Model of quasi-ductile deformations that bridges the scales

This study proposes a model of the deformation of materials susceptible to microcracking that is based on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes and fracture mechanics. The study considers the process on the atomic-, micro-, meso- and macroscales that are connected by the process of homogenization. The limitations of the process are carefully spelled out.     

Overview on mesomechanics of plastic deformation and fracture of solids

Mesomechanics involves analyzing the deformation and/or fracture of solids at the micro-, meso- and macro-scale level. Base elements for each scale level are chosen such that the behavior of the solid would be described by a combination of these elements. Special attention is given to the fragmentation of solid which is the main character of plastic flow at the mesoscale level. The final stage of fragmentation corresponds to fracture as the changes from the meso- to the macro-scale level.     

Synergetic principles of physical mesomechanics

A synergetic methodology of physical mesomechanics is developed. Fundamental principles underlying the approach are discussed and formulated. The methodology is shown to account for and substantiate well-known plastic-deformation and fracture mechanisms in solids under various loading conditions. An analysis of the available experimental evidence suggests that the key meso- and macroscale processes developed in solids under load occur at maximum tangential stresses. Microscale deformation caused by dislocations is self-adaptable. Physical mesomechanics establishes natural relations between the physics of dislocation-induced deformation, continuum mechanics of solids, and fracture mechanics.     

Fractal effect and anisotropic constitutive model for concrete

An elasto-anisotropic damage constitutive model for concrete is developed in this work. Disregarding the coupling between the isotropic and the anisotropic damage, the isotropic damage variables are defined as functions of the microcrack fractal dimension, and the anisotropic parts are expressed by the lengths of cracks in concrete which various in different directions. The Helmholtz free energy is decomposed into the elastic deforming, damage and irreversible deforming components, with the last component used to replace the plastic deformation. Therefore the damage constitutive formulas for concrete are derived based on continuum damage mechanics. Evolution laws for both isotropic and anisotropic damage variables are derived, in which the anisotropic parts are obtained by modifying an empirical model. The critical fracture stress and the fracture toughness are investigated for materials with a single fractal crack based on the fractal geometry and the Griffith fracture criterion. Numerical computation is conducted for concrete under the uniaxial and the biaxial compression. The results indicate that the material stiffness degradation can be well addressed when the anisotropic damage is incorporated; the irreversible deformation is greatly related to the behavior of the descending branch beyond the peak load. The validation of the presented model is proofed by comparing results with the experimental data. This model provides an approach to link the macro properties of a material with its micro-structure change.     

Mixed-mode fracture analysis of orthotropic functionally graded materials under mechanical and thermal loads

Mixed-mode fracture problems of orthotropic functionally graded materials (FGMs) are examined under mechanical and thermal loading conditions. In the case of mechanical loading, an embedded crack in an orthotropic FGM layer is considered. The crack is assumed to be loaded by arbitrary normal and shear tractions that are applied to its surfaces. An analytical solution based on the singular integral equations and a numerical approach based on the enriched finite elements are developed to evaluate the mixed-mode stress intensity factors and the energy release rate under the given mechanical loading conditions. The use of this dual approach methodology allowed the verifications of both methods leading to a highly accurate numerical predictive capability to assess the effects of material orthotropy and nonhomogeneity constants on the crack tip parameters. In the case of thermal loading, the response of periodic cracks in an orthotropic FGM layer subjected to transient thermal stresses is examined by means of the developed enriched finite element method. The results presented for the thermally loaded layer illustrate the influences of the material property gradation profiles and crack periodicity on the transient fracture mechanics parameters.     

THEORY OF DIELECTRIC ELASTOMERS

In response to a stimulus, a soft material deforms, and the deformation provides a function. We call such a material a soft active material （SAM）. This review focuses on one class of soft active materials： dielectric elastomers. When a membrane of a dielectric elastomer is subject to a voltage through its thickness, the membrane reduces thickness and expands area, possibly straining over 100%. The dielectric elastomers are being developed as transducers for broad applications, including soft robots, adaptive optics, Braille displays, and electric generators. This paper reviews the theory of dielectric elastomers, developed within continuum mechanics and thermodynamics, and motivated by molecular pictures and empirical observations. The theory couples large deformation and electric potential, and describes nonlinear and nonequilibrium behavior, such as electromechanical instability and viscoelasticity. The theory enables the finite element method to simulate transducers of realistic configurations, predicts the efficiency of electromechanical energy conversion, and suggests alternative routes to achieve giant voltage-induced deformation. It is hoped that the theory will aid in the creation of materials and devices.     

