Dynamic fracture behaviour in fibre-reinforced cementitious composites

The object of this work is to simulate the dynamic fracture propagation in fibre-reinforced cementitious composites, in particular, in steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Beams loaded in a three-point bend configuration through a drop-weight impact device are considered. A single cohesive crack is assumed to propagate at the middle section; the opening of this crack is governed by a rate-dependent cohesive law; the fibres around the fracture plane are explicitly represented through truss elements. The fibre pull-out behaviour is depicted by an equivalent constitutive law, which is obtained from an analytical load–slip curve. The obtained load–displacement curves and crack propagation velocities are compared with their experimental counterparts. The good agreement with experimental data testifies to the feasibility of the proposed methodology and paves the way to its application in a multi-scale framework.     

Strength scaling of adhesive joints in polymer–matrix composites

The fracture of adhesive joints between two glass-fibre laminates was studied by testing double cantilever beam test specimens loaded by uneven bending moments. A large-scale fracture process zone, consisting of a crack tip and a fibre bridging zone, developed. The mixed mode fracture resistance increased with increasing crack length, eventually reaching a steady-state level (R-curve behaviour). The steady-state fracture resistance level increased with increasing amount of tangential crack opening displacement. Cohesive laws, obtained from fracture resistance data, were used for prediction the load carrying capacity of 2-m long “medium size” adhesive joint specimens subjected to four point flexure. Medium size specimens were manufactured and tested. A good agreement was found between the predicted and measured strength values of the medium-size specimens. Thus, the scaling from small specimens to medium-size specimens was successfully achieved.     

压电复合材料粘接界面断裂有限元模拟

根据数字化FRMM(Fix-Ratio Mix-Mode)断裂试验,得到了压电复合材料试件的断裂韧性和位移及应变场。本文在试验的基础上,通过非线性有限元软件ABAQUS及用户子程序UMAT进行了模拟分析,采用基于损伤力学的粘聚区模型(CZM)对压电复合材料界面的起裂和脱胶扩展进行了分析,并与VCCT方法进行了比较。计算得到的荷载位移曲线更接近于试验结果,但在裂纹扩展路径上的吻合需要对粘聚区法则进一步修正。通过进一步对CZM参数进行分析,表明界面粘结强度和界面刚度对计算结果的影响很大。研究结果表明,粘聚区模型可以很好地表征压电复合材料弱粘接界面脱胶断裂问题。     

On the toughening of brittle materials by grain bridging: Promoting intergranular fracture through grain angle, strength, and toughness

The structural reliability of many brittle materials such as structural ceramics relies on the occurrence of intergranular, as opposed to transgranular, fracture in order to induce toughening by grain bridging. For a constant grain boundary strength and grain boundary toughness, the current work examines the role of grain strength, grain toughness, and grain angle in promoting intergranular fracture in order to maintain such toughening. Previous studies have illustrated that an intergranular path and the consequent grain bridging process can be partitioned into five distinct regimes, namely: propagate, kink, arrest, stall, and bridge. To determine the validity of the assumed intergranular path, the classical penetration/deflection problem of a crack impinging on an interface is re-examined within a cohesive zone framework for intergranular and transgranular fracture. Results considering both modes of propagation, i.e., a transgranular and intergranular path, reveal that crack-tip shielding is a natural outcome of the cohesive zone approach to fracture. Cohesive zone growth in one mode shields the opposing mode from the stresses required for cohesive zone initiation. Although stable propagation occurs when the required driving force is equivalent to the toughness for either transgranular or intergranular fracture, the mode of propagation depends on the normalized grain strength, normalized grain toughness, and grain angle. For each grain angle, the intersection of single path and multiple path solutions demarcates “strong” grains that increase the macroscopic toughness and “weak” grains that decrease it. The unstable transition to intergranular fracture reveals that an increasing grain toughness requires a growing region of the transgranular cohesive zone be near the cohesive strength. The inability of the body to provide the requisite stress field yields an overdriven and unstable configuration. The current results provide restrictions for the achievement of substantial toughening through intergranular fracture.     

Fatigue and fracture of bovine dentin

In this paper, the fatigue and fracture properties of bovine dentin are evaluated usingin vitro experimental analyses. Double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens were prepared from bovine maxillary molars and subjected to zeroto-tension cyclic loads. The fatigue crack growth rate was evaluated as a function of the dentin tubule orientation using the Paris law. Wedge-loaded DCB specimens were also prepared and subjected to monotonic opening loads. Moiré interferometry was used to acquire the in-plane displacement field during stable crack growth, and the instantaneous wedge load and crack length were acquired to evaluate the crack growth resistance and crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) with crack extension. The rate of fatigue crack growth was generally larger for crack propagation occurring perpendicular to the dentin tubules. The Moiré fringe fields documented during monotonic crack growth exhibited non-linear deformation occurring within a confined region adjacent to the crack tip. Both the wedge load and CTOD response provided evidence that a fracture process zone contributes to energy dissipation during crack extension and that dentin exhibits a risingR-curve behavior. Results from this preliminary investigation are being used as a guide for an evaluation of the fatigue and fracture properties of human dentin.     

