Experimental and numerical investigation of concrete properties effects on fracture toughness under complex loading

Abstract

This article is presenting the common experimental specimen for determining the fracture toughness of the first pure mode and second pure mode. The Notched beam is chosen from a presented common specimen in the form of three-point flexure beam and four-point flexure beam that were built in the concrete laboratory. For prevention of cracks growth, a critical load of first pure mode and the second pure mode of each specimen computed. Obtained results are used for computing the fracture toughness. For the purpose of investigating the effective fracture parameters in the suggested specimen, finite element analysis on the mentioned geometry is performed. Obtained results show that different parameters are effective on the fracture toughness including crack length, cement percentage, water and the thickness of biggest used aggregate in the sand. Also with changing each of these parameters, the fracture mechanic properties are changed. Each of these effects is examined separately in this article and the conclusions presented in tables and figures.

Communicated by Dumitru Caruntu.     

Local Interface Shear Fracture of Bonded Steel Joints with Various Bondline Thicknesses

Interfacial fracture is a critical issue for extensive applications of adhesively bonded structures to a variety of modern industries. Extensive global experimental tests have been conducted to measure the global behavior of adhesively bonded joint, such as ultimate load capacity and toughness. Recently, several studies have also been employed to characterize the local interfacial traction–separation laws. However, very few tests have investigated the dependency of the local interfacial constitutive laws on the adhesive thickness, particularly, under Mode-II loading conditions. In this work, six typical adhesive thicknesses (from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm) are prepared for the bonded joints with a configuration of end notched flexure (ENF) specimen to realize the Mode-II fracture loading (shear fracture). With a recently developed analytical model, the global energy release rates of the ENF specimens are experimentally measured. Meanwhile, with the image analysis technique, the local slips between the two adherends are obtained. Finally, based on the J-integral theory, the local interfacial constitutive laws at different bondline thicknesses are obtained. Several experimental findings are reported in this work. This work may provide valuable baseline experimental data for the input in cohesive zone model (CZM) based analytical and numerical simulations.     

基于弹性-塑性内聚力模型的纤维拔出界面宏观行为分析

用解析法分析了单纤维从聚合物基体中的拔出过程,采用弹性—塑性内聚力模型模拟裂纹的扩展和界面失效,确定了临界纤维埋入长度,该值区分两种不同长度的纤维拔出过程. 在纤维拔出过程,界面经历不同的阶段. 纤维埋长小于临界长度时,界面的脱粘载荷与纤维的埋长成正比;超过临界长度后,界面的脱粘载荷近似为常数. 分析了界面参数对脱粘载荷的影响:增加界面的剪切强度和界面的断裂韧性,或减小界面裂纹萌生位移,均能提高界面的脱粘载荷;界面脱粘后无界面摩擦应力时,拔出载荷—位移曲线的峰值载荷等于界面的脱粘载荷;界面摩擦应力存在时,使峰值载荷大于脱粘载荷,需要较长的纤维埋入长度和较大的界面摩擦应力.      

Influence of aggregate size on fracture toughness of concrete

Employing an extension of the splitting tensile by using a notched cylinder specimen, we have studied effects of initial notch length and maximum aggregate size on fracture toughness of concrete. Experimental results show that maximum aggregate size does influence ductility, with increasingly ductile behavior associated with increasing aggregate size. The results also support previous work in that initial notch length and maximum load do not yield a constant value for fracture toughness, whereas maximum linear load and initial notch length minimize the effects of slow crack growth and do produce a more constant value.     

Direct Measurement of the Cohesive Law of Adhesives Using a Rigid Double Cantilever Beam Technique

Engineering adhesive joints are being increasingly used in industry because of the advantages they offer over other joining methods such as fastening or welding. The development and the use of adhesives in a design environment require accurate mechanical tests in order to measure their strength and toughness. Standard techniques such as the shear lap test are commonly used to measure shear strength, but the results they produce generally depend on geometry and on initial defects within the bond line. Fracture tests such as the double cantilever beam (DCB) tests overcome these limitations, but rely on elasticity models and assumptions to determine toughness. In this study, we present a novel technique to directly determine the mode I fracture toughness of engineering adhesive joints as well as their full cohesive law, without any initial assumption on its shape. Our new method is remarkably simple in terms of experimental setup, execution and analysis. It is similar to the standard double cantilever beam (DCB) test with the difference that the material and dimensions of the beams are chosen so that they are assumed to be rigid compared to the bond line. In this rigid DCB (RDCB) technique the crack opening is known everywhere along the interface, which we use to compute the cohesive law of the adhesive directly from the load-displacement data obtained from experiment and the geometry of the RDCB specimen. The RDCB method is validated and applied to three typical commercial adhesives (polyurethane, epoxy, and silicone), to determine their cohesive law and fracture toughness.     