纺织复合材料和结构多尺度耦合的数值分析

研究了纺织复合材料和结构多尺度耦合的数值分析模型。建立了微、细观单胞,给出了纺织复合材料平均弹性常数的逐级分析方法,着重研究了由宏观结构、到细观纤维束、再到微观纤维三个尺度耦合的应力分析方案。对于常用的板壳状纺织复合材料结构,在面内载荷下,假设每层细观单胞的平均面内应变是一致的,在弯曲、横向剪切及扭曲等非面内载荷下,在内力等效条件下将沿厚度方向连续分布的宏观应力简化为阶梯状分布,忽略了每层细观单胞范围内宏观应力沿厚度方向的梯度变化,由此利用细观单胞模型实现宏观应力与细观应力之间的传递,再利用微观单胞可得到纤维尺度的微观应力。最后以一种三维机织复合材料为例,用上述多尺度耦合的模型逐级分析了材料的平均弹性常数,并沿相反方向,由宏观结构分析逐级计算出纤维束尺度和纤维尺度的细、微观应力的局部波动。     

Numerical simulation of plastic deformation and damage accumulation in structural materials under various low-cycle loading conditions

This paper presents the results of a finite-element study of elastic-plastic deformation and damage accumulation in structural materials under various cyclic loading conditions. Material behavior is described by the relations of damage mechanics using thermoplastic model which takes into account the plastic deformation of material under cyclic loading and the kinetic equations of the energy theory of damage accumulation. The basic laws of plastic deformation and development of damage in materials under hard, soft, symmetric, and asymmetric low-cycle loading are established.     

准脆性材料断裂过程区中的圆饼微裂纹损伤计算

准脆性工程材料及结构在外力作用下，不仅引起内部缺陷变化和微裂纹的出现及发展，且使得其结构承载能力降低或性能劣化．在其材料失效过程中常存在裂缝与断裂损伤过程区．为研究材料细观缺陷或微裂纹与宏观破坏的规律，通过细观力学方法，对于代表性体积单元RVE中的圆饼型微裂纹的尺寸与密度变化，探讨其宏观断裂过程区力学参量与损伤之间的量化关系．借助宏观断裂过程区的黏聚裂纹模型，将损伤单元RVE嵌入到宏观裂缝端部的断裂过程区中，对其进行联接细观损伤到宏观破坏的力学多尺度研究．文中也通过实验数据，对其理论计算结果进行了算例的讨论与分析．     

基于近场动力学理论的准脆性材料的本构力函数的构建

近场动力学理论(PD)是基于非局部思想的连续介质力学新理论,用于研究材料破坏问题。根据准脆性材料破坏的线性和非线性的力学行为,在初始微观弹脆性材料(PMB)的本构力函数中引入了键的损伤模型,将键的断裂过程分成了线性的弹性变形阶段和非线性的损伤变形阶段,以此构建了准脆性材料的本构力函数的基本形式。以典型的准脆性材料为例构建了其本构力函数,通过在压缩载荷下对含预制不同角度单裂纹缺陷的类岩材料的裂纹扩展进行PD数值模拟仿真,裂纹起裂位置和扩展方向与试样试验结果在一定程度上保持了一致,证明了该基于近场动力学理论的典型准脆性材料的本构力函数可用于该类材料的破坏分析。     

Plastic deformation and fracture of polycrystalline Ni–Ti with stress concentrators of different scales

Stress concentrators of different scales inherent in polycrystals tend to form mesosubstructures under load. Television-optical images of displacements are obtained for the Ni–Ti alloy to study the deformation and fracture behavior. Discussed are similarity laws in connection with the formation of dissipative structures at the micro- and macro-scale level.     

多尺度复合材料力学研究进展

多尺度复合材料力学是运用多尺度分析思想研究空间分布非均匀材料力学性能的学科, 近年来,多 组分、多层级先进材料的蓬勃发展和微纳米实验观测手段的不断进步,有力地推动了该学科的研究,论文围绕非均 匀材料力学性能的多尺度分析,首先从微纳米尺度到宏观尺度综述了常用的理论分析方法;接着分别针对非均匀 连续介质和离散体系介绍了常用的多尺度计算模拟方法;然后结合本课题组在纳米复合材料、抗冲击吸能材料、随 机网络材料和多层级自相似材料等方面的研究工作,举例说明了如何综合运用多种方法对各种复杂材料系统进行 多尺度分析;最后,展望了该领域还需进一步发展和完善的若干方向。     

