An interacting micro-crack damage model for failure of brittle materials under compression

A model is developed for brittle failure under compressive loading with an explicit accounting of micro-crack interactions. The model incorporates a pre-existing flaw distribution in the material. The macroscopic inelastic deformation is assumed to be due to the nucleation and growth of tensile “wing” micro-cracks associated with frictional sliding on these flaws. Interactions among the cracks are modeled by means of a crack-matrix-effective-medium approach in which each crack experiences a stress field different from that acting on isolated cracks. This yields an effective stress intensity factor at the crack tips which is utilized in the formulation of the crack growth dynamics. Load-induced damage in the material is defined in terms of a scalar crack density parameter, the evolution of which is a function of the existing flaw distribution and the crack growth dynamics. This methodology is applied for the case of uniaxial compression under constant strain rate loading. The model provides a natural prediction of a peak stress (defined as the compressive strength of the material) and also of a transition strain rate, beyond which the compressive strength increases dramatically with the imposed strain rate. The influences of the crack growth dynamics, the initial flaw distribution, and the imposed strain rate on the constitutive response and the damage evolution are studied. It is shown that different characteristics of the flaw distribution are dominant at different imposed strain rates: at low rates the spread of the distribution is critical, while at high strain rates the total flaw density is critical.     

Modeling dynamic brittle behavior of materials with circular flaws or pores

Compressive failure of brittle materials is driven primarily by crack growth from pre-existing flaws in the material. These flaws, such as grain boundaries, pores, preexisting cracks, inclusions and missing grains, are randomly spaced and have a range of possible shapes and sizes. The current work proposes a micromechanics-based model for compressive dynamic failure of brittle materials with circular pore flaws, which incorporates both the number density and the size distribution of flaws. Results show that the distribution of flaw sizes is very important, particularly at moderate strain rate, since analyses based solely on the mean flaw size overpredict strength. Therefore, in order to increase dynamic strength at low to moderate strain rates, it is most effective to control the presence of large flaws. At very high strain rates, however, crack growth is activated even in small flaws and therefore controlling the total number density rather than the size of the flaws is effective for increasing dynamic strength. Finally, the model shows that neglecting very small flaws in the pore population may not have significant effects on the results in many cases, suggesting that the model is a useful tool for identifying a minimum resolution required for experimental characterization of microstructure.     

Predicting variability in the dynamic failure strength of brittle materials considering pre-existing flaws

We perform two-dimensional dynamic fracture simulations of a specimen in biaxial tension, incorporating various distributions of pre-existing microcracks. The simulations consider the spatial distribution of flaws while modeling the discrete failure processes of crack interactions and coalescence, and predict the macroscopic variability in failure strength. The model quantitatively predicts the effect (on the dynamic failure strength) of different shapes of the flaw size distribution function, the random spatial distribution of flaws, and the random local resistance to crack growth (i.e. strength) associated with each flaw. The effect of changing material volumes on the variability in failure strengths is also examined in relation to the flaw size distribution. The effect of loading rate on the variability in failure strengths is presented in a form that will enable improved constitutive modeling using non-local formulations at the continuum scale.     

Statistical characterization of meso-scale uniaxial compressive strength in brittle materials with randomly occurring flaws

Increasingly fine spatial resolution in numerical models of brittle materials promises to improve prediction and characterization of dynamic failure in these materials. However, as the resolution of these numerical models begins to approach the material micro-scale, the associated discretization requires a definitive connection to the microstructure. In many cases a numerical model (e.g., a finite element mesh) that explicitly resolves each flaw within the material is not feasible for macro-scale analyses. As an alternative, each element can be treated as a meso-scale continuum with constitutive properties that reflect the characteristics of the underlying microstructure. Small scale elements will exhibit random variations in the constitutive properties as a result of the random variations in the number and types of flaws and the flaw sizes contained within each element. The present paper proposes a technique for assigning probability distributions to these element properties, which can be thought of as the meso-scale constitutive properties. In particular, the strain-rate dependent compressive uniaxial strength of a ceramic is modeled using a two-dimensional analytical model developed by Paliwal and Ramesh (2008). The effect on the probability distribution of meso-scale (or element-level) strength from flaw density, flaw size distribution, flaw clustering, and strain rate are studied. Higher strain rates, more flaw clustering, and decreasing element size all contribute to greater scatter in uniaxial compressive strength. Variations in flaw size increase the scatter in the strength more for low strain rate loadings and less clustered microstructures. The results provide interesting comparisons to the classical assumption of a two-parameter Weibull-distributed strength, showing that a three-parameter Weibull distribution and even a lognormal distribution fit better with the simulated strength data.     