A simple cohesive zone model that generates a mode-mixity dependent toughness

A simple, mode-mixity dependent toughness cohesive zone model (MDG_c CZM) is described. This phenomenological cohesive zone model has two elements. Mode I energy dissipation is defined by a traction–separation relationship that depends only on normal separation. Mode II (III) dissipation is generated by shear yielding and slip in the cohesive surface elements that lie in front of the region where mode I separation (softening) occurs. The nature of predictions made by analyses that use the MDG_c CZM is illustrated by considering the classic problem of an elastic layer loaded by rigid grips. This geometry, which models a thin adhesive bond with a long interfacial edge crack, is similar to that which has been used to measure the dependence of interfacial toughness on crack-tip mode-mixity. The calculated effective toughness vs. applied mode-mixity relationships all display a strong dependence on applied mode-mixity with the effective toughness increasing rapidly with the magnitude of the mode-mixity. The calculated relationships also show a pronounced asymmetry with respect to the applied mode-mixity. This dependence is similar to that observed experimentally, and calculated results for a glass/epoxy interface are in good agreement with published data that was generated using a test specimen of the same type as analyzed here.     

Plasticity aspects of interfacial fracture for polymer/glass specimens

Experimental results suggest that the interfacial fracture resistance is minimal for approximate near tip Mode I accompanied by positive and negative near tip Mode II. Finite-strain FE analysis is made for an elastic–plastic medium bonded to an ideally elastic medium with an interface crack. Small-scale plasticity conditions are invoked and examined in relation to the elastic–plastic stress distribution along the bond line. Plasticity engenders a tendency to turn near tip biaxiality towards pure Mode I regardless of the mixed-mode loading. High levels of hydrostatic stress are attained. For different mode mixities of the applied load, the dependence of the elastic–plastic normal bond stress on load level is examined. It is found that under positive Mode II loading, the normal bond stress σ_yy tends to saturate as the load level rises. This does not occur for Mode I and negative Mode II loading. In addition, deformation patterns inside the plastic zone are examined for mixed-mode situations. A displacement criterion based on the normal bond crack opening suggests a dependence of the critical load level on the extent of mixed mode. Under positive mode II fracture, traces of the ductile material are found at the top of the elastic substrate. Some of these conclusions appear to be consistent with the fracture patterns observed for LD-polyethylene/glass interfacial mixed-mode fracture.     

Pure mode II fracture characterization of composite bonded joints

A new data reduction scheme is proposed for measuring the critical fracture energy of adhesive joints under pure mode II loading using the End Notched Flexure test. The method is based on the crack equivalent concept and does not require crack length monitoring during propagation, which is very difficult to perform accurately in these tests. The proposed methodology also accounts for the energy dissipated at the Fracture Process Zone which is not negligible when ductile adhesives are used. Experimental tests and numerical analyses using a trapezoidal cohesive mixed-mode damage model demonstrated the good performance of the new method, namely when compared to classical data reduction schemes. An inverse method was used to determine the cohesive properties, fitting the numerical and experimental load–displacement curves. Excellent agreement between the numerical and experimental R-curves was achieved demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Experimental and Numerical Study of Paperboard Interface Properties

Laminated paperboard is widely used in packaging products. Interface delamination plays a crucial role in converting paperboard to a carton through the creasing and folding process. Thus, the aim of this study is to experimentally and numerically investigate the interface fracture behavior in pure crack opening mode (mode I) and sliding mode (mode II). Four experimental tests have been evaluated and compared to numerical simulation, namely, the z-directional tensile test (ZDT), double-notch shear test (DNS), double-cantilever beam test (DCB) and end-notched flexure test (ENF). It was shown that, for the paperboard specimens tested, the ZDT test was sufficient to fully characterize the mode I crack growth response. However, the DNS and ENF tests were required to determine the maximum shear stress and the fracture toughness of pure mode II, respectively. Further mixed-mode investigation would enable the analysis of paperboard delamination behavior during the creasing and folding process.     