Integrated numerical–experimental analysis of interfacial fatigue fracture in SnAgCu solder joints

In ball grid array (BGA) packages, solder balls are exposed to cyclic thermo-mechanical strains arising from the thermal mismatch between package components. Thermo-mechanical fatigue crack propagation in solder balls is almost always observed at the chip side of the bump/pad junction. The objective of the experimental part of this study is to characterize the bump/pad interface under fatigue loading. Fatigue specimens are prepared by reflowing Sn3.8Ag0.5Cu lead-free solder alloy on Ni/Au substrates. Obtained results show that fatigue damage evolution strongly depends on the microstructure. Applied strain and solder volume both have an influence on the fatigue damage mechanism. In the numerical part of the study, fatigue experiments are modeled using the finite element technique. A cohesive zone approach is used to predict the fatigue damage evolution in soldered connections. Crack propagation is simulated by an irreversible linear traction–separation cohesive zone law accompanied by a non-linear damage parameter. Cohesive zone elements are placed where failure is experimentally observed. Damage evolution parameters for normal and tangential interaction are scrutinized through dedicated fatigue tests in pure tensile and shear directions. The proposed cohesive zone model is quantitatively capable of describing fatigue failure in soldered joints, which can be further extended to a numerical life-time prediction tool in microelectronic packages.     

On the determination of the cohesive zone properties of an adhesive layer from the analysis of the wedge-peel test

An extensive numerical study of the mechanics of the “wedge-peel test” is performed in order to analyze the mode I steady state debonding of a sandwich structure made of two thin plastically deforming metallic plates bonded with an adhesive. The constitutive response of the metallic plates is modeled by J₂ flow theory, and the behavior of the adhesive layer is represented with a cohesive zone model characterized by a maximum separation stress and the fracture energy. A steady-state finite element code accounting for finite rotation has been developed for the analysis of this problem. Calculations performed with the steady-state formulation are shown to be much faster than simulations involving both crack initiation and propagation within a standard, non-steady-state code. The goal of this study is to relate the measurable parameters of the test to the corresponding fracture process zone characteristics for a representative range of adherent properties and test conditions. An improved beam bending model for the energy release rate is assessed by comparison with the numerical results. Two procedures are proposed for identifying the cohesive zone parameters from experimental measurements.     

应用内聚力模型研究人牙本质裂纹扩展的升阻能力

论文采用断裂力学中的内聚力模型,结合有限元法研究裂纹沿牙本质小管和垂直于牙本质小管扩展的断裂韧度.数值模拟结果表明牙本质的断裂韧度随着裂纹扩展而增大,表现出上升的阻力曲线(R-curve)特性,但裂纹沿牙本质小管扩展的断裂韧度要大于裂纹垂直于牙本质小管扩展的断裂韧度,表现出各向异性的裂纹扩展阻力曲线性质.同时论文的研究...     

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.     

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。     

基于扩展有限单元法的短纤维/橡胶复合材料裂纹扩展分析

为了研究短纤维/橡胶复合材料裂纹在拉伸载荷作用下的扩展演化规律,应用扩展有限元法对预制裂纹的短纤维/橡胶复合材料的裂纹扩展进行了数值模拟.采用随机顺序吸附算法在ABAQUS软件中生成短纤维分布模型,分析了失效准则参数(最大许用主应力和裂纹表面能)、短纤维细观参数(体积含量、长度和取向角)对裂纹扩展行为的影响规律,探究了...     

Molecular-dynamics simulation-based cohesive zone representation of intergranular fracture processes in aluminum

A traction-displacement relationship that may be embedded into a cohesive zone model for microscale problems of intergranular fracture is extracted from atomistic molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations. An MD model for crack propagation under steady-state conditions is developed to analyze intergranular fracture along a flat Σ99 [1 1 0] symmetric tilt grain boundary in aluminum. Under hydrostatic tensile load, the simulation reveals asymmetric crack propagation in the two opposite directions along the grain boundary. In one direction, the crack propagates in a brittle manner by cleavage with very little or no dislocation emission, and in the other direction, the propagation is ductile through the mechanism of deformation twinning. This behavior is consistent with the Rice criterion for cleavage vs. dislocation blunting transition at the crack tip. The preference for twinning to dislocation slip is in agreement with the predictions of the Tadmor and Hai criterion. A comparison with finite element calculations shows that while the stress field around the brittle crack tip follows the expected elastic solution for the given boundary conditions of the model, the stress field around the twinning crack tip has a strong plastic contribution. Through the definition of a Cohesive-Zone-Volume-Element—an atomistic analog to a continuum cohesive zone model element—the results from the MD simulation are recast to obtain an average continuum traction-displacement relationship to represent cohesive zone interaction along a characteristic length of the grain boundary interface for the cases of ductile and brittle decohesion.     

