Combined mode-I and mode-II fracture of ceramics with crack-face grain and/or whisker bridging

Crack-face grain and/or whisker bridging in ceramics was investigated under combined mode-I and mode-II loading. A novel technique for analysing the stress shielding at the crack tip caused by the bridging was proposed, in which the critical values of the local mode-I and mode-II stress intensity factors were numerically derived from an azimuthal angle at the onset of noncoplanar crack extension using the mixed-mode failure criteria. The wedging effect, which induced local mode-I crack opening at the tip, was identified under the combined-mode loading on polycrystalline alumina as well as an alumina matrix composite reinforced with silicon carbide whiskers. The effect was accelerated with the increase in the mode-II component of nominally applied loading and the decrease in the bridging zone length. It was also found that the stress shielding due to the whisker bridging was not only effective for mode-I but also for mode-II crack opening.     

Optical method of caustics applied in viscoelastic fracture analysis

The optical method of caustics is developed here to study the fracture of viscoelastic materials. By adopting a distribution of viscoelastic stress fields near the crack tip, the method of caustics is used to determine the viscoelastic fracture parameters from the caustic patterns near the crack tip. Two viscoelastic materials are studied. These are PMMA and ternary composites of HDPE/POE-g-MA/CaCO₃. The transmitted and reflective methods of caustics are performed separately to investigate viscoelastic fracture behaviors. The stress intensity factors (SIFs) versus time is determined by a series of shadow spot patterns combined with viscoelastic parameters evaluated by creep tests. In order to understand the viscoelastic fracture mechanisms of HDPE/POE-g-MA/CaCO₃ composites, their fracture surfaces are observed by a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results indicate that the method of caustics can be used to characterize the fracture behaviors of viscoelastic materials and further to optimize the design of polymer composites.     

Dynamic caustics and its applications

For the study of elastodynamic problems of propagating cracks it is necessary to evaluate the dynamic stress intensity factor K^d_I which depends on the form of expressions for the stress components existing at the running crack tip at any instant of the propagation of the crack and the corresponding dynamic mechanical and optical properties of the material of the specimen under identical loading conditions. In this paper the distortion of the form of the corresponding reflected caustic from the lateral faces of a dynamically loaded transparent and optically inert specimen containing a transverse crack running under constant velocity was studied on the basis of complex potential elasticity theory and the influence of this form on the value of the dynamic stress intensity factor was given. The method was applied to the study of a propagating Mode I crack in a PMMA specimen under various propagation velocities and the corresponding dynamic stress intensity factor K^d_I evaluated. Also, crack propagation behaviour of notched composites in dynamic loading modes are reviewed and evaluated. A relatively large data base using metal-epoxy particulates, rubber-toughened poly(methyl methacrylate), and Sandwich plates are given. In all cases, a combination of high-speed photography and the optical method of dynamic caustics has been used. Results on the dynamic crack propagation mode, fracture toughness and crack propagation velocities of several rubber-modified composite models are presented. The composite models studied include specimens with one and/or two ‘complex’ two-stage inclusions, i.e. PMMA round inclusions surrounded by concentric rubber rings, one and/or press-fifting inclusions without rubber interface, all under dynamic loading. In all cases both qualitative and quantitative results were obtained. Also, results on crack propagation mode, crack propagation velocity, stress intensity factors and on the influence of the sandwich phases on crack propagation mode are presented.     

The influence of singular field dominance on the caustic methods

The caustic method as applied to fracture mechanics for measuring the stress intensity factor, contains several approximations which limit its applicability and accuracy. The accuracy of the caustic method for the determination of the stress intensity factor is based on the restriction that the K-dominant singular field is fully established at which the experimental data are taken. In this paper, we attempt to identify the regions in which experimental measurements by caustic methods can be performed with confidence. The reliability of the method of caustics applied to the static problem and the case of a stationary crack subjected to dynamic loading are investigated in detail. The results demonstrate that significant deviation can occur in the determination of the stress intensity factor from shadow spot measurements. Conclusions regarding the method of caustics in the determination of the stress intensity factor are extracted from these results.     

Mixed mode I/II fracture investigation of Perspex based on the averaged strain energy density criterion

In this work, some recent mixed mode I/II fracture toughness results obtained from Perspex (or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)) with four simple cracked specimens subjected to the conventional three-point bend loading are reanalysed based on local energy concept. Although all the mentioned samples have been tested under the same and similar mode mixities, different fracture toughness envelopes were obtained for mixed mode I/II fracture of PMMA. The averaged strain energy density (SED) criterion has been applied in the past for different types of notched specimens (including U, V, O and keyhole notches). It is shown that the mixed mode tensile-in plane shear fracture toughness data obtained from the semicircular and triangular crack type specimens are successfully predicted for sharp cracked PMMA samples using the SED criterion.     