Size effect in quasibrittle failure: Analytical model and numerical simulations using cohesive zone model

The recent rewriting of the Ba?ant’s size effect law (Morel, 2008) which has suggested the existence of an additional asymptotic regime for intermediate structure sizes is now compared to numerical simulations of fracture of geometrically similar notched structures of different sizes extending over 2.4 decades. The quasibrittle fracture behavior is simulated through cohesive zone model (bilinear softening) using a constant set of cohesive parameters whatever the specimen size D is. The R-curves resulting from the load–displacement responses are estimated and appear as size-independent. On this basis, the different asymptotic regimes expected for the size effect on fracture properties at peak load such as the relative crack length, the resistance to crack growth and the nominal strength are shown in fair agreement with the size effect observed on the results obtained from numerical simulations.     

试样尺寸对核电厂主蒸汽管道断裂韧性的影响研究

以某核电厂SA335 材料主蒸汽管道为研究对象,首先结合SA335 的断裂阻力曲线（J-R 曲线）试验测量结果,提出了一种方法确定韧性金属材料裂纹扩展模型（G-T 模型）中的主要微观参数：初始孔隙率0 f 和初始孔隙间距D;随后,在有限元计算中引入G-T 模型模拟了SA335 紧凑拉伸试样的断裂过程,讨论了试样尺寸对于J-R 曲线的影响．结果表明：试样厚度一致时,初始裂纹长度大的试样对应偏低的断裂韧性;当试样尺寸整体缩放时,较大尺寸的试样对应偏低的断裂韧性．最后,结合实例说明了试样整体尺寸对于主蒸汽管道临界裂纹长度的影响．     

金属材料三维断裂韧度厚度效应的有限元模拟

随着金属材料大壁厚结构件在工程中的广泛应用,对其断裂韧度的厚度效应研究具有重要的科学意义和工程价值。本研究基于有限元和实验相结合的方法,对金属材料断裂韧度的厚度效应进行预测。首先,通过一组薄壁厚金属材料标准三点弯曲试验得到试样失效时的临界载荷值,并利用内聚力模型与基于虚拟裂纹闭合技术的裂纹扩展模拟方法得到裂纹扩展时的单元临界能量释放率。随后,以此临界能量释放率作为裂纹扩展的启裂准则门槛值,通过有限元计算得到不同试样厚度下裂纹启裂时的裂尖断裂参数随着厚度的变化规律。最后,为了验证有限元模拟结果的准确性,本研究进行了另外两组不同厚度下三点弯曲试样的断裂韧度试验,并将试验结果与有限元结果进行了对比,验证了有限元所模拟的断裂韧度厚度效应的准确性。本研究旨在,通过薄壁厚三点弯曲试样的实验结果结合有限元模拟工作,即可实现金属材料断裂韧度的整个厚度效应曲线,为任意厚度下金属材料断裂韧度预测提供一种可靠的研究方法,有益于缩减试验成本,为大壁厚工程结构件的失效预测提供依据。     

Mode III fracture behavior of laminated composite with edge crack in torsion

A three-dimensional (3-D) finite element analysis was performed on a [90,(+45/−45)_n,(−45/+45)_n,90]_s class of laminated composites under the edge crack torsion (ECT) test configuration. Finite element delamination models were established and formulas for calculating the Mode III fracture toughness from 3-D finite element models were developed. The relations between the interlaminar fracture behavior and various configuration parameters were investigated and the effects of point loads, ends, geometry, Mode II interference, and friction were evaluated. Results showed that with proper selection of ECT specimen configuration and layup, the delamination could grow in pure Mode III in the middle region of the specimen. Specimen end effect played an important role in the ECT test. A Mode II component occurred in the end regions but it did not interfere significantly with the Mode III delamination state. Specimen dimension ratio, layup, and crack length exhibited significant effect on the interlaminar fracture behavior and the calculated strain energy release rates. However, friction between crackfaces was found to have negligible effect on the interlaminar properties.     

