Numerical investigation of ductile tearing in surface cracked pipes using line-springs

Accurate prediction of crack-driving force equations is important in any pipeline fracture assessment program. In highly ductile materials, such as pipeline steel, a considerable amount of stable crack growth can be tolerated before the failure of the structure. The existing methods use simplified analytical procedures to account for ductile tearing, and they often result in conservative critical crack sizes. Further, none of the published numerical tools for modelling crack growth is suitable for engineering applications. This work describes a simple method for simulating through-thickness ductile tearing in surface cracked pipes, using line-spring finite elements. The crack growth resistance curve is used to advance the crack front. The line-spring results are verified using crack growth simulations employing the Gurson damage model. Finally, a detailed parametric study is carried out to examine the effect of ductile tearing on crack driving force relationships in circumferentially surface cracked pipes. The results demonstrate that considering ductile tearing is important in fracture assessment procedures for pipelines.     

The constitutive representation of high-temperature creep damage

The elastic-viscoplastic constitutive equations of Bodner-Partom were applied to modeling creep damage in a high temperature Ni-alloy, B1900 + Hf. Both tertiary creep in bulk materials and creep crack growth in flawed materials were considered. In the latter case, the energy rate line integral C^* was used for characterizing the crack driving force, and the rate of crack extension was computed using a local damage formulation that assumed fracture was controlled by cavitation occurring within the crack-tip process zone. The results of this investigation were used to assess the evolution equation for isotropic damage utilized in the Bodner-Partom constitutive equations.     

内聚力模型裂纹问题分析的解析奇异单元

内聚力模型已经被广泛应用于需要考虑断裂过程区的裂纹问题当中,然而常用的数值方法应用于分析内聚力模型裂纹问题时还存在着一些不足,比如不能准确的给出断裂过程区的长度、需要网格加密等。为了克服这些缺点,论文构造了一个新型的解析奇异单元,并将之应用于基于内聚力模型的裂纹分析当中。首先将虚拟裂纹表面处的内聚力用拉格拉日插值的方法近似表示为多项式的形式,而多项式表示的内聚力所对应的特解可以被解析地给出。然后利用一个简单的迭代分析,基于内聚力模型的裂纹问题就可以被模拟出来了。最后,给出二个数值算例来证明本文方法的有效性。     

Crack driving force and energy-momentum tensor in electroelastodynamic fracture

The energy flux integral and the energy-momentum tensor for studying the crack driving force in electroelastodynamic fracture are formulated within the framework of the nonlinear theory of coupled electric, thermal and mechanical fields based on fundamental principles of thermodynamics. This formulation lays a foundation for in-depth understanding of the fracture behavior of piezoelectric materials. Remarkably, the dynamic energy release rate thus obtained has an odd dependence on the electric displacement intensity factor for steady-state propagation of a conventional (unelectroded) crack with exact, electrically permeable, semi-permeable, or impermeable crack surface condition, which is in agreement with experimental evidence.     

Thermal response of a partially insulated interface crack in a graded coating-substrate structure under thermo-mechanical disturbance: Energy release and density

Consider the thermal fracture problem of a functionally graded coating-substrate structure of finite thickness with a partially insulated interface crack subjected to thermal-mechanical supply. A new model is proposed that the heat conduction through the crack region occurs and the temperature drop across the crack surfaces is the result of the thermal resistance. For the first time, real fundamental solutions are derived for the fracture analysis of functionally graded materials. The complicated mixed boundary problems of equations of heat conduction and elasticity are converted analytically into singular integral equations, which are solved numerically. The asymptotic expressions with higher order terms for the singular integral kernels are considered to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the numerical integration. Explicit expressions of various failure modes including stress intensity factors, energy release rate and strain energy density, are provided. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the effects of non-homogeneity parameters and the dimensionless thermal resistance on the temperature distribution along the crack surfaces and extended crack line, the thermal stress intensity factors and minimum strain energy density.     