Numerical study of failure behaviour of pre-cracked rock specimens under conventional triaxial compression

Macroscopic pre-existing flaws play an important role in evaluating the strength and the failure modes of a heterogeneous rock mass. Crack initiation, propagation and coalescence from macroscopic pre-existing flaws are considered in a 3-D numerical model (RFPA3D) to investigate their effects on the underlying failure modes of rock. A feature of the code RFPA3D is that it can numerically simulate the evolution of cracks in three-dimensional space, as well as the heterogeneity of the rock mass. Three types of flaw geometries were evaluated numerically against experimental results: Type A for intact specimen, and Types B and C for flawed cylindrical specimens with different macroscopic pre-existing flaws, respectively. The effect of confining pressure on the fracture evolution was also considered. Numerical results showed that both the ligament angle and the flaw angle of two pre-existing cracks can affect the uniaxial compressive strength of the specimen and the mechanism of fracture evolution. In addition, both the uniaxial compressive strength and the accumulated acoustic emission increase with increasing heterogeneity.     

冲击下混凝土试样应变率效应和惯性效应探讨

结合混凝土试件的真三轴静载冲击实验结果,分别运用考虑应变率效应的Holmquist-Johnson-Cook (HJC)模型和考虑静水压效应的Drucker-Prager (DP)模型进行数值分析,以探讨研究混凝土试样应变率效应和惯性效应的方法。在探究混凝土的应变率效应和横向惯性效应的关系时,使用HJC模型的数值模拟结果来拟合DP准则的各个参数。结果表明:随着应变率的升高,混凝土的强度会提高,并且这种强度的提高,也有一部分原因是第一应力不变量I₁的增大所导致的。因此,混凝土试件的应变率效应和横向惯性约束具有较强的耦合作用。理论和数值分析了冲击下试样内部的横向应力分布特征与应变率、静水压和试样尺寸的关系,结果发现:试样内部横向应力的幅值随着应变率、静水压的升高而增大,但随着试样尺寸的增大而减小。为了探讨横向惯性带来的强度提升效果,提出了一个有关冲击方向最大应力σ_x和等效应力σ_e的参数ξ,且ξ=(σ_x?σ_e)/σ_x。此参数具有尺寸效应、应变率效应和静水压效应,但是此参数与应力三轴度的关系表现出应变率无关特性,可为应变率效应的研究提供新的思路。     

Strain rate intensity factors for a plastic mass flow between two conical surfaces

The concept of strain rate intensity factor was introduced in [1], where the asymptotic expansion of the velocity field in a perfectly rigid-plastic material was obtained near the maximum friction surface, which is determined by the condition that the specific friction forces on this surface are equal to the simple shear yield strength. In particular, it was shown in this paper that near the maximum friction surface the equivalent strain rate (the second invariant of the strain rate tensor) tends to infinity inversely proportional to the square root of the distance to this surface. We note that the same result was obtained in the case of plane flow in [2]. The strain rate intensity factor is defined to be the coefficient of the leading singular number in the series expansion of the equivalent strain rate near the maximum friction surface. It was shown in [3] that there is a sufficiently complete formal analogy between the strain rate intensity factor and the stress intensity factor in mechanics of cracks [4]. In [5], it was suggested to use the concept of strain rate intensity factor to estimate the thickness of the layer near the friction surface where one should take into account viscosity effects. (Thus, this is an intensive strain layer formed as a result of a very large equivalent strain rate.) Therefore, the problem of calculating the strain rate intensity factor in specific processes is topical in the development of the general concept based on the use of the strain rate intensity factor and its applications in the theory of metal forming processes. These factors have already been calculated for several processes such as plane upsetting and drawing [3]. In the present paper, we calculate the distribution of the strain rate intensity factor in a plastic mass flow through an infinite converging channel formed by two conical surfaces on which the law of maximum friction acts (Fig. 1). A specific characteristic of this problem is the existence of two maximum friction surfaces and, accordingly, two distributions of the strain rate intensity factor. Since, according to the theory [5], the strain rate intensity factor is related to the thickness of the intensive strain layer near the friction surface, the solution of this problem may serve as a starting point for experimental confirmations of the theory. Note that the intensive strain layer thickness can be determined experimentally without any difficulties [6, 7] and the flow in an infinite channel of the shape under study can successfully model the tube drawing process [8].     

