Dynamic interfacial crack propagation in elastic–piezoelectric bi-materials subjected to uniformly distributed loading

In transversely isotropic elastic solids, there is no surface wave for anti-plane deformation. However, for certain orientations of piezoelectric materials, a surface wave propagating along the free surface (interface) will occur and is called the Bleustein–Gulyaev (Maerfeld–Tournois) wave. The existence of the surface wave strongly influences the crack propagation event. The nature of anti-plane dynamic fracture in piezoelectric materials is fundamentally different from that in purely elastic solids. Piezoelectric surface wave phenomena are clearly seen to be critical to the behavior of the moving crack. In this paper, the problem of dynamic interfacial crack propagation in elastic–piezoelectric bi-materials subjected to uniformly distributed dynamic anti-plane loadings on crack faces is studied. Four situations for different combination of shear wave velocity and the existence of MT surface wave are discussed to completely analyze this problem. The mixed boundary value problem is solved by transform methods together with the Wiener–Hopf and Cagniard–de Hoop techniques. The analytical results of the transient full-field solutions and the dynamic stress intensity factor for the interfacial crack propagation problem are obtained in explicit forms. The numerical results based on analytical solutions are evaluated and are discussed in detail.     

Interfacial Energies for Incoherent Inclusions

We study a variational problem describing an incoherent interface between a rigid inclusion and a linearly elastic matrix. The elastic material is allowed to slip relative to the inclusion along the interface, and the resulting mismatch is penalized by an interfacial energy term that depends on the surface gradient of the relative displacement. The competition between the elastic and interfacial energies induces a threshold effect when the interfacial energy density is non-smooth: small inclusions are coherent (no mismatch); sufficiently large inclusions are incoherent. We also show that the relaxation of the energy functional can be written as the sum of the bulk elastic energy functional and the tangential quasiconvex envelope of the interfacial energy functional.     

The deformation of the front of a 3D interface crack propagating quasistatically in a medium with random fracture properties

One studies the evolution in time of the deformation of the front of a semi-infinite 3D interface crack propagating quasistatically in an infinite heterogeneous elastic body. The fracture properties are assumed to be lower on the interface than in the materials so that crack propagation is channelled along the interface, and to vary randomly within the crack plane. The work is based on earlier formulae which provide the first-order change of the stress intensity factors along the front of a semi-infinite interface crack arising from some small but otherwise arbitrary in-plane perturbation of this front. The main object of study is the long-time behavior of various statistical measures of the deformation of the crack front. Special attention is paid to the influences of the mismatch of elastic properties, the type of propagation law (fatigue or brittle fracture) and the stable or unstable character of 2D crack propagation (depending on the loading) upon the development of this deformation.     

Crack front pinning by design in planar heterogeneous interfaces

The propagation of an interfacial crack front along the weak plane of a thin film stack is considered. A simple patterning technique is used to create a toughness contrast within this perfectly two-dimensional weak interface. The transparency of the specimens allows us to directly observe the propagation of the purely planar crack obtained during a DCB (double cantilever beam) test. The effect on the crack front morphology of macroscopic unidimensional patterns in the direction of propagation is studied. In these weak pinning conditions, the geometry of the front quantitatively agrees with the first-order expansion proposed by Gao and Rice [1989. First-order perturbation analysis of crack trapping by arrays of obstacles. J. Appl. Mech. 56, 828-836] which accounts for the effect of the interfacial crack front geometry on the stress intensity factor.     

含界面相Voronoi单元的等效弹性常数的计算

采用含界面相Voronoi单元有限元法,根据广义胡克定律,计算了在给定边界条件下,颗粒增强复合材料的等效弹性常数。建立了含多个随机分布的椭圆形夹杂及界面相的VCFEM模型,分析了夹杂体分比,界面相厚度和界面相弹性模量等因素对颗粒增强复合材料等效弹性常数的影响,并利用普通有限元方法对比验证。结果表明,当界面相弹性模量小于基体与夹杂时,材料的等效弹性模量会随着界面相厚度的增大而减小,随着夹杂体分比的增大而减小,并且界面过薄时,材料的等效弹性模量会随着夹杂体分比的增大而增大;当界面相弹性模量大于基体或夹杂时,材料的等效弹性模量会随着夹杂体分比和界面相厚度的增大而增大。而界面相的厚度和弹性模量对材料的等效泊松比的影响较小,材料的等效泊松比主要受夹杂体分比的影响,与其呈反比关系。     