Stress and energy density fields near a blunted crack front in power hardening material

Using Jaumann and Dienes rates of Euler stress in elastic-plastic constitutive equations of finite deformation, plane strain finite element analysis for a compact tension specimen with a blunted crack front is made. The Euler stress, Kirchhoff stress and volume strain energy density near a blunted crack tip are computed. Constitutive relations with different deformation rates affect the the near crack tip solution in a region within an order of magnitude of the crack opening displacement. The results differed from the corresponding solution of deformation plasticity (or nonlinear elasticity) with increasing deformation. They are smaller in a local region of about 2 to 10 times of the crack opening distance.The volume energy density near the crack tip is computed, the stationary values of which determine the locations of extensive yielding and possible sites of crack initiation. It remained nearly constant with increasing deformation. Such a character tends to support the volume energy density criterion as a means for quantifying the ductile fracture behavior of metals.     

表面裂纹准静态扩展的有限元模拟计算

由于现有断裂准则未能考虑表面裂纹前沿各点实际断裂阻力的变化，所作的表面裂纹准静态扩展模拟计算不能很好地预测几何形貌的真实变化规律。本文提出了一个考虑应力状态不同对实际断裂阻力影响的变阻力断裂准则；并以该准则作为表面裂纹前沿局部断裂扩展的判据，通过三维有限元法进行了表面裂纹准静态扩展的模拟计算；还将模拟预测值与用多试件法测得的实验值进行比较，验证了变阻力断裂准则作为裂纹稳态扩展判据的有效性     

Investigation on thermomechanical fracture in the framework of configurational forces

A configurational force approach is developed for providing a fresh look onto classical aspects of thermomechanical fracture. The theoretical framework is based on the finite deformation and makes no restrictions on the material response. The integral form of configurational force balance at the crack tip is constructed, and the concentrated configurational body force is decomposed into the inertial and internal parts. The energy release rate is evaluated through the generalized second law of thermodynamics applicable to configurational force system. The theoretical investigation shows that the negative of the projection of the internal configurational force concentrated at the crack tip along the direction of crack propagation plays the role of the energy release rate and acts directly in response to crack propagation. This finding enables us to deal with the thermomechanical fracture problems in material space.     

Using co-rotational method for cracked frame analysis

A cracked element is formulated using the two-filed Hellinger–Reissner functional. Due to utilization of the linear elastic fracture mechanics, only geometrical nonlinearities can be considered for the cracked element. A clear step-by-step algorithm for the element state determination is also presented. The element flexibility matrix is derived in a basic coordinate system. Co-rotational approach is used to transform the element stiffness matrix and the resisting force vector from the basic system to the global one. The suggested element is applicable for static and dynamic analysis, as well as, the stress intensity factor calculation, and also inverse crack detection. Various numerical problems verify accuracy of the proposed element for linear and nonlinear structural analysis.     

Dynamic fracture instabilities in brittle crystals generated by thermal phonon emission: Experiments and atomistic calculations

Dynamic cleavage fracture experiments of brittle single crystal silicon revealed several length scales of surface and path instabilities: macroscale path selection, mesoscale crack deflection, and nanoscale surface ridges. These phenomena cannot be predicted or explained by any of the continuum mechanics based equations of motion of dynamic cracks, as presumably critical energy dissipation mechanisms are not fully accounted for in the theories. Experimentally measured maximum crack speed, always lower than the theoretical limit, is another phenomenon that is as yet not well understood.We suggest that these phenomena depend on velocity dependent and anisotropic material property that resists crack propagation. The basic approach is that the bond breaking mechanisms during dynamic crack propagation vibrate the atoms at the crack front to generate thermal phonon emission, or heat, which provides additional energy dissipation mechanisms. This energy dissipation mechanism is a material property that resists crack propagation. To evaluate this property, we combined the continuum based elastodynamic Freund equation of motion with molecular dynamics atomistic computer “experiments”.We analyzed the above experimental dynamic fracture instabilities in silicon with the obtained velocity dependent and anisotropic material property and show its importance in cleavage of brittle crystals.     

Propagation of a cleavage crack front across a field of persistent grain boundaries

The nonuniform propagation of a cleavage front across a field of persistent grain boundaries is analyzed. When a cleavage crack advances in a field of grains, some of the grain boundaries cannot be directly broken through, which interrupts the crack growth process. When the crack front bypasses such persistent grain boundaries (PGB), the overall crack growth driving force must be increased so that the local stress intensity can overcome the local fracture resistance. A theoretical model is developed based on the R-curve analysis. A closed-form expression of the critical stress intensity factor is given as a function of the line content of PGB.     