Direct observation and image-based simulation of three-dimensional tortuous crack evolution inside opaque materials

We present a combined novel methodology to study the three-dimensional complex geometry of a tortuous crack and identify the essential features of the crack and its propagation inside a heterogeneous material. We find that some severe damage events occur unexpectedly below a local mode-I crack within the sample; we realize that the severe plastic zone of the local mode-I crack is shifted down by another unseen crack segment hidden behind, which is responsible for the unusual damage phenomenon observed. We also find that the crack grows fast at some locations but slowly at some other locations along the crack front; we recognize that the crack-tip fields are reduced by neighboring hidden crack segments, which accounts for the retarded propagation of some part of the crack front. The feasibility and power of the proposed methodology highlights the potential of a new way to study fracture mechanisms in real materials.     

Caustics method in dynamic fracture problem of orthotropic materials

Caustics method is a powerful optical technique in fracture mechanics because of its high sensitivity to stress gradients. In this paper, it is applied to resolve dynamic fracture problems in orthotropic composites. Considering most orthotropic materials are opaque, reflective caustics method is derived here by combining the fundamental principle of caustics method with the mechanical properties of orthotropic materials. Meanwhile, corresponding experiments are carried out for typical glass fiber-reinforced composites, where mode I and mixed-mode fracture states are taken into account. By recording and analyzing shadow spot patterns during the crack propagation process carefully, crack onset time, dynamic fracture toughness and crack growth velocity of orthotropic composite are determined. These results will be useful to evaluate the dynamic fracture properties of composites and further to optimize their designs.     

An experimental investigation of dynamic crack propagation in a brittle material reinforced with a ductile layer

The fracture behavior of a dynamically loaded edge crack in a brittle-ductile layered material, as a function of applied loading rate, was experimentally investigated. Layered specimens were prepared by sandwiching a thin layer of ductile aluminum between two thick layers of brittle Homalite-100. The layers were bonded using Loctite Depend 330 adhesive, and a naturally sharp edge crack was introduced in one of the Homalite-100 layers. These single-edge notched specimens were loaded in dynamic three-point bending using a modified Hopkinson bar. The fracture process was imaged in real time using dynamic photoelasticity in conjunction with digital high-speed photography, and the applied load and load-point displacement histories were determined from the strain signals recorded at two locations on the Hopkinson bar. The results of this study indicated two distinct mechanisms of dynamic failure, depending on the applied loading rate. At lower loading rates, the starter crack arrested on reaching the aluminum layer and then caused delamination along the aluminum–Homalite interface. On the contrary, as the loading rate was increased, interfacial delamination was followed by crack re-initiation in the Homalite layer opposite to the initial starter crack. It was determined that the times required for crack initiation, delamination and crack re-initiation decreased as the loading rate was increased. However, it was also observed that the applied load values associated with each event increased with increasing loading rate. These observations indicate that both the dynamic failure process and plausibly the failure mode transition are affected by the rate-dependent properties of Homalite, aluminum and the interfacial bond. Finally, based on the measured peak loads and the observed failure mechanisms it was concluded that the incorporation of a thin ductile reinforcement layer can increase both the overall fracture toughness and strength of a nominally brittle material.     

STICK-SLIP TYPE CRACK GROWTH DURING INSTRUMENTED HIGH-SPEED IMPACT OF HDPE AND HDPE/SELAR® DISCONTINUOUS LAMINAR MICROLAYER COMPOSITES

Stick-slip type crack growth was triggered in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE/Selar® discontinuous laminar microlayer composites by instrumented Charpy impact under suitable test conditions (temperature ?40°C, hammer speed 3.7 m/s). Fractographic analysis showed that crazing is responsible for this peculiar fracture. The onset of this stick-slip phenomenon was favored by a mixed plane strain/plane stress condition prevailing in the specimens. The relative orientation of the Selar microlayers in respect to the crack growth direction affected the stick-slip type crack growth and the related failure considerably. No stick-slip type crack propagation was observed when gasoline-plasticized specimens were impacted, which failed by ductile tearing instead of crazing.     