Symmetric and skew-symmetric weight functions in 2D perturbation models for semi-infinite interfacial cracks

In this paper we address the vector problem of a 2D half-plane interfacial crack loaded by a general asymmetric distribution of forces acting on its faces. It is shown that the general integral formula for the evaluation of stress intensity factors, as well as high-order terms, requires both symmetric and skew-symmetric weight function matrices. The symmetric weight function matrix is obtained via the solution of a Wiener–Hopf functional equation, whereas the derivation of the skew-symmetric weight function matrix requires the construction of the corresponding full field singular solution.The weight function matrices are then used in the perturbation analysis of a crack advancing quasi-statically along the interface between two dissimilar media. A general and rigorous asymptotic procedure is developed to compute the perturbations of stress intensity factors as well as high-order terms.     

ASYMPTOTIC ANALYSIS OF MODE Ⅱ STATIONARY GROWTH CRACK ON ELASTIC-ELASTIC POWER LAW CREEPING BIMATERIAL INTERFACE

A mechanical model was established for mode Ⅱ interfacial crack static growing along an elastic-elastic power law creeping bimaterial interface. For two kinds of boundary conditions on crack faces, traction free and frictional contact, asymptotic solutions of the stress and strain near tip-crack were given. Results derived indicate that the stress and strain have the same singularity, there is not the oscillatory singularity in the field; the creep power-hardening index n and the ratio of Young' s module notably influence the cracktip field in region of elastic power law creeping material and n only influences distribution of stresses and strains in region of elastic material. When n is bigger, the creeping deformation is dominant and stress fields become steady, which does not change with n.Poisson ' s ratio does not affect the distributing of the crack- tip field.     

A general solution method for an anti-plane shear crack dynamically accelerating along a bimaterial interface

We develop a general solution method for a dynamically accelerating crack under anti-plane shear conditions along the interface between two different homogeneous isotropic elastic materials. The crack is initially at rest, and after loading is applied the crack-tip speed which may accelerate up to the shear wave speed of the more compliant material. The analysis includes an exact, closed-form expression for the stress intensity factor for an arbitrary time-dependent crack-face traction, as well as expressions for computing the crack-face displacements and the stress in front of the crack. We also present some numerical examples for fixed loads and for loads moving with the crack tip, using a stress intensity factor fracture criterion, in order to examine the predicted effect of material mismatch on interfacial fracture.     

Mode-3 spontaneous crack propagation along functionally graded bimaterial interfaces

The effects of combining functionally graded materials (FGMs) of different inhomogeneous property gradients on the mode-3 propagation characteristics of an interfacial crack are numerically investigated. Spontaneous interfacial crack propagation simulations were performed using the newly developed spectral scheme. The numerical scheme derived and implemented in the present work can efficiently simulate planar crack propagation along functionally graded bimaterial interfaces. The material property inhomogeneity was assumed to be in the direction normal to the interface. Various bimaterial combinations were simulated by varying the material property inhomogeneity length scale. Our parametric study showed that the inclusion of a softening type FGM in the bimaterial system leads to a reduction in the fracture resistance indicated by the increase in crack propagation velocity and power absorbed. An opposite trend of increased fracture resistance was predicted when a hardening material was included in the bimaterial system. The cohesive tractions and crack opening displacements were altered due to the material property inhomogeneity, but the stresses ahead of the cohesive zone remained unaffected.     

Microscopic analysis of crack propagation for multiple cracks, inclusions and voids

The elastic crack interaction with internal defects, such as microcracks, voids and rigid inclusions, is investigated in this study for the purpose of analyzing crack propagation. The elastic stress field is obtained using linear theory of elasticity for isotropic materials. The cracks are modeled as pile-ups of edge dislocations resulting into a coupled set of integral equations, whose kernels are those of a dislocation in a medium with or without an inclusion or void. The numerical solution of these equations gives the stress intensity factors and the complete stress field in the given domain. The solution is valid for a general solid, however the propagation analysis is valid mostly for brittle materials. Among different propagation models the ones based on maximum circumferential stress and minimum strain energy density theories, are employed. A special emphasis is given to the estimation of the crack propagation direction that defines the direction of crack branching or kinking. Once a propagation direction is determined, an improved model dealing with kinked cracks must be employed to follow the propagation behavior.     

