Perturbation approaches of a planar crack in linear elastic fracture mechanics: A review

One current challenge of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is to take into account the non-linearities induced by the crack front deformations. For this, a suitable approach is the crack front perturbation method initiated by Rice (1985). It allows to update the stress intensity factors (SIFs) when the crack front of a planar crack is perturbed in its plane. This approach and its later extensions to more complex cases are recalled in this review. Applications concerning the deformation of the crack front when it propagates quasistatically in a homogeneous or heterogeneous media have been considered in brittle fracture, fatigue or subcritical propagation. The crack shapes corresponding to uniform SIF have been derived: cracks with straight or circular fronts, but also when bifurcations exist, with wavy front. For an initial straight crack, it has been shown that, in homogeneous media, in the quasistatic case, perturbations of all lengthscales progressively disappear unless disordered fracture properties yields Family and Vicsek (1985) roughness of the crack front. Extension of those perturbation approaches to more realistic geometries and to coalescence of cracks is also envisaged.     

The simulation of dynamic crack propagation using the cohesive segments method

The cohesive segments method is a finite element framework that allows for the simulation of the nucleation, growth and coalescence of multiple cracks in solids. In this framework, cracks are introduced as jumps in the displacement field by employing the partition of unity property of finite element shape functions. The magnitude of these jumps are governed by cohesive constitutive relations. In this paper, the cohesive segments method is extended for the simulation of fast crack propagation in brittle solids. The performance of the method is demonstrated in several examples involving crack growth in linear elastic solids under plane stress conditions: tensile loading of a block; shear loading of a block and crack growth along and near a bi-material interface.     

Crack tip blunting and cleavage under dynamic conditions

In structural materials with both brittle and ductile phases, cracks often initiate within the brittle phase and propagate dynamically towards the ductile phase. The macroscale, quasistatic toughness of the material thus depends on the outcome of this microscale, dynamic process. Indeed, dynamics has been hypothesized to suppress dislocation emission, which may explain the occurrence of brittle transgranular fracture in mild steels at low temperatures (Lin et al., 1987). Here, crack tip blunting and cleavage under dynamic conditions are explored using continuum mechanics and molecular dynamics simulations. The focus is on two questions: (1) whether dynamics can affect the energy barriers for dislocation emission and cleavage, and (2) what happens in the dynamic “overloaded” situation, in which both processes are energetically possible. In either case, dynamics may shift the balance between brittle cleavage and ductile blunting, thereby affecting the intrinsic ductility of the material. To explore these effects in simulation, a novel interatomic potential is used for which the intrinsic ductility is tunable, and a novel simulation technique is employed, termed as a “dynamic cleavage test”, in which cracks can be run dynamically at a prescribed energy release rate into a material. Both theory and simulation reveal, however, that the intrinsic ductility of a material is unaffected by dynamics. The energy barrier to dislocation emission appears to be identical in quasi-static and dynamic conditions, and, in the overloaded situation, ductile crack tip behavior ultimately prevails since a single emission event can blunt and arrest the crack, preventing further cleavage. Thus, dynamics cannot embrittle a ductile material, and the origin of brittle failure in certain alloys (e.g., mild steels) appears unrelated to dynamic effects at the crack tip.     

Brush-like modes of fatigue fracture in unidirectional fibre composites

Fatigue fracture of unidirectional fibre composites under tension along the fibres is discussed with account of the interaction between various mechanisms of damage such as single and multiple fibre ruptures, matrix cracking, and matrix-fibre debonding. The case of brittle fibres and a comparatively weak and ductile matrix is considered that exposes non-conventional modes of fracture, named “brush-like” cracks. Growth of such cracks under cyclic quasistatic loading is studied, and the effect of various factors on the crack growth rate is investigated.     