A numerical study on the SEN-TPB test applied to mode I wood fracture characterization

A numerical study involving the single edge notched-three point bending test was methodically performed to evaluate its adequacy for wood fracture characterization under mode I loading. Stress analysis along the ligament length using cohesive zone modeling allowed understating the influence of the compressive stresses induced by bending on the stress profile for geometrically similar specimens with different sizes. The stress relief region induced by the presence of the crack was identified by a stress analysis procedure along the beam length. A data reduction scheme based on the beam theory and on the crack equivalent concept was then developed considering an approach using a rectangular stress relief region. The method allows estimating the Resistance-curve without monitoring the crack length during propagation. Important remarks regarding the aspects which contribute to explain the size effect phenomenon in wood are highlighted in this study. Following the presented procedure the application of the single edge notched-three point bending test for wood fracture characterization under mode I has become considerably user-friendlier.     

A thermomechanical cohesive zone model for bridged delamination cracks

The coupled thermomechanical numerical analysis of composite laminates with bridged delamination cracks loaded by a temperature gradient is described. The numerical approach presented is based on the framework of a cohesive zone model. A traction-separation law is presented which accounts for breakdown of the micromechanisms responsible for load transfer across bridged delamination cracks. The load transfer behavior is coupled to heat conduction across the bridged delamination crack. The coupled crack-bridging model is implemented into a finite element framework as a thermomechanical cohesive zone model (CZM). The fundamental response of the thermomechanical CZM is described. Subsequently, bridged delamination cracks of fixed lengths are studied. Values of the crack tip energy release rate and of the crack heat flux are computed to characterize the loading of the structure. Specimen geometries are considered that lead to crack opening through bending deformation and buckling delamination. The influence of critical mechanical and thermal parameters of the bridging zone on the thermomechanical delamination behavior is discussed. Bridging fibers not only contribute to crack conductance, but by keeping the crack opening small they allow heat flux across the delamination crack to be sustained longer, and thereby contribute to reduced levels of thermal stresses. The micro-mechanism based cohesive zone model allows the assessment of the effectiveness of the individual mechanisms contributing to the thermomechanical crack bridging embedded into the structural analysis.     

Size effect and asymptotic matching analysis of fracture of closed-cell polymeric foam

The effect of structure size on the nominal strength of closed-cell PVC foam (Divinycell H100) is investigated experimentally, theoretically and numerically. Two types of size effect are considered––Type I, characterizing failure of structures with large cracks or notches, and Type II, characterizing failure at crack initiation. Geometrically similar single edge-notched prismatic specimens of cross section widths 6.35, 43.9 and 305 mm, are tested under tension. The results are shown to agree with Bažant’s law for type I energetic (deterministic) size effect derived by asymptotic matching of a solution by equivalent linear elastic fracture mechanics for large sizes and plastic crack solution for small sizes (in the derivation, the statically indeterminate size-dependent lateral shift of the axial load resultant due to rotational end restrain is taken into account). Fitting this law, previously verified for many quasibrittle materials, to the test results furnishes the values of the fracture energy of the foam as well as the characteristic size of the fracture process zone of foam. The size effect method of measuring the fracture characteristics of foam is further supported by analysis of recent notched beam tests of Zenkert and Bäcklund. Furthermore, it is shown that compressed V-notched specimens exhibit no size effect. Subsequently, the size effect of Type II is studied using previous test data of Fleck, Olurin and co-workers for dissimilar long holed panels having different width and different diameter-width ratios. An asymptotic matching formula for this type of size effect (similar to a previously derived formula for kink band failure of fiber composites) is set up and is shown capable of matching the test data well. But its verification as a predictive tool cannot yet be claimed because of inaccurate asymptotic properties of the available energy release function. Finally, the size effect of Type I is analyzed using the eigenvalue method for the cohesive crack model and the numerical results are shown to agree again with both Bažant’s size effect law and the test results.     

