Localization of deformation and stress–strain relation for mesoscopic heterogeneous brittle rock materials under unloading

Stress redistribution induced by excavation of underground engineering and slope engineering results in the unloading zone in parts of surrounding rock masses. The mechanical behaviors of crack-weakened rock masses under unloading are different from those of crack-weakened rock masses under loading. A micromechanics-based model has been proposed for brittle rock material undergoing irreversible changes of their microscopic structures due to microcrack growth when axial stress is held constant while lateral confinement is reduced. The basic idea of the present model is to classify the constitution relation of rock material into four stages including some of the stages of linear elasticity, pre-peak nonlinear hardening, rapid stress drop, and strain softening, and to investigate their corresponding micromechanical damage mechanisms individually. Special attention is paid to the transition from structure rearrangements on microscale to the macroscopic inelastic strain, to the transition from distribution damage to localization of damage and the transition from homogeneous deformation to localization of deformation. The closed-form explicit expression for the complete stress–strain relation of rock materials containing cracks under unloading is obtained. The results show that the complete stress–strain relation and the strength of rock materials under unloading depend on the crack spacing, the fracture toughness of rock materials, orientation of the cracks, the crack half-length and the crack density parameter.     

Modeling the Short-Term Damageability of a Transversely Isotropic Piezoelectric Material

A short-term microdamage theory for porous transversely isotropic piezoelectric materials is set forth. Microdamages are modeled by pores. The fracture criterion for a microvolume of a transversely isotropic medium is assumed to have the Huber–Mises form. The ultimate strength is a random function of coordinates with an exponential or Weibull distribution. The stress–strain distribution and effective properties of the material are determined from the stochastic electroelastic equations. The deformation and microdamage equations are closed by the porosity balance equations. For various values of electric intensity, the microdamage–macrodeformation relationships and deformation curves are plotted. The effect of electric intensity on the microdamage of piezoelectric materials is studied     

Short-Term Microdamageability of Laminated Materials under Thermal Actions

The theory of microdamageability of laminated materials is stated with account taken of the thermal effect. Microdamages in the components are simulated by pores empty or filled with particles of damaged material that resist compression. The fracture criterion is assumed to have the Nadai–Schleicher form, which takes into account the difference between the tensile and compressive ultimate loads, with the ultimate strength being a random function of coordinates with a power or Weibull distribution. The stress–strain state and the effective properties of the material are determined from the thermoelastic equations for laminated materials with porous components. The deformation and microdamage equations are closed by the equations of porosity balance corrected for the thermal effect. For various types of loading, nonlinear relations are derived for the coupled processes of deformation of a two-component laminated material and microdamage due to the thermal macrostrain of a component. The effect of physical and geometrical parameters on these processes is studied.     

Nonlinear analysis of beam–column joints using softened truss model

The aim of this study is to expand the application of the nonlinear softened truss model for membrane elements on beam–column joints. The softened truss model employs three equations for equilibrium, three for compatibility and four equations for the constitutive laws of materials. The constitutive equations for both the concrete and steel are based on the actually observed stress–strain relationships. The model has three important attributes. The first is the nonlinear association of stress and strain. The second, and conceivably more noteworthy, is the softening of concrete in compression due to tensile strains in the perpendicular direction. The third is that the influence of the concrete tensile stresses between cracks on the average stress–strain relationship for reinforcing steel and the influence of orthogonal tensile stresses on the compression stress–strain relationship for concrete can be considered in the model. For beam–column joints, one of the most important factors influencing the behaviour is certainly the bond conditions of the beam bars. In this study, the softened truss model is expanded to take into account the influence of this important factor into account. In the revised version of the model, full strain compatibility does not exist between the steel reinforcement and the surrounding concrete and thus the factors influencing the bond-slip between concrete and reinforcement is adequately considered. The improved softened truss model is applied on 51 exterior beam–column joint tests. It is apparent from the results that the revised model gives very accurate predictions of the shear strength of joints and is an improvement on the existing version of the model proposed by Hsu.     

Short-Term Damage Micromechanics of Laminated Fibrous Composites Under Thermal Actions

A microdamage theory is constructed for laminated fibrous materials with transversely isotropic fibers and a porous isotropic matrix under thermal actions. Microdamages in the matrix are simulated by pores, empty or filled with particles of the damaged material that resist compression. The fracture criterion for a microvolume of the matrix is assumed to have the Nadai–Schleicher form, which takes into account the difference between the tensile and compressive ultimate loads, with the ultimate strength being a random function of coordinates with a power or Weibull distribution. The stress–strain state and the effective properties of the material are determined from the thermoelastic equations for laminated fibrous materials with a porous matrix. The deformation and microdamage equations are closed by the porosity balance equations corrected for the thermal effect. For various types of loading, nonlinear relations are derived for the coupled processes of deformation of a laminated fibrous material and microdamage of the matrix due to the thermal macrostrain. The effect of physical and geometrical parameters on these processes is studied.     