Equations and a fast algorithm for determining the probability of failure initiated by flaws

Powerful equations and an efficient algorithm are proposed for determining the probability of failure of loaded components with complex shape, containing multiple types of flaws. The equations are based on the concept ‘conditional individual probability of initiating failure’ characterising a single flaw given that it is in the stressed component. The proposed models relate in a simple fashion the conditional individual probability of failure characterising a single flaw (estimated by a Monte Carlo simulation) to the probability of failure characterising a population of flaws. The derived equations constitutes the core of a new statistical theory of failure initiated by flaws in the material, with important applications in optimising designs by decreasing their vulnerability to failure initiated by flaws during overloading or fatigue cycling.Methods have also been developed for specifying the maximum acceptable level of the flaw number density and the maximum size of the stressed volume which guarantee that the probability of failure initiated by flaws remains below a maximum acceptable level. An important parameter referred to as ‘detrimental factor’ is also introduced. Components with identical geometry and material, with the same detrimental factors are characterised by the same probability of failure. It is argued that eliminating flaws from the material should concentrate on types of flaws characterised by large detrimental factors.The equations proposed avoid conservative predictions resulting from equating the probability of failure initiated by a flaw in a stressed region with the probability of existence of the flaw in that region.     

等径通道挤压过程三维有限元模拟

利用三维有限元模型对等径通道挤压过程中变形分布的不均匀性进行了模拟,通过对不同摩擦系数下截面等效塑性应变分布比较发现:沿三个方向截面上的变形分布都不是均匀的,这说明二维有限元模型不能真实模拟等径通道挤压过程中试样中的变形分布。此外,摩擦对等效塑性应变分布及挤压力的影响较大,截面变形不均匀参数和最大等效塑性应变出现的位置随摩擦系数的增大而变化。压力-位移曲线的变化可以结合试样的变形过程来解释。     

Multi-scale defect interactions in high-rate brittle material failure. Part I: Model formulation and application to ALON

Within this two part series we develop a new material model for ceramic protection materials to provide an interface between microstructural parameters and bulk continuum behavior to provide guidance for materials design activities. Part I of this series focuses on the model formulation that captures the strength variability and strain rate sensitivity of brittle materials and presents a statistical approach to assigning the local flaw distribution within a specimen. The material model incorporates a Mie–Grüneisen equation of state, micromechanics based damage growth, granular flow and dilatation of the highly damaged material, and pore compaction for the porosity introduced by granular flow. To provide initial qualitative validation and illustrate the usefulness of the model, we use the model to investigate Edge on Impact experiments (Strassburger, 2004) on Aluminum Oxynitride (AlON), and discuss the interactions of multiple mechanisms during such an impact event. Part II of this series is focused on additional qualitative validation and using the model to suggest material design directions for boron carbide.     

塑料SHPB实验中的端面摩擦效应

基于H.Meng的动摩擦实验结果,建立了一个端面动摩擦模型,以描述端面动摩擦因数随SHPB 塑料试样与钢压杆接触界面间最大径向相对滑动速度的关系。在SHPB实验的数值模拟中,分别考虑了该 端面动摩擦模型和以往被广泛采用的常摩擦因数模型,结果发现,选取不同的端面摩擦模型不影响通过塑料 SHPB实验的数值模拟获得的转折应变率(量级为102s-1),然而当应变率超出转折应变率以上时,不同的端 面摩擦模型会对塑料SHPB实验的数值模拟结果产生显著影响,使用提出的端面动摩擦模型可得到更准确 的塑料SHPB实验的数值模拟结果。     

预制缺陷对花岗岩层裂破坏的影响

利用50 mm杆径的霍普金森压杆装置对完整和预制缺陷花岗岩试样进行层裂破坏实验,并采用高速摄像仪记录了试件层裂破坏的全过程。通过理论分析,计算了半正弦波加载情况下完整杆可能的初始层裂位置。高速摄影结果显示,预制缺陷对初始层裂位置具有一定影响,层裂一般发生在预制缺陷处。结合PFC2D（particle flow code in two dimensions）数值模拟进一步发现,初始层裂位置受到预制缺陷和反射拉伸波上升沿的影响,反射拉伸波上升沿越长,初始层裂越可能发生在预制缺陷处,反射拉伸波上升沿越短,初始层裂位置发生在预制缺陷处的可能性则相对越小。     

斜冲击界面动力学研究

讨论了界面受到斜冲击时的动力学问题。有效冲击摩擦系数被处理成冲击过程及初始冲击角的函数 ;界面的法向响应描述计及弹性接触、弹性变形极限以及依赖于应变、应变率及温度的完全塑性接触 ;界面在冲击过程中的构形变化也予考虑 ,并采用平均应变、应变率及最大温升的概念与估算。这种新的斜冲击界面动力学模型用于数值模拟刚性球对于延性靶的斜冲击实验 ,计算与实验比较 ,结果是令人满意的。     