Free torsional vibration of cracked nanobeams incorporating surface energy effects

This paper investigates surface energy effects, including the surface shear modulus, the surface stress, and the surface density, on the free torsional vibration of nanobeams with a circumferential crack and various boundary conditions. To formulate the problem, the surface elasticity theory is used. The cracked nanobeam is modeled by dividing it into two parts connected by a torsional linear spring in which its stiffness is related to the crack severity. Governing equations and corresponding boundary conditions are derived with the aid of Hamilton's principle. Then, natural frequencies are obtained analytically, and the influence of the crack severity and position, the surface energy, the boundary conditions, the mode number, and the dimensions of nanobeam on the free torsional vibration of nanobeams is studied in detail. Results of the present study reveal that the surface energy has completely different effects on the free torsional vibration of cracked nanobeams compared with its effects on the free transverse vibration of cracked nanobeams.     

On magneto-thermo-viscoelastic deformation and fracture

A thermodynamic formulation of magneto-thermo-viscoelastic constitutive and fracture theory is developed, accounting for non-linear, thermal and hysteresis effects. State equations and energy flux integral are obtained in consideration of the Helmholtz free energy including the contribution of the free magnetic field as a functional of the histories of deformation, temperature and magnetic induction in the reference configuration. The rate of energy flow towards the crack front per unit crack advance provides the crack driving force in the presence of magneto-thermo-mechanical coupling and hysteresis, which is evaluated through formation of energy-momentum tensor for steady-state crack propagation. A fracture criterion based on the generalized -integral thus formulated overcomes the difficulty encountered by existing treatments and helps to understand the fracture behavior of both conservative and dissipative materials subject to combined magnetic, thermal and mechanical loadings. Reduction of this formulation to finite magneto-thermo-viscoelasticity is provided with polynomial expansion of the Helmholtz free energy functional.     

Growth of a penny-shaped crack with a nonsmall fracture process zone in a composite

The paper studies the stress rupture behavior of a reinforced viscoelastic composite through which a penny-shaped mode I crack propagates under a constant load. The composite has hexagonal symmetry and consists of elastic isotropic fibers and viscoelastic isotropic matrix. The material is modeled as a transversely isotropic homogeneous viscoelastic medium with effective characteristics. The crack is in the isotropy plane. The ring-shaped fracture process zone at the crack front is modeled by a modified Dugdale zone with time-dependent stresses. The viscoelastic properties of the matrix are characterized using a resolvent integral operator. Use is made of Volterra's principle, the method of operator continued fractions, and the theory of precritical crack growth in viscoelastic bodies. The problem is reduced to nonlinear integral equations. Numerical results are obtained for certain components of the composite, constant volume fractions, and different fracture strengths Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 44, No. 8, pp. 45–51, August 2008.     

Energy release rate and path-independent integral in dynamic fracture of magneto-electro-thermo-elastic solids

The energy release rate and associated energy flux integral in dynamic fracture of magneto-electro-thermo-elastic solids are formulated with the inclusion of multi-field fully coupled effects based on fundamental principles of thermodynamics. The difference between the global and local dynamic contour integrals is caused by unsteady state, mechanical body force, electricity conduction and thermal effect as the closed contour including crack faces is chosen. This formulation successfully captures the crack-tip singularity of coupled fields, offers the right expression for the crack driving force, and resolves the controversial issue on magneto-electro-thermo-elastic fracture criterion. Especially, for steady-state crack propagation in a magneto-electro-elastic solid, the path-independent dynamic contour integral is determined from the asymptotic near-tip field solution based on the Stroh-type formalism and the resulting dynamic energy release rate has an odd dependence on the dynamic magnetic induction intensity factor and the dynamic electric displacement intensity factor.     

线弹簧模型法在含表面裂纹球壳中的应用

本文应用线弹簧模型法,基于Sih.G.C.含二维裂纹球壳理论建立了含表面裂纹球壳的控制方程,采用数值方法选取位移试函数及合理地处理了对偶奇异积分方程使计算大为简化,通过电算实现了计算求解过程,从而获得了球壳表面裂纹前沿各点的应力强度因子之值。 最后将计算结果与考虑“膨胀效应”后的Ncwoun-Raju 解进行了比较,同时研究了曲率因素对表面裂纹线弹性断裂性态的影响。     

Crack initiation and growth in contact problems

The problem of crack initiation and growth in contact problems is studied by the strain energy density theory. This is accomplished by considering each point of the body as a possible source of crack initiation. The direction of crack initiation is determined by calculating the minimum value of the strain energy density function along a circular core area surrounding the point. The crack initiates from the point with the maximum of the local minimum values of the strain energy density function. Considered is a circular disc subjected to two equal and opposite forces and a circular cylindrical body pressed by a cylindrical punch. The stress field for the first case is obtained from the classical elasticity solution, while a finite element code is used for the second case. The locations of fracture initiation and the subsequent fracture trajectories for fast unstable fracture are determined.     