Soda lime玻璃材料中失效波形成和传播研究

 为了研究冲击载荷作用下Soda lime玻璃材料中失效波的形成和传播,通过轻气炮加载平板撞击实验,采用双螺旋锰铜压阻传感器,在一发实验中同时测量4种不同厚度试件背面与有机玻璃背板间界面处的纵向应力时程曲线,根据测量结果得到试件中失效波的传播轨迹。通过改变碰撞速度,对不同加载条件下的失效波形成和传播规律进行了研究,结果表明,Soda lime玻璃材料在冲击作用下产生失效波所需的延迟时间随冲击载荷的增加而减小,失效波传播速度随冲击载荷的增加而增加。最后采用弹性微裂纹统计模型描述冲击载荷作用下Soda lime玻璃的破坏机制,并将模型嵌入LS-DYNA有限元程序中,模拟试件在不同加载条件下的平板碰撞,所得横向应力和自由面粒子速度曲线均可用于表征失效波破坏现象。根据数值模拟结果分析失效波的传播轨迹,与实验测量结果符合较好。     

Effects of loading condition on very-high-cycle fatigue behaviour and dominant variable analysis

The specimens of a high carbon chromium steel were quenched and tempered at 150°C,180°C and 300°C.Such specimens were tested via rotating bending and a push-pull type of axial loading to investigate the influences of loading condition on the behaviour of very-high-cycle fatigue(VHCF).Experimental results show the different influences of inclusion size on the fatigue life for the two loading conditions.Predominant factors and mechanism for the fine-granular-area(FGA)of crack origin were discussed.In addition,a reliability analysis based on a modified Tanaka-Mura model was carried out to evaluate the sensitivity of inclusion size,stress,and KFGA to the life of VHCF crack initiation.     

The elastic field of general-shape 3-D cracks

We extend here the Bilby-Eshelby approach of 2-D crack representation with dislocation pileups to treat 3-dimensional cracks of general geometry. Cracks of any specified external bounding 3-D contour under general loading conditions are represented by sets of parametric Somigliana loops that satisfy total (interaction, self, and external) force equilibrium. Loop positions are solved by using a time integration scheme till equilibrium is achieved. The local Burgers vector is suitably adjusted to be proportional to the local applied surface traction on the crack. The developed method is computationally advantageous, since accurate crack stress fields are obtained with very few concentric parametric loops that adjust to the external crack shape and the local force conditions. The method is tested against known elasticity solutions for 3-D cracks and found to be convergent with an increase in the number of pileup dislocation loops. The method is applied to the determination of the stress field around a 3-D Griffith crack under general loading and a grain boundary crack before and after branching.     

Solution of nonlinear strain and fracture problems for materials in complex stress states

Using the Pisarenko-Lebedev criterion, equations of ultimate failure strain under complex static and low-cycle loading were derived and were given experimental grounds for different types of biaxial loads. Experimental and calculation data are presented on the use of a generalized equivalence condition to solve problems of crack mechanics for complex stress states. Models and methods of determination of the crack direction, path, velocity and growth time under mixed biaxial loading are considered.     

Caustics,pseudocaustics and the related illuminated and dark regions with the computational method of quantifier elimination

The method of caustics is a powerful experimental method in elasticity and particularly in fracture mechanics for crack problems. The related method of pseudocaustics is also of interest. Here we apply the computational method of quantifier elimination implemented in the computer algebra system Mathematica in order to determine (i) the non-parametric equation and two properties of the caustic at a crack tip and especially (ii) the illuminated and the dark regions related to caustics and pseudocaustics in plane elasticity and plate problems. The present computations concern: (i) The derivation of the non-parametric equation of the classical caustic about a crack tip through the elimination of the parameter involved (here the polar angle) as well as two geometrical properties of this caustic. (ii) The derivation of the inequalities defining the illuminated region on the screen in the problem of an elastic half-plane loaded normally by a concentrated load with the boundary of this illuminated region related to some extent to the caustic formed. (iii) Similarly for the problem of a clamped circular plate under a uniform loading with respect to the caustic and the pseudocaustic formed. (iv) Analogously for the problem of an equilateral triangular plate loaded by uniformly distributed moments along its whole boundary, which defines the related pseudocaustic. (v) The determination of quantities of interest in mechanics from the obtained caustics or pseudocaustics. The kind of computations in the applications (ii) to (iv), i.e. the derivation of inequalities defining the illuminated region on the screen, seems to be completely new independently of the use here of the method of quantifier elimination. Additional applications are also possible, but some of them require the expansion of the present somewhat limited power of the quantifier elimination algorithms in Mathematica. This is expected to take place in the future.     

