conducting cracks in piezoelectric ceramics. The experiments include the indentation fracture test, the bending test on smooth samples, and the fracture test on pre-notched (or pre-cracked) compact tension samples. For electrically insulating cracks, the experimental results show a complicated fracture behavior under electrical and mechanical loading. Fracture data are much scattered when a static electric field is applied. A statistically based fracture criterion is required. For electrically conducting cracks, the experimental results demonstrate that static electric fields can fracture poled and depoled lead zirconate titanate ceramics and that the concepts of fracture mechanics can be used to measure the electrical fracture toughness. Furthermore, the electrical fracture toughness is much higher than the mechanical fracture toughness. The highly electrical fracture toughness arises from the greater energy dissipation around the conductive crack tip under purely electric loading, which is impossible under mechanical loading in the brittle ceramics. The project supported by an RGC grant from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China     

MIXED MODES INTERLAMINAR FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF CFRP LAMINATES TOUGHENED WITH CNF INTERLAYER

In the present paper, the influence of carbon nanofiber on interlaminar fracture toughness of CFRP investigated using MMB(Mixed Mode Bending) tests. Vapor grown carbon fiber VGCF and VGCF-S, and multi-walled carbon nanotube MWNT-7 has been employed for the toughener of the interlayer on the CFRP laminates. In order to evaluate the fracture toughness and mixed mode ratio of it, double cantilever beam (DCB) tests, end notched fracture (ENF) tests and mixed mode bending (MMB) tests have been carried out. Boundary element analysis was applied to the CFRP model to compute the interlaminar fracture toughness, where extrapolation method was used to determine the fracture toughness and mixed mode ratio. The interlaminar fracture toughness and mixed mode ratio can be extrapolated by stress distribution in the vicinity of the crack tip of the CFRP laminate. It was found that the interlaminar fracture toughness of the CFRP laminates was improved inserting the interlayer made by carbon nanofiber especially in the region where shear mode deformation is dominant.     

白桦材断裂韧度的各向异性性质

木材可视为正交各向异性材料，表征木材抵抗裂纹扩展能力的断裂韧度硒。是木材的基本力学性质之一，它具有明显的各向异性．对白桦材试样断裂韧度硒。测试结果表明，LT试样的断裂韧度明显高于TL，TR试样的断裂韧度，TL和TR试样的断裂韧度相接近．无论哪种试样类型，起裂均发生在裂纹尖端．TL，TR试样裂纹扩展方向与原裂纹初始方向一致，LT试样与前两不同，裂纹沿着几乎平行于纤维的方向扩展．并且含水率对各个方向木材断裂韧度的影响趋势是一致的．     

A micromechanical model for predicting the fracture toughness of functionally graded foams

In this paper, finite element method based micromechanical analysis is used to understand the fracture behavior of functionally graded foams. The finite element analysis uses a micro-mechanical model in conjunction with a macro-mechanical model in order to relate the stress intensity factor to the stresses in the struts of the foam. The stress intensity factor at the crack tip of the macro-mechanical model can be evaluated using either the J-contour integral or the stresses in the singularity-dominated zone. The fracture toughness is evaluated for various crack positions and length within the functionally graded foam. Then the relationship between the fracture toughness of the graded foam and the local density at the crack tip is studied. Convergence tests for both macro-mechanical and micro-mechanical model analysis were conducted in order to maintain adequate accuracy with reasonable computational time. Fracture toughness of homogenous foams and functionally graded foams for various cases are presented as a function of relative density. This study indicates that the fracture toughness of functionally graded foams mainly depends on the relative density at the crack-tip.     

Analysis methods and size effects in the indentation fracture toughness assessment of very thin oxide coatings on glass

Very thin oxide coatings (<100 nm) which are used as anti-reflection and barrier layers in low emissivity architectural glass have been studied by nanoindentation methods to determine the effect of coating thickness on fracture toughness. Traditional microindentation-derived methods to determine the fracture toughness are unsuitable for assessing very thin coatings (<500 nm) and alternative energy-based models are required depending on what features are visible in indentation load–displacement curves. In cases where radial cracks are formed and grow in a discontinuous manner there are excursions in the load–displacement curve which can be the basis for analysis. In cases where picture frame cracks are observed there are no such features and an alternative approach based on assessment of irreversible work of indentation is required. This paper reviews the methods for obtaining fracture toughness data for very thin coatings and assesses the existence of size effects in the mechanical response of oxide coatings with different thickness on a glass substrate. For oxide coatings in the thickness range 100 to 400 nm no size effects in fracture toughness were observed.     