Numerical analysis of quasi-static crack branching in brittle solids by a modified displacement discontinuity method

Mechanism of quasi-static crack branching in brittle solids has been analyzed by a modified displacement discontinuity method. It has been assumed that the pre-existing cracks in brittle solids may propagate at the crack tips due to the initiation and propagation of the kink (or wing) cracks. The originated wing cracks will act as new cracks and can be further propagated from their tips according to the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) theory. The kink displacement discontinuity formulations (considering the linear and quadratic interpolation functions) are specially developed to calculate the displacement discontinuities for the left and right sides of a kink point so that the first and second mode kink stress intensity factors can be estimated. The crack tips are also treated by boundary displacement collocation technique considering the singularity variation of the displacements and stresses near the crack tip. The propagating direction of the secondary cracks can be predicted by using the maximum tangential stress criterion. An iterative algorithm is used to predict the crack propagating path assuming an incremental increase of the crack length in the predicted direction (straight and curved cracks have been treated). The same approach has been used for estimating the crack propagating direction and path of the original and wing cracks considering the special crack tip elements. Some example problems are numerically solved assuming quasi-static conditions. These results are compared with the corresponding experimental and numerical results given in the literature. This comparison validates the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method.     

Axially symmetric thermal stress of an external circular crack under general thermal conditions

Summary The paper presents a solution for the linear thermoelastic problem of determining axisymmetric stress and displacement fields in an isotropic elastic solid of infinite extent weakened by an external circular crack under general mechanical loadings and general thermal conditions. The mechanical loadings and thermal conditions applied on the crack faces are axisymmetric, being non-symmetric about the crack plane. In similar lines of [7], equations of equilibrium of an elastic solid conducting heat have been solved using Hankel transforms and Abel operators of the first kind. Expressions for stress, displacement, temperature and heat flux functions are obtained in terms of Abel transforms of the first kind of the jumps of stress, displacement, temperature and heat flux at the crack plane. Two types of thermal conditions, that is, general surface temperatures and general heat flux on faces of the crack are considered. In both the cases, closed form solutions have been obtained for the unknown functions solving Abel type of integral equations. Explicit expressions for stresses, displacements, temperature fields, stress intensity factors have been obtained. Two special cases of thermal conditions in which: (i) crack faces are subjected to constant non-symmetric temperatures over a circular ring area, (ii) crack faces are subjected to constant non-symmetric heat flux over a circular ring area, have been considered. In some special cases, results have been compared with those from the literature.     

Isotropic/orthotropic two-layered strips containing cracks terminating at and going through an interface

Crack problems for isotropic/orthotropic two-layered strips have been investigated. A system of two singular integral equations can be derived by using Fourier integral transformation and boundary conditions of crack problems. After stress singularities at crack tips or other special points are determined for internal and edge cracks, and for cracks terminating at and going through the interface, the system of singular integral equations is solved numerically by Gauss-Jacobi or Gauss-Chebyshev integration formulas for stress intensity factors at the tips and other singular points of cracks. Finally, possible crack growth behavior for cracks approaching and going through the interface is discussed.     

Thermal weight functions for bi-material interface crack system using energy principles

In this study, Betti’s reciprocal theorem and the principle of superposition are used to obtain weight functions in a two-dimensional bi-material interface crack system for any loading, in general and thermal loading, in particular. It is shown that the general expression of weight functions for bi-materials interface crack problems is of the same type as that found in a homogeneous mixed mode loading case. Furthermore, a computational approach has been developed for calculation of thermal stress intensity factors for bi-material interface cracks subjected to thermal loading under quasi-static uncoupled thermo-elasticity assumption. The thermal weight function (TWF) expression and computational scheme have been validated using three examples given in the available literature.     