Mixed-mode interface toughness of wafer-level Cu-Cu bonds using asymmetric chevron test

Characterization of interfacial adhesion is critical for the development of wafer bonding processes to manufacture microsystems with high yield and reliability. It is imperative that the test method used in such adhesion studies corresponds to the loading conditions present during processing and operation of the devices. In most applications in which wafers and die are bonded, the interface experiences a combination of shear and normal loading (i.e. mixed-mode loading) with the relative magnitude of the Mode I and II components varying in different scenarios. In the current work, the toughness of Cu-Cu thermocompression bonds, which are of interest for the fabrication of three-dimensional integrated circuits, is analyzed using a bonded chevron specimen with layers of different thickness that allows for the application of interfacial loading with variable mode mixity. The phase angle (a function of the degree of mode mixity at the interface) is varied from 0° to 24° by changing the layer thickness ratio from 1 to 0.48. The Cu-Cu bond toughness increases from 2.68 to 10.1 J/m², as the loading is changed from Mode I (pure tension) to a loading with a phase angle of 24°. The energy of plastic dissipation increases with increasing mode mixity, resulting in the enhanced interface toughness. The Mode I toughness of Cu-Cu bonds is minimally affected by plasticity, and therefore, provides the closest estimate of the interfacial work of fracture under the bonding conditions employed.     

Strip model plasticity analysis of mixed mode crack opening displacement in aluminum alloy LY12

Under mixed mode loading, the crack tip blunts and undergoes displacements in two directions, the normal and shear component corresponding to Mode I and Mode II loading, respectively. These local displacements are determined by the duplicated film method and used to analyze the behavior of mixed mode fracture in aluminum alloy LY12. The mixed mode resultant crack opening displacement (COD) at fracture initiation tends to increase more rapidly with increase of the Mode II shear component. The fracture initiation value of COD for pure Mode II loading is six (6) times greater than that for Mode 1 loading. The same applies to the maximum effective plastic strain crack growth near the crack front. Observed are two typical morphologies, the equal-axes dimples and the parabolic dimples with evidence of slippage as dominated, respectively, by Mode I and Mode II loading.     

Strength and fracture toughness of heterogeneous blocks with joint lognormal modulus and failure strain

We obtain analytical approximations to the probability distribution of the fracture strengths of notched one-dimensional rods and two-dimensional plates in which the stiffness (Young’s modulus) and strength (failure strain) of the material vary as jointly lognormal random fields. The fracture strength of the specimen is measured by the elongation, load, and toughness at two critical stages: when fracture initiates at the notch tip and, in the 2D case, when fracture propagates through the entire specimen. This is an extension of a previous study on the elastic and fracture properties of systems with random Young’s modulus and deterministic material strength (Dimas et al., 2015a). For 1D rods our approach is analytical and builds upon the ANOVA decomposition technique of (Dimas et al., 2015b). In 2D we use a semi-analytical model to derive the fracture initiation strengths and regressions fitted to simulation data for the effect of crack arrest during fracture propagation. Results are validated through Monte Carlo simulation. Randomness of the material strength affects in various ways the mean and median values of the initial strengths, their log-variances, and log-correlations. Under low spatial correlation, material strength variability can significantly increase the effect of crack arrest, causing ultimate failure to be a more predictable and less brittle failure mode than fracture initiation. These insights could be used to guide design of more fracture resistant composites, and add to the design features that enhance material performance.     

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.     

Delamination mechanism maps for a strong elastic coating on an elastic–plastic substrate subjected to contact loading

Hard wear resistant coatings that are subjected to contact loading sometimes fail because the coating delaminates from the substrate. In this report, systematic finite element computations are used to model coating delamination under contact loading. The coating and substrate are idealized as elastic and elastic–plastic solids, respectively. The interface between coating and substrate is represented using a cohesive zone law, which can be characterized by its strength and fracture toughness. The system is loaded by an axisymmetric, frictionless spherical indenter. We observe two failure modes: shear cracks may nucleate just outside the contact area if the indentation depth or load exceeds a critical value; in addition, tensile cracks may nucleate at the center of the contact when the indenter is subsequently removed from the surface. Delamination mechanism maps are constructed which show the critical indentation depth and force required to initiate both shear and tensile cracks, as functions of relevant material properties. The fictitious viscosity technique for avoiding convergence problems in finite element simulations of crack nucleation and growth on cohesive interfaces allows us to explore a wider parametric space that a conventional cohesive model cannot handle. Numerical results have also been compared to analytical analyses of asymptotic limits using plate bending and membrane stretching theories, thus providing guidelines for interpreting the simulation results.