一种基于SHTB的Ⅱ型动态断裂实验技术

冲击剪切载荷作用下动态断裂韧性的测定是材料力学性能和断裂行为研究中重要组成部分.为了测定材料的Ⅱ型动态断裂韧性,许多学者采用不同的试样与实验方法进行了实验,但限于实验条件,裂纹断裂模式往往是I+Ⅱ复合型,而不是纯Ⅱ型,因而不能准确测得材料的Ⅱ型动态断裂韧性.鉴于此,本文基于分离式霍普金森拉杆(split Hopkinson tension bar,SHTB)实验技术,提出一种改进的紧凑拉伸剪切(modified compact tension shear,MCTS)试样,通过夹具对MCTS试样施加约束,从而保证试样按照纯Ⅱ型模式断裂.采用实验-数值方法对MCTS试样动态加载过程进行分析,将实验测得的波形输入有限元软件ANSYS-LSDYNA,得到了裂纹尖端应力强度因子-时间曲线,并与紧凑拉伸剪切(compact tension shear,CTS)试样进行了对比.同时采用数字图像相关法进行了实验,验证了有限元分析结果.结果表明,MCTS试样在整个加载过程中K_I K_Ⅱ,裂纹没有张开;而CTS试样在同样的加载过程中K_IK_Ⅱ,出现裂纹张开现象.这说明MCTS试样能够准确地测定材料的Ⅱ型动态断裂韧性,为材料动态力学测试提供了一种有效的实验技术.     

Determination of fracture toughness by photoelastic coating

The photoelastic-coating method was applied to the determination of fracture toughness in aluminum plates. The specimens were plates with a central transverse crack. Determinations were made first by the compliance method. The specimens were loaded statically to failure. The opening displacement across the crack was measured with a clip gage. In using this photoelastic-coating method, the stress-intensity factor was obtained in terms of the radius and fringe order of various isochromatic fringe loops using an extrapolation law. An apparent stress-intensity factor was obtained from several isochromatic fringe patterns away from the crack tip and then extrapolated to the crack tip to determine the true value. Results obtained by the photoelastic-coating method are higher than those obtained by the compliance method for all loads, due to the bluntness of the crack tip in the first set of specimens. Theoretical predictions fall between the compliance method and photoelastic-coating results. Paper was presented at V International Congress on Experimental Mechanics held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on June 10–15, 1984.     

金属材料中低加载速率下的动态韧脆转变及断裂韧性测量

金属材料在冲击下的韧脆转变现象和动态断裂韧性的测量是金属材料冲击力学性能研究的重要组成部分.针对金属材料在冲击下的韧脆转变现象认识不足和韧性材料在较低加载率下动态$J$-$R$阻力曲线难以测量的现状,提出了采用高速材料试验机, 设计专用试验夹具,测量15MnTi钢和11MnNiMo钢在不同加载速率下的韧脆转变过程,以及裂尖约束对其动态韧脆转变速率变化的影响.在高速材料试验机上采用上夹具辊刹车,通过调节压缩杆长度改变试验中裂纹扩展量的试验方法,测量了15MnTi钢三点弯曲试样件在较低加载率下的动态断裂韧性.试验发现15MnTi钢CT试验件加载速率低于0.025 m/s时呈现出韧性断裂的特点,加载速率在0.1,$\sim$,0.5 m/s时为韧脆结合型断裂,加载速率高于0.5 m/s后进入脆性断裂区; 11MnNiMo钢CT试验件加载速率大于1.5 m/s后,分层断裂过程中出现先脆断后韧段的现象;发现15MnTi钢和11MnNiMo的动态韧脆转变速率受裂尖约束的影响非常明显,面内约束和面外约束的升高都会导致材料动态脆断速率出现明显降低;还发现三点弯曲试验中, 15MnTi钢在8788 MPa$\cdot$mm/s加载率内断裂韧性随加载率的提升呈现出缓慢下降的趋势.      