The optical method of caustics

An overview of the basic principles of the optical method of caustics for the determination of stress intensity factors in crack problems is presented. The method is based on the assumption that the state of stress in the neighborhood of the crack tip is plane stress. However, the state of stress changes from plane strain very close to the tip to plane stress at a critical distance from the tip through an intermediate region where the stress field is three-dimensional. The caustic is the image of the so-called initial curve on the specimen and, therefore, depends on the state of stress along the initial curve. For the determination of stress intensity factors the values of the stress-optical constants are needed. These values depend strongly on the state of stress being plane stress, plane strain or three-dimensional. This complicated the experimental determination of stress intensity factors. For the characterization of the state of affairs near the crack tip a phenomenological triaxiality factor is introduced. A methodology based on the use of optically birefringent materials is developed for the determination of stress intensity factors without paying attention to the location of the initial curve in the plane stress, plane strain or three-dimensional region. Finally, a comparison of the methods of photoelasticity and caustics takes place, and the potentialities and limitations of both methods for the solution of crack problems are explored.     

On the application of the optical method of caustics to the investigation of transient elastodynamic crack problems: Limitations of the classical interpretation

Several possible sources of inaccuracy that occur in the classical interpretation of caustics patterns generated during transient crack growth in elastic materials are examined using a ‘Bifocal Caustics’ set-up and a new full field optical technique called ‘Coherent Gradient Sensing’. During unsteady dynamic crack growth, strict K^d_I-dominance is generally absent, especially at times close to crack initiation and arrest, even in regions outside the crack-tip 3-D zone where plane stress conditions persist. In such cases a truly transient higher order expansion is found to be essential for correctly describing stress fields outside the 3-D zone.     

NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION OF HORIZONTAL CRACK DETECTION IN BEAMS USING TRANSVERSE IMPACT

Numerical and experimental studies for crack detection in beam employing transverse impact are presented. In the numerical study, a beam model of wave propagation is developed to calculate the time history of beam response before, over and after the crack region. It is expected that the resulting wave in the beam will be scattered by the crack and will carry information on the location and geometry of the crack. Experiments using a scanning laser vibrometer on specimens containing simulated crack are then conducted to verify the numerical results. Comparison study between the numerical results and experimental observations are conducted; good correlation between theory and experiment is observed. The beam model of wave propagation and adaptive multilayer perceptron networks (MLP) are then used for inverse identification of crack parameters (i.e., crack location, depth and length) in the beams. Time-domain displacement responses calculated using the present beam model containing predetermined crack parameters are used as training data for the MLP. Once the MLP is trained, the MLP networks are then employed for inverse determination of an unknown crack in a beam using experimental displacement responses measured with a scanning laser vibrometer. Examples show that the procedure performs well for the determination of a wide range of values for the location, depth and length of the crack.     

Multiaxial Fatigue Crack Orientation and Early Growth Investigation Considering the Nonproportional Loading

The paper presents a comprehensive investigation of fatigue cracking behaviors under various nonproportional multiaxial cycle loading paths based on the critical plane approach. The maximum normal and shear stress/strain fields are presented to analyze the crack orientation and early growth directions in polar diagrams. The experimental observed crack paths and directions were compared with maximum strain loci of each angle to determine multiaxial fatigue failure mode. The results show that crack orientation and growth paths appear in the maximum shear and normal strain plane, respectively. Likelihood cracking regions of various loading paths are predicted according the determined failure mode. Besides, nonproportionality factor is introduced to characterize the degree of multiaxiality on these loading paths.     

Shear wave caustics and the shadows of surface breaking cracks

A refinement to the detection of defects in rods and pipes by means of their ultrasonic shadows is presented. It has been previously shown that in standard non-destructive test configurations ultrasonic waves inside cylindrical test objects form caustics, surfaces of high sound intensity. Here it is demonstrated that when a crack edge crosses a caustic the diffraction of sound around the defect is enhanced, which allows the point at which this intersection occurs to be detected. Because the caustic is a well-defined geometric entity the position of the crack edge is now known. This effect presents a novel method of sizing defects that extend in from the surface. Experiments were performed in water immersion using 5 MHz sound. The test specimens were 76 mm diameter aluminium cylinders into which slots were cut to act as artificial defects.     

An investigation of cracking in brittle solids under dynamic compression using photoelasticity

Crack initiation in brittle materials was experimentally studied using photoelasticity under dynamic loading conditions with particular attention to the frictional characteristics of the microcracks. Two pieces of Homalite-100 were bonded except central region to prepare plate specimens with an inclined center crack. An edge of the specimen was impacted with and without lateral confinement. In situ photoelastic (isochromatic) fringes were obtained using a high-speed camera. Initial direction and profile of wing crack was the same as in static loading tests. Effect of crack surface roughness and lateral confinement on fringe pattern is discussed. Average speed of wing crack propagation was about 100 m/s and wing cracks from a crack with higher friction coefficient propagated faster than from a smooth crack.