Loading rate and confining pressure effect on dilatancy,acoustic emission,and failure characteristics of fissured rock with two pre-existing flaws

Investigating the dilatancy, acoustic emission and failure characteristics of fissured rock are significant to ensure their geotechnical stability. In this paper, the uniaxial and triaxial compression experiments with AE monitoring under different loading rates were carried out on fissured rock specimens with the same geometrical distribution of two pre-existing flaws. The dilatancy and AE activity of these specimens were discussed, and the effects of the confining pressure and loading rate on the mechanical parameters and failure characteristics were analyzed. The results show that the exponential strength criterion is more suitable than the Mohr–Coulomb strength criterion to characterize the strength characteristics of fissured rock. The crack evolution and failure characteristics of fissured rock specimens are more complicated than those of intact rock specimens. The failure characteristics of the fissured rock follow the tensile shear coalescence model, crack branching occurs with increasing the loading rate, and the multi-section coalescence model is verified with increasing the confining pressure. The phenomena of stress drop and yield platform usually occur after the dilatancy onset, the specimen does not fail instantaneously, and the propagation and coalescence of cracks cause a sharp increase in the AE signals, circumferential strain, and volumetric strain.     

An experimental and numerical study of fracture coalescence in pre-cracked specimens under uniaxial compression

This study presents crack initiation, propagation and coalescence at or near pre-existing open cracks or flaws in a specimen under uniaxial compression. The flaw geometry in the specimen was a combination of a horizontal flaw and an inclined flaw underneath. This flaw geometry is different from those reported in the previous studies, where a pair of parallel flaws was used. Three materials were used, PMMA (Poly Methyl MethAcrylate), Diastone (types of molded gypsum), and Hwangdeung granite. Crack initiation and propagation showed similar and different patterns depending on the material. In PMMA, tensile cracks initiated at the flaw tips and propagated to the tip of the other flaw in the bridge area. The cracks then coalesced at a point of the inclined flaw, which is affected by the flaw inclination angle. For Diastone and Hwangdeung granite, tensile cracks were observed followed by the initiation of shear cracks. Coalescence occurred mainly through the tensile cracks or tensile and shear cracks. Crack coalescence was classified according to the crack coalescence types of parallel flaws for overlapping flaw geometry in the past works. In addition, crack initiation and coalescence stresses in the double-flawed specimens were analyzed and compared with those in the single-flawed specimen. Numerical simulations using PFC^2D (Particle Flow Code in two dimensions) based on the DEM (Discrete Element Method) were carried out and showed a good agreement with the experimental results in the coalescence characteristics in Hwangdeung granite. These experimental and numerical results are expected to improve the understanding of the characteristics of cracking and crack coalescence and can be used to analyze the stability of rock and rock structures, such as the excavated underground openings or slopes, tunneling construction, where pre-existing cracks or fractures play a crucial role in the overall integrity of such structures.     

Design and validation of a new fixture for the shear testing of cellular solids

The design and validation of a new fixture for the shear testing of cellular solids are presented. The fixture is an extended version of a picture-frame shear fixture (EPF) and is suited for comparatively thick rectangular block specimens. The stress state in the specimen is analyzed using a detailed finite element model. The finite element model is based on a 3D CAD model and incorporates friction in the revolute joints. Using specimens with low stiffness, a nearly pure and uniform shear stress state is induced in the specimen. A correction factor for the shear stress is derived which takes into account the friction in the joints and the nonuniformity of the shear stress distribution in the gauge section. The shear response of the polymer foam Rohacell^® 200 WF is determined in order to demonstrate the capabilities of the EPF. The strain state is analyzed by means of digital image correlation and is detected to be very pure and uniform on the specimen’s surface, as predicted by the numerical analysis. The shear modulus obtained with the EPF is in good agreement with the calculated shear modulus derived from tensile tests on the same material. In addition, there is only little scatter of the strength values over the tested specimens which further confirms the accuracy of the new fixture.     