Short-Term Microdamageability of Fibrous Materials with Transversely Isotropic Fibers Under Thermal Actions

The theory of microdamageability of fibrous materials with transversely isotropic fibers is stated with account taken of the thermal effect. Microdamages in the isotropic matrix are simulated by pores empty or filled with particles of damaged material that resist compression. The fracture criterion for a microvolume of the matrix is assumed to have the Nadai–Schleicher form, which takes into account the difference between the tensile and compressive ultimate loads, with the ultimate strength being a random function of coordinates with a power or Weibull distribution. The stress–strain state and the effective properties of the material are determined from the thermoelastic equations for fibrous materials with a porous matrix. The deformation and microdamage equations are closed by the equations of porosity balance corrected for the thermal effect. For various types of loading, nonlinear relations are derived for the coupled processes of deformation of a fibrous material and microdamage of the matrix due to the thermal macrostrain. The effect of physical and geometrical parameters on these processes is studied.     

Microstructure damage related to stress–strain curve for grain composites

Mathematical model of micro-heterogeneous medium with random deformation and strength properties of microstructure is developed assuming that the tensor of macroscopic deformations is known for the structure. Green–Somigliana tensor is used to obtain the formulas for random stress distribution in microstructure elements. The probability of the stress exceeding the ultimate strength in an element determines the probability of fracture in this element and the relative micro-damage. The correlation functions of stochastic microstructure ultimate strength condition are calculated for various types of stress. Normal distribution is used to calculate the damage. The distribution density can be adjusted through the stress moments to the fourth order.Micro-fractions change the composite’s macro modules of elasticity. Therefore, changes the relationship between stress and strain. Setting an increment step on the macro-strain axis, the stress–strain curve is plotted taking into account changes in composite properties. Stress–strain curves are obtained for different types of load.The increase of the factor of safety corresponds with the reduction of microstructure damage permitted in the design. Critical microstructure damage also depends on the dispersion of the microstructure properties. It is shown that the microstructure properties of composite significantly influence the behavior of materials under load and the shape of stress–strain curve. Findings are compared with experiment data.     

Prediction of 42CrMo steel flow stress at high temperature and strain rate

The compressive deformation behavior of 42CrMo steel was investigated at temperatures ranging from 850 to 1150 °C and strain rates from 0.01 to 50 s⁻¹ on Gleeble-1500 thermo-simulation machine. Based on the classical stress–dislocation relation and the kinematics of the dynamic recrystallization, the flow stress constitutive equations of the work hardening-dynamical recovery period and dynamical recrystallization period were established for 42CrMo steel, respectively. The stress–strain curves of 42CrMo steel predicted by the established models are in good agreement with experimental results when the strain rate is relatively low. So, the proposed deformation constitutive equations can be used to establish the hot formation processing parameters for 42CrMo steel.     

Effect of inner gas pressure on the elastoplastic behavior of porous materials: A second-order moment micromechanics model

A new micromechanics model based on the second-order moment of stress is established to investigate the effect of gas pressure on the nonlinear macroscopic constitutive relationship of the porous materials. The analytical method agrees well with numerical simulation based on the finite element method. Through a systematic study, we find that the gas pressure has a prominent effect on the nonlinear deformation behavior of the porous materials. The gas pressure can cause tension–compression asymmetry on the uniaxial stress–strain curve and the nominal Poisson’s ratio. The pore pressure significantly reduces the initial yield strength and failure strength of the porous metals, especially when the relative density of the material is small. The gas phase also strongly compromises the composite strength when the temperature is increased. The model may be useful for the evaluation of mechanical integrity of porous materials under various working conditions and working temperatures.     

Triaxial compressive behavior of rock with mesoscopic heterogenous behavior: Strain energy density factor approach

The strain energy density factor approach is used in conjunction with a micromechanics model to investigate the condition and direction of shear failure for brittle rock subjected to triaxial compression. Moderate confinement in addition to localized deformation and damage are considered. Quantified are the effects of the various geometric and load parameters that involve the interaction of microcrack, friction and the confining pressure such that the path of the wing crack is taken into account. The influence of all microcracks with different orientations are introduced into the constitutive relation. The closed-form solution for the complete stress–strain relation of rock containing microcracks is obtained. It is shown that the complete stress–strain relationship includes linear, nonlinear hardening, rapid stress drop and strain softening effects. The theoretical results show that deviation of the direction of wing cracks from the line of the pre-existing crack decreases with increasing confinement pressure and friction coefficient. Theoretical predictions and experimental results show good agreement.     