Fracture toughness for CNT specimens from numerically obtained critical CTOD values

Many approaches for estimating mode I fracture toughness (K_IC) using circumferentially notched tensile (CNT) specimen have been demonstrated in the literature. In this paper, an effective approach for estimating fracture toughness from the numerical solution of critical crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) is proposed. An elasto-plastic finite element analysis is used to estimate critical CTOD values for CNT specimens. A number of materials are analysed, and the relationship between K_IC and critical CTOD for CNT specimens is obtained. The proposed relationship is validated by comparing the fracture toughness values obtained from the relationship with those obtained experimentally using CNT specimens. The fracture toughness (K_IC) calculated according to this relationship from numerically obtained critical CTOD is found to be in close agreement with the experimentally obtained fracture toughness for the respective materials.     

冲击载荷作用下黑砂岩动态断裂参数的分形修正

基于分形理论研究了偏折裂纹扩展路径对动载荷作用下黑砂岩的动态断裂力学参数的测试误差影响作用,采用传统的分离式霍普金森压杆（split Hopkinson pressure bar, SHPB）实验装置对修正侧开单裂纹半孔板（improved single cleavage semi-circle specimen, ISCSC）试样进行动态冲击实验,随后采用裂纹扩展计进行裂纹起裂时间与裂纹扩展速度等动态断裂力学参数测试,采用分形理论对测试的裂纹扩展速度与动态应力强度因子进行修正,利用实验-数值法对黑砂岩的动态断裂韧度进行计算。研究结果表明,ISCSC构型构件能够有效应用于岩石材料动态裂纹扩展行为的研究,并发生了止裂现象,经分形修正的裂纹扩展速度与动态断裂韧度更接近实际裂纹动态扩展情况,修正前后得到黑砂岩材料的裂纹扩展速度误差为33.51%,动态断裂韧度最大误差为7.68%,说明利用分形理论对动态断裂韧度等动态断裂参数计算更合理。     

Mechanical characterization of sisal reinforced cement mortar

This work aims at evaluating the mechanical behavior of sisal fiber reinforced cement mortar. The composite material was produced from a mixture of sand, cement, and water. Sisal fibers were added to the mixture in different lengths. Mechanical characterization of both the composite and the plain mortar was carried out using three point bend, compression, and impact tests. Specimens containing notches of different root radii were loaded in three point bending in an effort to determine the effect of the fibers on the fracture toughness of the material. The results obtained indicate that, while fiber reinforcement leads to a decrease in compressive strength, J-integral calculations at maximum load for the different notch root radii have indicated, particularly for the case of long fibers, a significant superiority of the reinforced material in comparison with the plain cement mortar, in consistence with the impact test data.     

带微裂纹物体的有效断裂韧性

按照等效介质的思想，引进有效表面能密度的概念，建立了带微裂纹物体有效断裂韧性的公式．具体计算了微裂纹群分别平行和垂直于宏观裂纹两种情况的减韧比．表明微裂纹群在产生应力屏蔽（或反屏蔽）效应的同时，也降低了材料的有效断裂韧性，减小了对宏观裂纹的扩展阻力．     

含中心裂纹梯度纳晶金属的数值模拟

梯度纳晶金属由于其微观组织的梯度分布,力学属性也呈现梯度变化,这使得其表现出不同于传统均匀材料的断裂行为．利用材料力学参数的梯度分布来表征梯度纳晶金属中晶粒尺寸的梯度变化,并编写ABAQUS和MATLAB脚本程序建立分层有限元模型．通过数值模拟计算了含有初始中心裂纹的梯度纳晶金属在受远端均匀拉应力作用下的裂尖J积分,分别研究了屈服应力梯度、裂纹角度和裂纹长度对金属材料断裂韧性的影响,并与传统粗晶进行了对比．结果表明梯度纳米结构的存在导致梯度纳晶金属内部的中心裂纹两端表现出不同的断裂韧性,小晶粒一侧裂尖的抗裂韧性优于大晶粒一侧裂尖,且屈服应力梯度绝对值越大,两者差距越大．梯度纳晶金属的断裂韧性受中心裂纹角度和长度变化的影响与传统粗晶金属基本一致,同时在晶粒尺寸梯度的作用下梯度纳晶的裂尖J积分略低于粗晶,即整体上拥有更好的抗裂韧性．     