Curved thermal crack growth in nonhomogeneous materials with different shaped external boundaries II. Experimental results

Curved thermal cracks are considered running along special principal stress trajectories in self-stressed two-phase solids with different cross sections. The resulting mixed boundary-value problems of the stationary plane thermoelasticity are solved by applying the finite element method. Moreover, using appropriate directional criteria established for crack path prediction, the further extension of thermal cracks starting at the external surfaces of different shaped two-phase solids has been determined. Furthermore, the corresponding fracture mechanical data like crack edge displacements, strain energy release rates and stress intensity factors, respectively, have been calculated. Finally, the theoretical investigations given in part I of the paper are compared with experiments using differing optical methods of the experimental stress analysis. The experimental results reported in part II of the paper and the theoretical calculations show a reasonable agreement.     

Thermal fracture of a functionally graded/homogeneous bimaterial with system of cracks

The thermal fracture of a bimaterial consisting of a homogeneous material and a functionally graded material (FGM) with a system of internal cracks and an interface crack is investigated. The bimaterial is subjected to a heat flux. The thermal properties of FGM are assumed to be continues functions of the thickness coordinate, while the elastic properties are constants. The method of the solution is based on the singular integral equations. For a special case where the interface crack is much larger than the internal cracks in the FGM the asymptotic analytical solution of the problem is obtained as series in a small parameter (the ratio between sizes of the internal and interface crack) and the thermal stress intensity factors (TSIFs) are derived as functions of geometry of the problem and material characteristics. A parametric analysis of the effects of the location and orientation of the cracks and of the inhomogeneity parameter of FGM’s thermal conductivity on the TSIFs is performed. The results are applicable to such kinds FGMs as ceramic/ceramic FGMs, e.g., TiC/SiC, MoSi₂/Al₂O₃ and MoSi₂/SiC, and also some ceramic/metal FGMs.     

压电体中孔边Ⅲ型界面裂纹的动应力强度因子

采用Green函数法研究界面上含圆孔边界径向有限长度裂纹的两半无限压电材料对SH波的散射和裂纹尖端动应力强度因子问题.首先构造出具有半圆型凹陷半空间的位移Green函数和电场Green函数,然后采用裂纹"切割"方法构造孔边裂纹,并根据契合思想和界面上的连接条件建立起求解问题的定解积分方程.最后作为算例,给出了孔边界面裂纹尖端动应力强度因子的计算结果图并进行了讨论.     

The brittle and ductile behavior of clay samples containing a crack under mixed mode loading

The mechanics of propagation of a single crack in brittle and ductile samples of clay as well as their mode of failure were investigated. The crack in the brittle and in the ductile samples was subjected to a mixed-mode (Mode I and Mode II) type of loading. In the brittle and ductile samples, secondary cracks developed from the tips of the original crack. The secondary cracks did not follow the plane of the original crack but formed an angle α with this plane. The angle of crack propagation α was greater in the brittle than in the ductile samples. The brittle samples failed when the secondary cracks reached the edges of the samples. Their mode of failure was a typical tensile failure. In the ductile samples, the secondary cracks extended for a limited distance from the tips of the original crack and did not influence the failure of the samples that was recorded to be in shear. The Maximum Tangential Stress criterion predicted well the direction of crack propagation in the brittle clay samples. The direction of crack propagation in the ductile samples of clay was found to be a function of their water content. From the laboratory results, a relationship from which to obtain the angle of crack propagation α in the ductile samples is presented.     

Mode III stress intensity factors for edge-cracked circular shafts,bonded wedges,bonded half planes and DCB’s

Antiplane shear deformation of several edge-cracked geometries is considered. Analytical expressions are derived for the mode III stress intensity factor (SIF) of circular shafts with edge cracks, bonded half planes containing an interfacial edge crack, bonded wedges with an interfacial edge crack and also DCB’s. The results are extracted for simple isotropic materials as well as anisotropic materials and also bonded dissimilar materials and it is shown that the same expressions are obtained for the SIF under the same geometries but with different above-mentioned material properties. Different boundary conditions are assumed and the SIF relations are derived in each case. As the special cases, the SIF’s of the two bonded quarter planes containing an edge crack at the interface and infinite strip with a semi-infinite edge crack are extracted which coincide with the results cited in the literature.     