A two dimensional, experimental study on the evolution of the detachment and its time-behavior in filled rubber

Summary The detachment of a rubber matrix from a rigid inclusion under monotonic loading and at subsequent relaxation is investigated within two dimensional analysis. Examined are stress–strain experimental data acquired with the help of a test bed equipped with a digital image-acquisition device. The influence of the interfacial bonding strength and the particle size on the detachment process is analyzed. The influence of the interfacial bonding strength is visible in the stress–strain diagram of loading and in the recorded images. The relaxation test reveals no influence of the bonding strength on the stress-relaxation. However, the image analysis indicates a secondary transient creep of the contour of detachment, which depends on the interfacial bonding.     

Deformation and Microdamage of a Discrete-Fibrous Composite with Transversely Isotropic Components

The theory of microdamage for materials with a transversely isotropic matrix and unidirectional ellipsoid-like fibers is set forth. Microdamage is modeled by empty pores. The failure criterion for a microvolume is assumed to have the Huber–Mises form where the ultimate strength is a random function of coordinates with a power or Weibull distribution. The stress–strain state and effective properties of the material are determined from the theory of elasticity for materials with a transversely isotropic matrix and unidirectional fibers. The deformation and microdamage equations are closed by the porosity-balance equations. The nonlinear dependences of the coupled processes of deformation and microdamage on macrodeformations are constructed. The effect of physical and geometrical parameters on the processes is studied     

Thermoelastoplastic State of Flexible Laminated Shells under Axisymmetric Loading Along Various Plane Paths

The paper presents a technique for thermoelastoplastic stress–strain analysis of flexible laminated shells of revolution under complex axisymmetric loading. The constitutive deformation equations are used to describe loading along arbitrary plane paths. The problem is solved by the method of successive approximations. A numerical example is given     

A generalized anisotropic hardening rule based on the Mroz multi-yield-surface model for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials

In this paper, a generalized anisotropic hardening rule based on the Mroz multi-yield-surface model for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials is derived. The evolution equation for the active yield surface with reference to the memory yield surface is obtained by considering the continuous expansion of the active yield surface during the unloading/reloading process. The incremental constitutive relation based on the associated flow rule is then derived for a general yield function for pressure insensitive and sensitive materials. Detailed incremental constitutive relations for materials based on the Mises yield function, the Hill quadratic anisotropic yield function and the Drucker–Prager yield function are derived as the special cases. The closed-form solutions for one-dimensional stress–plastic strain curves are also derived and plotted for materials under cyclic loading conditions based on the three yield functions. In addition, the closed-form solutions for one-dimensional stress–plastic strain curves for materials based on the isotropic Cazacu–Barlat yield function under cyclic loading conditions are summarized and presented. For materials based on the Mises and the Hill anisotropic yield functions, the stress–plastic strain curves show closed hysteresis loops under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions and the Masing hypothesis is applicable. For materials based on the Drucker–Prager and Cazacu–Barlat yield functions, the stress–plastic strain curves do not close and show the ratcheting effect under uniaxial cyclic loading conditions. The ratcheting effect is due to different strain ranges for a given stress range for the unloading and reloading processes. With these closed-form solutions, the important effects of the yield surface geometry on the cyclic plastic behavior due to the pressure-sensitive yielding or the unsymmetric behavior in tension and compression can be shown unambiguously. The closed form solutions for the Drucker–Prager and Cazacu–Barlat yield functions with the associated flow rule also suggest that a more general anisotropic hardening theory needs to be developed to address the ratcheting effects for a given stress range.     

Numerical Nonaxisymmetric Thermostress Analysis of Compound Solids of Revolution with Damage

A technique is proposed to allow for deformation damage of cylindrically orthotropic elastic materials in a thermoelastoplastic stress–strain analysis of composite bodies of revolution under nonaxisymmetric loading and heating     

Modeling of fatigue life of materials and structures under low-cycle loading

A damaged medium model (DMM) consisting of three interconnected components (relations determining the cyclic elastoplastic behavior of the material, kinetic damage accumulation equations, and the strength criterion for the damaged material) was developed to estimate the stress strain state and the fatigue life of important engineering objects. The fatigue life of a strip with a cut under cyclic loading was estimated to obtain qualitative and quantitative estimates of the DMM constitutive relations under low-cycle loading. It was shown that the considered version of the constitutive relations reliably describes the main effects of elastoplastic deformation and the fatigue life processes of materials and structures.     