纤维复合材料界面横向拉伸分析

以单纤维十字型横向拉伸试验为研究对象,对纤维/基体界面采用弹性-软化双线性内聚力模型,建立了纤维复合材料在横向拉伸作用下界面法向失效过程的解析模型。得到了沿纤维/基体圆周界面的法向应力分布,纤维/基体界面的状态与界面承载力和单纤维复合材料承载力的关系,以及内聚力参数和试件几何尺寸对它们的影响。结果表明:纤维/基体圆周界面在脱粘前经历全部弹性及弹性+软化两种状态;当界面为弹性状态时,界面法向应力随界面强度线性增加;当界面为弹性+软化状态时,界面软化范围随界面裂纹萌生位移的增加而增大;界面初始脱粘位置与拉伸荷载方向重合;界面初始脱粘时的界面承载力随界面强度及界面裂纹萌生位移的增加而增加,随界面裂纹生成位移的增加而降低;单纤维复合材料的脱粘荷载受基体截面尺寸的影响,当纤维体积含量相同时,沿荷载方向截面尺寸的增大对提高脱粘荷载更显著。     

界面裂纹萌生与扩展的分子动力学模拟

运用分子动力学模拟方法研究了裂纹在界面端处萌生与沿界面扩展的临界条件. 模拟考虑了一双相材料的3种模型，即构成90°/90°和 90°/180°夹角的两个界面端和一个界面裂纹. 模拟采用了包含原子区域与连续区域的并发型多尺度模型，即在界面端尖端和裂纹尖端附近 采用分子动力学(MD)方法，MD区域之外则按照线弹性有限元方法分析. 结果表明，在断裂启动时刻，3个模型沿界面的最大应力均达到界面理想强度；而且，其界 面能恰好足以克服界面材料的本征内聚能. 因此，界面端裂纹萌生与沿界面扩展的断裂条件可以通过界面理想强度和内聚能联系起来. 并基于模拟计算结果提出了界面断裂启动的统一准则.     

Interaction between heat dipole and circular interfacial crack

The heat dipole consists of a heat source and a heat sink. The problem of an interracial crack of a composite containing a circular inclusion under a heat dipole is investigated by using the analytical extension technique, the generalized Liouville theorem, and the Muskhelishvili boundary value theory. Temperature and stress fields are formulated. The effects of the temperature field and the inhomogeneity on the interracial fracture axe analyzed. As a numerical illustration, the thermal stress intensity factors of the interfacial crack are presented for various material combinations and different positions of the heat dipole. The characteristics of the interfacial crack depend on the elasticity, the thermal property of the composite, and the condition of the dipole.     

Dynamic crack growth along a polymer composite-Homalite interface

Dynamic crack growth along the interface of a fiber-reinforced polymer composite-Homalite bimaterial subjected to impact shear loading is investigated experimentally and numerically. In the experiments, the polymer composite-Homalite specimens are impacted with a projectile causing shear dominated interfacial cracks to initiate and subsequently grow along the interface at speeds faster than the shear wave speed of Homalite. Crack growth is observed using dynamic photoelasticity in conjunction with high-speed photography. The calculations are carried out for a plane stress model of the experimental configuration and are based on a cohesive surface formulation that allows crack growth, when it occurs, to emerge as a natural outcome of the deformation history. The effect of impact velocity and loading rate is explored numerically. The experiments and calculations are consistent in identifying discrete crack speed regimes within which crack growth at sustained crack speeds is possible. We present the first conclusive experimental evidence of interfacial crack speeds faster than any characteristic elastic wave speed of the more compliant material. The occurrence of this crack speed was predicted numerically and the calculations were used to design the experiments. In addition, the first experimental observation of a mother-daughter crack mechanism allowing a subsonic crack to evolve into an intersonic crack is documented. The calculations exhibit all the crack growth regimes seen in the experiments and, in addition, predict a regime with a pulse-like traction distribution along the bond line.     