A thermo-mechanical cohesive zone formulation for ductile fracture

The paper addresses the possibility to project both mechanical and thermal phenomena pertinent to the fracture process zone into a cohesive zone. A wider interpretation of the notion cohesive zone is thereby suggested to comprise not only stress degradation due to micro-cracking but also heat generation and energy transport. According to our experience, this widening of the cohesive zone concept allows for a more efficient finite element simulation of ductile fracture. The key feature of the formulation concerns the thermo-mechanical cohesive zone model, evolving within the thermo-hyperelastoplastic continuum, allowing for the concurrent modelling of both heat generation, due to the fracture process, and heat transfer across the fracture process zone. This is accomplished via thermodynamic arguments to obtain the coupled governing equation of motion, energy equation, and constitutive equations. The deformation map is thereby defined in terms of independent continuous and discontinuous portions of the displacement field. In addition, as an extension of the displacement kinematics, to represent the temperature field associated with the discontinuous heat flux across the fracture interface, a matching discontinuous temperature field involving the interface (or band) temperature is proposed. In the first numerical example, concerning dynamic quasi-brittle crack propagation in a thermo-hyperelastoplastic material, we capture the initial increase in temperature close to the crack surface due to the energy dissipating fracture process. In the second example, a novel application of ductile fracture simulation to the process of high velocity (adiabatic) cutting is considered, where some general trends are observed when varying the cutting velocity.     

Theoretical development and experimental validation of a thermally dissipative cohesive zone model for dynamic fracture of amorphous polymers

A thermally dissipative cohesive zone model is developed for predicting the temperature increase at the tip of a crack propagating dynamically in a nominally brittle material exhibiting a cohesive-type failure such as crazing. The model assumes that fracture energy supplied to the crack tip region that is in excess of that needed for the creation of new free surfaces during crack advance is converted to heat within the cohesive zone. Bulk dissipation mechanisms, such as plasticity, are not accounted for. Several cohesive traction laws are examined, and the model is then used to make predictions of crack tip heating at various crack propagation speeds in the nominally brittle amorphous polymer PMMA, observed to fail by a crazing-type mechanism. The heating predictions are compared to experimental data where the temperature field surrounding a high speed crack in PMMA was measured. Measurements are made in real time using a multi-point high speed HgCdTe infrared radiation detector array. At the same time as temperature, simultaneous measurement of fracture energy is made by a strain gauge technique, and crack tip speed is monitored through a resistance ladder method. Material strength can be estimated through uniaxial tension tests, thus minimizing the need for parameter fitting in the stress-opening traction law. Excellent agreement between experiments and theory is found for two of the cohesive traction law temperature predictions, but only for the case where a single craze is active during the dynamic fracture of PMMA, i.e. crack tip speed up to approximately 0.2c_R. For higher speed fracture where subsurface damage becomes prominent, the line dissipation model of a cohesive zone is inadequate, and a distributed damage model is needed.     

Nonlinear interface shear fracture of end notched flexure specimens

The nonlinear analytical solutions of an end notched flexure adhesive joint or fracture test specimen with identical or dissimilar adherends are investigated. In the current study, a cohesive zone model (with arbitrary nonlinear cohesive laws) based analytical solution is obtained for the interface shear fracture of an end notched flexure (ENF) specimen with sufficiently long bond length. It is found that the scatter and inconsistency in calculating Mode II toughness may be significantly reduced by this model. The present work indicates that the Mode II toughness G_IIc under pure shear cracking condition is indeed very weakly dependent on the initial crack length. And this conclusion is well supported by the experimental results found in the literature. The parametric studies show that the interface shear strength is the most dominant parameter on the critical load. It is also interesting to note that with very short initial crack length and identical interface shear strength, higher Mode II toughness indeed cannot increase the critical load. Unlike the high insensitivity of critical load to the detailed shape of the cohesive law for Mode I peel fracture, the shape of the cohesive law becomes relatively important for the critical load of joints under pure Mode II fracture conditions, especially for joints with short initial crack length. The current study may help researchers deepen the understanding of interface shear fracture and clarify some previous concepts on this fracture mode.     

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。     

Monte Carlo simulation of complex cohesive fracture in random heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials

A numerical method is developed to simulate complex two-dimensional crack propagation in quasi-brittle materials considering random heterogeneous fracture properties. Potential cracks are represented by pre-inserted cohesive elements with tension and shear softening constitutive laws modelled by spatially-varying Weibull random fields. Monte Carlo simulations of a concrete specimen under uni-axial tension were carried out with extensive investigation of the effects of important numerical algorithms and material properties on numerical efficiency and stability, crack propagation processes and load-carrying capacities. It was found that the homogeneous model led to incorrect crack patterns and load–displacement curves with strong mesh-dependence, whereas the heterogeneous model predicted realistic, complicated fracture processes and load-carrying capacity of little mesh-dependence. Increasing the variance of the tensile strength random fields with increased heterogeneity led to reduction in the mean peak load and increase in the standard deviation. The developed method provides a simple but effective tool for assessment of structural reliability and calculation of characteristic material strength for structural design.