Gradient elasticity and nonstandard boundary conditions

Gradient elasticity for a second gradient model is addressed within a suitable thermodynamic framework apt to account for nonlocality. The pertinent thermodynamic restrictions upon the gradient constitutive equations are derived, which are shown to include, besides the field (differential) stress–strain laws, a set of nonstandard boundary conditions. Consistently with the latter thermodynamic requirements, a surface layer with membrane stresses is envisioned in the strained body, which together with the above nonstandard boundary conditions make the body constitutively insulated (i.e. no long distance energy flows out of the boundary surface due to nonlocality). The total strain energy is shown to include a bulk and surface strain energy. A minimum total potential energy principle is provided for the related structural boundary-value problem. The Toupin–Mindlin polar-type strain gradient material model is also addressed and compared with the above one, their substantial differences are pointed out, particularly for what regards the constitutive equations and the boundary conditions accompanying the solving displacement equilibrium equations. A gradient one-dimensional bar sample in tension is considered for a few applications of the proposed theory.     

Upper and lower bounds for constitutive relation of crack-weakened rock masses under dynamic compressive loads

A micro-mechanics-based model is proposed to investigate the rate-dependent constitutive relation for crack-weakened rock masses subjected to dynamic compressive loads. The present micro-mechanical model reveals that the nucleation, growth and coalescence of sliding cracks dominate the failure and macroscopic properties of crack-weakened rock masses subjected to dynamic compressive loads. The interactions among multiple parallel sliding cracks in crack-weakened rock masses subjected to dynamic compressive loads are examined asymptotically in an explicit and quantitative manner in order to reveal fully their so-called shielding and magnification effects on the stress–strain relation. Based on the micro-mechanical framework and the asymptotic analysis, analytical upper and lower bounds are proposed for the rate-relation for rock masses containing multiple rows of echelon cracks subjected to dynamic compressive loads. The factors that affect the rate-dependent properties of crack-weakened rock masses have been analyzed. The strain energy density factor approach, which is related to crack growth velocity and dynamic fracture toughness of rock material, is employed in the analysis. The rate-dependent constitutive relation of crack-weakened rock masses is derived from micro-mechanical framework and the asymptotic analysis. The closed-form explicit expression for the rate-dependent constitutive relation of rock masses containing echelon cracks subjected to dynamic compressive loads is obtained. Finally, the present model is used to analyze the complete stress–strain relation and strength for jointed rock masses at shiplock slope of the Three Gorges Dam.     

Finite element computation of torsional plastic waves in a thin-walled tube

Summary  A finite element technique is presented for the analysis of one-dimensional torsional plastic waves in a thin-walled tube. Three different nonlinear consitutive relations deduced from elementary mechanical models are used to describe the shear stress–strain characteristics of the tube material at high rates of strain. The resulting incremental equations of torsional motion for the tube are solved by applying a direct numerical integration technique in conjunction with the constitutive relations. The finite element solutions for torsional plastic waves in a long copper tube subjected to an imposed angular velocity at one end are given, and a comparison with available experimental results to assess the accuracy of the constitutive relations considered is conducted. It is demonstrated that the strain-rate dependent solutions show a better agreement with the experimental results than the strain-rate independent solutions. The limitations of the constitutive equations are discussed, and some modifications are suggested. Received 9 February 1999; accepted for publication 28 March 2000     

On the influence of stress triaxiality and strain rate on the behaviour of a structural steel. Part I. Experiments

Notched axisymmetric specimens of the structural steel Weldox 460 E have been tested at high strain rates in a Split Hopkinson Tension Bar. The aim was to study the combined effects of strain rate and stress triaxiality on the material's behaviour. It is further considered important to obtain experimental data that can be used in validation of constitutive relations and fracture criteria. The force and elongation of the specimens were measured by strain gauges during the high strain rate tests, while the fracture strain was calculated based on measurements of the fracture area in the microscope. Optical recordings of the notch deformation were obtained using a digital high-speed camera system. Using image processing of the digital images, it was possible to estimate the true strain against time at minimum cross-section. The strength of the material was found to increase with increasing strain rate, while for the ductility no significant effect of strain rate could be ascertained from the notched specimen tests. The ductility of the material was found to depend considerably on the stress triaxiality.