Elastic Green’s Function in Anisotropic Bimaterials Considering Interfacial Elasticity

The two-dimensional elastic Green’s function is calculated for a general anisotropic elastic bimaterial containing a line dislocation and a concentrated force while accounting for the interfacial structure by means of a generalized interfacial elasticity paradigm. The introduction of the interface elasticity model gives rise to boundary conditions that are effectively equivalent to those of a weakly bounded interface. The equations of elastic equilibrium are solved by complex variable techniques and the method of analytical continuation. The solution is decomposed into the sum of the Green’s function corresponding to the perfectly bonded interface and a perturbation term corresponding to the complex coupling nature between the interface structure and a line dislocation/concentrated force. Such construct can be implemented into the boundary integral equations and the boundary element method for analysis of nano-layered structures and epitaxial systems where the interface structure plays an important role.     

Interaction between heat dipole and circular interracial crack

The heat dipole consists of a heat source and a heat sink. The problem of an interfacial crack of a composite containing a circular inclusion under a heat dipole is investigated by using the analytical extension technique, the generalized Liouville theo-rem, and the Muskhelishvili boundary value theory. Temperature and stress fields are formulated. The effects of the temperature field and the inhomogeneity on the interracial fracture are analyzed. As a numerical illustration, the thermal stress intensity factors of the interfacial crack are presented for various material combinations and different po-sitions of the heat dipole. The characteristics of the interfacial crack depend on the elasticity, the thermal property of the composite, and the condition of the dipole.     

Stress-driven interfacial instability of a bilayer structure: The interaction between free surface and interface

The morphological evolution of strained films is of technological importance to microelectronics and nanotechnology. The morphological instability of a bilayer system is analyzed, consisting of an elastic film and an elastic substrate with a misfit strain on the coherent interface. A kinetic model is derived by considering the morphological fluctuations of different perturbation amplitudes along both the free surface and the interface and the coupling effect between the film and the substrate. The couplings include the misfit strain, surface/interface energy, and surface/interface diffusion, which determine the morphological instability of the system. A quadratic dispersion relationship is established for the growth rate of the longitudinal surface and interfacial perturbations along the free surface and the interface, respectively. The propagation of the surface perturbations is revealed from the free surface to the interface, and the characteristic frequencies are identified for the initiation of the morphological instability.     

Interfacial cracks between piezoelectric and elastic materials under in-plane electric loading

A new experimental technique for accelerated fatigue crack growth tests was recently developed (Du et al., 2001). The technique, which uses piezoelectric actuators, enables application of cyclic loading at frequencies several orders higher than that by mechanical loading. However, the validity of this technique relies on the equivalence between piezoelectric and mechanical loading. In this paper, the behavior of an interfacial crack between a piezoelectric material and an elastic material under in-plane electric loading is studied. The displacement mismatch along a bonded interface due to electric potential loading on the piezoelectric material is modeled by inserting an array of uniformly distributed dislocations along the interface. By means of Fourier transformation methods, the governing equations are converted to an integral equation, which is then converted to a standard Hilbert problem. A closed form solution for stresses, electric field, and electric displacements along the bonded interface is obtained. The results agree very well with those obtained from numerical simulations. The results show that the closed form solution is accurate not only for far field distributions of stresses and electric variables, but also for the asymptotic distributions near the crack tip. The solution also suggests the likelihood of domain switching in the piezoelectric material near the crack tip, a process that may influence the interfacial fracture resistance.     

Integral Identities for a Semi-infinite Interfacial Crack in 2D and 3D Elasticity

The paper is concerned with the problem of a semi-infinite crack at the interface between two dissimilar elastic half-spaces, loaded by a general asymmetrical system of forces distributed along the crack faces. On the basis of the weight function approach and the fundamental reciprocal identity (Betti formula), we formulate the elasticity problem in terms of singular integral equations relating the applied loading and the resulting crack opening. Such formulation is fundamental in the theory of elasticity and extensively used to solve several problems in linear elastic fracture mechanics (for instance various classic crack problems in homogeneous and heterogeneous media).