高温蒸汽作用下花岗岩热破裂的试验研究

利用自主研制的对流加热原位开采模拟实验台和真三轴压力机,研究了不均匀地应力状态下注蒸汽花岗岩热破裂的破裂规律.在本次试验条件下,花岗岩发生脆性破裂温度为483℃,蒸汽压力为10.6 MPa;高温高压蒸汽作用下,花岗岩除了在沿着垂直于最小主应力方向产生主裂缝,还会由于热破裂,在其他方向产生一定数量随机分布的次生裂缝;不同方向裂缝的形成,对于形成相互连通的空问裂隙网络有实际意义,从而有助于提高地热开采效率.     

Interaction of three interfacial Griffith cracks between bonded dissimilar orthotropic half planes

The paper deals with the interaction of a pair of outer cracks on a central crack situated at the interface of two dissimilar orthotropic half-planes. The mixed boundary value problem is reduced to solving a pair of simultaneous singular integral equations which have finally been solved numerically by using Jacobi polynomials. The analytical expressions for stress intensity factors at the central crack tip and the expression of the strain energy release rate have been derived for general loading. Numerical values of the interaction effects of the outer cracks on the central crack have been calculated through stress magnification factors. It is seen that the interaction effects are either shielding or amplification depending on the size of the outer cracks and their spacing from the central crack.     

Numerical analysis of fast fracture and crack arrest in a sheet of elastic perfectly-plastic material

The dynamic fields for acceleration, deceleration and arrest of a crack tip have been investigated numerically. We consider cracks which start to extend rapidly under brittle conditions. The crack-tips then enter regions of elasto-plastic constitutive behavior and they are subsequently arrested. Results have been obtained for a symmetrically expanding central crack and for an edge crack, both in thin sheets. The elasto-plastic behavior has been described by J₂ flow theory, with the von Mises yield criterion and a bilinear relation between effective stress and effective strain. Numerical results are presented for stress and strain components at a short distance ahead of the propagating and arresting crack tips.     

A nonlocal theory for brittle fracture

In this paper, a nonlocal theory of fracture for brittle materials has been systematically developed, which is composed of the nonlocal elastic stress fields of Griffith cracks of mode-I, II and III, the asymptotic forms of the stress fields at the neighborhood of the crack tips, and the maximum tensile stress criterion for brittle fracture. As an application of the theory, the fracture criteria of cracks of mode-I, II, III and mixed mode I–II, I–III are given in detail and compared with some experimental data and the theoretical results of minimum strain energy density factor.     

ANALYSIS OF A SCREW DISLOCATION INSIDE A CIRCULAR INCLUSION WITH INTERFACIAL CRACKS IN PIEZOELECTRIC COMPOSITES

IntroductionPiezoelectric materials have potentials for use in many modern devices and compositestructures. The presence of various defects, such as inclusions, holes, dislocations andcracks, can greatly influence their characteristics and coupled behavio…     

应用通用权函数法计算热机载荷作用下三维界面裂纹的应力强度因子

热机载荷共同作用下双材料、复合材料中的裂纹扩展往往发生在界面处,并且工程中实际遇到的裂纹大多数是三维裂纹,传统的求解热冲击及机械载荷共同作用下界面裂纹应力强度因子的数值方法如有限元、边界元法计算量大,计算效率低。由于通用权函数仅仅与裂纹体的几何形状有关,与载荷、时间无关,求解应力强度因子时避免了反复的应力分析,计算效率大大提高, 通用权函数法非常适合计算复杂冲击载荷下应力强度因子分布的过渡过程。根据Betti互易原理,本文推导出了三维界面裂纹问题通用权函数法的普遍表达式,并给出了热机载荷共同作用下三维界面I型、Ⅱ型和Ⅲ型裂纹问题通用权函数法的有限元格式. 通过实例计算比较,表明此方法得到的结果可以达到满意的工程应用精度。