加载速率对40Cr钢Ⅱ型动态断裂特性的影响

采用新型Ⅱ型动态断裂测试技术,对高强钢40Cr在高加载速率下的Ⅱ型动态断裂特性进行了测试研究。基于新设计的Ⅱ型动态断裂试样和分离式霍普金森压杆（split Hopkinson pressure bar, SHPB）技术,通过实验-数值方法确定了裂尖在加载过程中的应力强度因子曲线。采用应变片法确定了试样的起裂时间,最终得到40Cr的Ⅱ型动态断裂韧性值,并对其加载速率相关性和材料的失效机理进行了研究。结果表明,在1.08～5.53 TPa·m1/2/s的加载速率范围内,40Cr的Ⅱ型动态断裂韧性基本表现为与加载速率成正相关的变化趋势。通过对试样断口形貌的分析,确定了材料的失效模式及机理,发现随着加载速率的增加,存在拉伸型失效向绝热剪切型失效模式转变的现象。     

基于临界距离点法的混凝土Ⅰ型断裂韧度的预测

混凝土的断裂韧度是极为重要的断裂力学材料参数，本文利用临界距离理论(TCD)中的点法和混凝土标准断裂梁试样裂缝尖端应力场的近似解，提出了一种对混凝土断裂问题按临界距离的点法进行分析的方法．基于已有文献的试验材料及其实验结果，分析了这种断裂研究分析方法的可行性．将临界距离点法与双K断裂准则应用于几何相似的混凝土梁的断裂韧性和断裂过程区分析，验证了TCD点法的可靠性．实验表明：临界距离理论的点法能够获得比双K断裂准则相对安全的失稳断裂韧度，利用临界距离法还可得到相应断裂过程区长度的极限估算值．     

Evaluation Using Digital Image Correlation of Stress Intensity Factors in an Aerospace Panel

The fracture behavior of a crack propagating in a large (4.8 m × 1.4 m) aircraft panel was investigated quantitatively by experiment for the first time using digital image correlation. Mixed mode (I+II) stress intensity factors were evaluated using a methodology, which combined digital image correlation with the multi-point over-deterministic method to fit displacement field equations to the experimental data from around a crack tip. More than 800 images were taken during a 10-minute time period as the fracture of the panel occurred under monotonic loading. It was observed that the crack propagated through the skin of the panel at a relatively low speed, with an average crack tip velocity of 0.014 mm/s, and changed its propagation direction at particular points due to the reinforcement of the structure. In the later stages of the test, substantial shear lips were observed indicating a state of plane stress as would be expected in a thin, wide panel and the size of the plastic zone increased substantially. The value of the mode I stress intensity factor obtained from the measured displacement fields initially increased linearly to around 50 MPa√m (K_Ic = 37 MPa√m) and afterwards non-linearly reaching 300 to 400 MPa√m for crack extensions of the order of 100 mm. It is proposed that these high values of stress intensity factor do not represent an unrealistically high material fracture toughness but rather are indicative of the high resistance to crack growth of the structural assemblage of ribs, stringers and hole reinforcements in the panel which allow the skin to sustain a strain level that would otherwise cause unstable crack growth. Digital image correlation is demonstrated to be particularly powerful in elucidating this structural behavior.     

平面应变下紧凑拉伸试样的动态断裂韧性的实验研究

材料的动态断裂韧性是衡量材料在动载荷作用下抵杭裂纹扩展能力的重要指标,以往的材料动态断裂韧性测试多采用三点弯曲试样,而针对紧凑拉伸试样的动态断裂韧性研究很少.本文将紧凑拉伸试样(即CT试样)简化成等效弹簧质量模型,得到了CT试样动态应力强度因子的近似表达式.对Hopkinson压杆装置进行了改进,利用改进后的实验装置进...