基于PVDF薄膜传感器的猪肝动态压缩力学性能测试

瞬态冲击载荷作用下肝脏的力学响应是损伤生物力学的重要研究内容。本文提出了一种可用于软组织动态压缩力学特性测试的改进SHPB(分离式霍普金森压杆,Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar)方法。该方法采用PVDF(聚偏氟乙烯,Polyvinylidene Fluor)压电薄膜传感器测量实验过程中试件两端面的受力,以此来计算试件的应力,从而无需测量透射杆上的微弱透射信号。猪肝试样前后端面的PVDF压电信号对比表明,加载过程中试样达到了动态应力平衡状态。试样动态压缩中的惯性效应主要在加载的初始阶段对透射应力信号造成较大影响,在大变形阶段惯性效应引起的轴向应力较小。利用此方法对猪肝组织进行三种高应变率(1800s^-1,2500s^-1,3500s^-1)的动态压缩实验,并采用基于真实应变的惯性效应公式对实验数据进行修正计算。结果表明:猪肝组织在准静态与高应变率时的应力应变曲线都呈现出凹向上的非线性特征,即曲线初始阶段应力增长较缓慢,当应变达到15%后应力值则迅速增大;猪肝组织也具有明显的应变率效应,即随着应变率的增加,应力应变曲线的整体应力值也随之增大。最后,采用黏超弹性本构模型描述了猪肝组织的动态应力应变曲线。     

Finite Element study of fracture initiation in flaws subject to internal fluid pressure and vertical stress

Hydraulic fracturing is a method used routinely in oil and gas exploitation and in engineered geothermal systems. While used frequently, there are many aspects of hydraulic fracturing, such as the direction of propagation of the newly-created fractures, which are not very well understood. Even though it is known that the local stress field plays a fundamental role in the orientation of the new fractures, there may be other factors, such as the geometry of the existing fractures and the magnitude of the hydraulic pressure applied, that may play a major role in the path that a new fracture follows when pressurized.The main goal of this study is to numerically analyze the effect of the ratio between a vertical load, or stress, and the hydraulic pressure applied in existing flaws on the stress field in the vicinity of the flaw tips. For that purpose, a double flaw geometry 2a-30-30 was modeled in the Finite Element code ABAQUS, and different vertical loads and internal flaw pressures were applied to the model. The variation of the maximum principal stresses and maximum shear stresses around the flaw tips were analyzed and related to fracture initiation.The study showed that the ratio between the water pressure applied in the flaws and the vertical load/stress (WP/VL) plays a crucial role in the magnitude and shape of the stress field around a flaw tip, and therefore in the location of tensile and shear fracture initiation. As WP/VL increases, the location of initiation of new tensile fractures shifts from the upper face of the studied flaw towards the region right ahead of the flaw tip; simultaneously, the location of initiation of new shear fractures shifts from the region ahead of the flaw tip to the upper face of the analyzed tip.     

粗骨料粒径对混凝土动态压缩行为的影响研究

粗骨料作为混凝土材料组成最主要的部分,对混凝土力学性能和破坏模式有着很重要的影响。为了研究粗骨料平均粒径对混凝土动态力学性能的影响规律,针对不同平均粗骨料平均粒径（6、12、24 mm）的混凝土和砂浆材料进行了一系列SHPB试验,得到了不同应变率下各试件的应力-应变曲线,并对每种材料的动态增长因子（dynamic increase factor,DIF）与应变率的对数进行了线性拟合。结果表明:砂浆和混凝土材料的抗压强度具有明显的应变率效应,其动态抗压强度随着应变率的增加而逐渐增大,应力-应变曲线呈现相似的变化趋势;在相同的动态应变率条件下,平均粗骨料粒径为12 mm的混凝土的动态抗压强度最大,这与准静态条件下砂浆抗压强度最大截然不同;不同粗骨料粒径混凝土材料的应变率强化系数均大于砂浆材料,且随着粗骨料无量纲尺寸的增大,混凝土材料的应变率强化因子呈现先增大后减小的趋势。     

Properties of dynamic rupture and energy partition in a solid with a frictional interface

We study properties of dynamic ruptures and the partition of energy between radiation and dissipative mechanisms using two-dimensional in-plane calculations with the finite element method. The model consists of two identical isotropic elastic media separated by an interface governed by rate- and state-dependent friction. Rupture is initiated by gradually overstressing a localized nucleation zone. Different values of parameters controlling the velocity dependence of friction, the strength excess parameter and the length of the nucleation zone, lead to the following four rupture modes: supershear crack-like rupture, subshear crack-like rupture, subshear single pulse and supershear train of pulses. High initial shear stress and weak velocity dependence of friction favor crack-like ruptures, while the opposite conditions favor the pulse mode. The rupture mode can switch from a subshear single pulse to a supershear train of pulses when the width of the nucleation zone increases. The elastic strain energy released over the same propagation distance by the different rupture modes has the following order: supershear crack, subshear crack, supershear train of pulses and subshear single pulse. The same order applies also to the ratio of kinetic energy (radiation) to total change of elastic energy for the different rupture modes. Decreasing the dynamic coefficient of friction increases the fraction of stored energy that is converted to kinetic energy. General considerations and observations suggest that the subshear pulse and supershear crack are, respectively, the most and least common modes of earthquake ruptures.