Two dimensional numerical simulation of crack kinking from an interface under dynamic loading by time domain boundary element method

The hybrid time-domain boundary element method, together with the multi-region technique, is applied to simulate the dynamic process of propagation and/or kinking of an interface crack in a two-dimensional bi-material. The whole bi-material is divided into two regions along the interface. The traditional displacement boundary integral equations are employed with respect to each region. However, when the crack kinks into the matrix material, the non-hypersingular traction boundary integral equations are used with respect to the part of the crack in the matrix. Crack propagation along the interface is numerically modelled by releasing the nodes in the front of the moving crack-tip controlled by the fracture criterion. Kinking of the interface crack is controlled by a criterion developed from the quasi-static one. Once the crack kinks into the matrix, its propagation is modeled by adding new elements of constant length to the moving crack-tip controlled by a criterion extended from the quasi-static maximum circumferential stress. The numerical results of the crack growth trajectory for different material combinations are computed and compared with the corresponding experimental results. Good agreement between numerical and experimental results implies that the present boundary element numerical method can provide an excellent simulation for the dynamic propagation and deflection of an interface crack.     

Splitting of coherent precipitates caused by elastic non-equilibrium

During the process of nickel-based superalloys, gamma prime particles often split into doublets, quartets, or octets. It is an interesting instability phenomenon as it defies conventional surface thermodynamics. Particle splitting is examined through the discrete atom method, which is based on the combination of statistical mechanics and linear elasticity. Splitting phenomena may be classified into two: commensurate elastic instability and incommensurate elastic instability. In the former, the elastic anisotropy of a coherent particle is commensurate with that of the matrix phase, and a non-equilibrium elastic state may cause particle splitting provided that relaxation of the elastic strain energy can exceed the accompanying interfacial energy increase. Incommensurate elastic instability arises when the anisotropy ratios of the precipitate and matrix phase have opposite signs, for example, when the elastically soft direction of the matrix is parallel to the hard direction of the particle phase. The strain energy tends to relax along the elastically soft directions of both phases: thus the particle stretches along its own soft directions while yielding its hard directions to the matrix phase. Such a splitting can end up with a symmetry in the arrangement of particles, but requires a condition that the bulk moduli of both matrix and precipitate phase are comparable to each other.     

准晶数学弹性力学和缺陷力学

对准晶数学弹性理论的基本概念和基本框架作了介绍,在此基础上分别针对目前已经发现的几类一维准晶、二维准晶和三维准晶讨论了其数学弹性的理论体系．为了求解准晶弹性的边值问题或初值一边值问题,还必须发展相应的方法论．物理工作者在研究准晶位错弹性问题中发展了Ｇｒｅｅｎ函数方法．针对一维与二维准晶弹性中几类问题提出了分解与叠加程序,这一程序的使用,使极其复杂的准晶弹性问题得到简化,进而引进位移函数或应力函数,把数目。庞大的准晶弹性基本方程化成一个或少数几个高阶偏微分方程,进一步使求解步骤大为简化．对三维立方准晶弹性也采用了类似步骤使求解过程大为简化．在以上化简的基础上,发展了准晶弹性的边值问题或初值一边值问题的复交函数方法和 Ｆｏｕｒｉｅｒ分析方法,求得了一系列准晶位错问题和裂纹问题的分析解（古典解）．在研究准晶弹性的边值问题古典解的同时,也讨论了同这些边值问题相对应的变分问题和广义解（弱解）以及这种弱解的数值方法──有限元法．在物理学家工作基础上开展的这些工作可以看作对经典数学弹性理论和方法、经典Ｖｏｌｔｅｒｒａ位错理论、普通结构材料断裂力学和经典有限元的某些发展．此外,还把一维六方准晶弹性动力学的结果与统计物理的某些