金属非晶的强度和变形特性

金属非晶发展至今已有多种体系并可实现厘米量级的块体制备,其各种性能也都有了广泛的研究。本文主要介绍金属非晶的单轴拉伸、单轴压缩、微柱压缩、薄板弯曲、拉伸-扭转等物理力学特性及关于其变形的理论分析。文章涵盖了金属非晶的以下一些力学特性：金属非晶的弹性模量和其溶剂金属的相近性―金属非晶通常具有2% 左右的弹性应变极限,对应着GPa量级的高失效强度;金属非晶单轴拉伸、压缩时的宏观塑性特征及塑性变形的典型机制;金属非晶微观上的短程与中程原子团簇结构特点及其与非晶塑性的关联;金属非晶塑性屈服与静水压力的相关性,拉扭组合时呈现的螺旋断口特征,以及Mohr-Coulomb本构模型对这些屈服特征的适用性。最后,作者也介绍了金属非晶塑性变形的微观物理模型及连续介质力学本构,以及金属非晶的断裂与疲劳特性。     

微纳米尺度下材料性能多尺度模拟方法进展

微纳米材料的力学行为正日益引起研究者的关注.微纳米材料的性能取决于从微观、细观到宏观多个空间、时间尺度上不同物理过程非线性耦合演化的结果,发展相应的多尺度数值模拟方法已成为该领域研究工作的一个热点.本文对微纳米材料模拟中比较典型的几种协同多空间尺度和协同多时间尺度方法进行了介绍,着重介绍这些方法的的基本思想、应用情况, 以及各自的优缺点,并对微纳米材料多尺度方法的发展趋势进行总结和评述.      

功能铁磁材料的变形与断裂的研究进展

综述了近几十年, 特别是近十几年来铁磁材料的力磁耦合变形与断裂行为的研究概况. 传统铁磁弹性问题的研究已经有较长时间的积累, 文献中已有大量的研究结果发表. 近些年 来, 随着智能材料及结构应用与研究的兴起, 功能铁磁材料如稀土超磁致伸缩材料、铁磁相 变材料以及铁磁复合材料等的力学行为越来越受到重视, 人们在功能铁磁材料的变形与断裂 以及铁磁复合材料的有效性质等方面开展了大量的研究工作. 本文在简单介绍了经典铁磁弹 性和传统铁磁结构的力磁性能的研究背景基础上, 结合作者近年来在铁磁材料变形与断裂方 面所开展的工作, 着重评述了功能软铁磁材料在变形与断裂的实验研究,如实验设备和技术, 以及铁磁复合材料细观力学、软铁磁材料、铁磁功能材料的变形与断裂理论等方面的研究进 展, 并指出了需要进一步研究的方向.     

Effects of Seawater and Low Temperatures on Polymeric Foam Core Material

Polymeric composite sandwich structures, often manufactured using a thick foam core material and thin composite facings, are of significant interest in naval applications. This paper summarizes the coupled effect of sea water and low temperature on the mechanical properties of closed cell polymeric H100 foam core material. The study considers the effects of harsh sea environmental conditions on the fracture and deformation behavior of such a foam material under complex loading conditions that include tension, torsion, compression, and true-triaxial stress paths. Mechanical testing techniques are developed using coupon samples of suitable geometry that minimize grip effects on these low density complex foam materials, along with information associated with the observed cross-anisotropic behavior. Interfacial delamination fracture response for the sandwich structures due to the combined effects of sea water and low temperature are evaluated and the associated degradation in critical energy release rate for delamination is found to be substantial. Experimental data for H100 foam cores associated with moisture induced expansional strains are also included.     

微纳成型力学

利用材料的塑性变形能力制造各种零部件被广泛应用于汽车、航空航天、消费电子和医疗设备等领域. 随着器件小型化的发展趋势, 开发新的微纳成型 (或微纳尺度塑性变形) 工艺成为制造业发展的核心问题之一. 近年来, 产业界和学术界对微纳成型技术进行了广泛的研究, 在开发微纳成型工艺、深入理解尺寸效应和变形行为等方面都取得了显著进展. 本文将聚焦不同材料体系如聚合物、非晶合金与晶体金属在微纳成型过程中的变形机理及其尺寸效应, 综述微纳成型技术的最新研究进展. 最后, 对金属微纳成型面临的技术挑战及其关键力学问题进行展望.