A strip yield model solution for an internally cracked piezoelectric strip

An analysis of the crack closure and fatigue crack growth rate have been carried out for an infinitely long poled piezoelectric ceramic strip weakened by a straight hair line internal crack. The ceramic under consideration is assumed to be mechanically more brittle. The crack faces are perpendicular to the poled direction of the strip. The crack faces open in Mode-I deformation on account of in-plane tension applied to the edges of the strip together with either an in-plane electric displacement prescribed on edges of the strip or a uniform constant electric field prescribed on its edges. As a result, a yield zone is formed ahead of each tip of the crack. The yield zones developed are then arrested by applying a normal, cohesive, linearly varying yield point-stress to their rims. For each case, the Fourier transform method is used to find a solution. The resulting integral equations are solved numerically. Expressions are derived for the crack opening displacement and the crack growth rate. The variations in these quantities are plotted in relation to the affecting parameters, viz., the strip thickness, the yield zone length, the electric displacement, and material constants. A case study is presented graphically for PZT-4, PZT-5H, and BaTiO₃ ceramics. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 44, No. 5, pp. 647–664, September–October, 2008.     

On an Energetic Interpretation of a Phase Field Model for Fracture

In the pioneering work by Griffith, it is assumed that a crack propagates, if this is energetically favorable. However, this original formulation requires a pre-existing initial crack. In order to bypass this deficiency of classical Griffith theory, Francfort and Marigo advocate a global variational criterion, where the total energy is minimized with respect to any admissible displacement field and crack set. Bourdin's regularized approximation of this variational formulation makes use of a continuous scalar field to indicate cracks. Based on this regularization a phase field fracture model is formulated. The crack field is assumed to follow a Ginzburg-Landau type evolution equation, and cracking is addressed as a phase transition problem. The coupled problem of mechanical balance equations and the evolution equation is solved using the finite element method combined with an implicit time integration scheme. The numerical solution naturally yields the crack evolution including crack propagation, kinking, branching and initiation without any additional criteria. In this work we study the driving mechanisms behind the crack evolution in the phase field fracture model and compare to the purely energetic considerations of the underlying variational formulation. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Saint–Venant torsion of a circular bar with radial cracks incorporating surface elasticity

The Saint–Venant torsion problem of a circular cylinder containing a radial crack with surface elasticity is studied. The surface elasticity is incorporated into the crack faces by using the continuum-based surface/interface model of Gurtin and Murdoch. Both an internal crack and an edge crack are considered. By using the Green’s function method, the boundary value problem is reduced to a Cauchy singular integro-differential equation of the first order, which can be numerically solved by using the Gauss–Chebyshev integration formula, the Chebyshev polynomials and the collocation method. Due to the incorporation of surface elasticity, the stresses exhibit the logarithmic singularity at the crack tips. The torsion problem of a circular cylinder containing two symmetric collinear radial cracks of equal length with surface elasticity is also solved by using a similar method. The strengths of the logarithmic singularity and the size-dependent torsional rigidity are calculated.     

Phase field simulation of thermomechanical fracture

In Francfort and Marigo's variational free-discontinuity formulation of brittle fracture [1] cracking is regarded as an energy minimization process, where the total energy is minimized with respect to any admissible crack set and displacement field. No additional criterion is needed to determine crack paths, branching of cracks and crack initiations. However, a direct discretization of the model is faced with significant technical problems, as it involves minimizations in a set of possibly discontinuous functions. A regularized version of the model has been introduced by Bourdin [2] and based on this, we use the concept of a continuum phase field model to simulate cracking processes. Cracks are indicated by the order parameter of the phase field model and cracking can be regarded as a phase transition problem. Additionally, introducing the heat equation into the model, it is capable to also take account of crack propagation due to thermal stresses. In the numerical implementation, crack parameter as well as temperature are treated as additional degrees of freedom and the coupled field equations are solved using the finite element method together with an implicit time integration scheme. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A simple solution of the bridged crack problem

A simple, yet effective solution is derived to the problem of a penny-shaped crack, whose faces are bridged by fibers, and subjected to normal loading. The mathematical apparatus developed by the author earlier (Fabrikant, 1989, 1991) is used to reduce the governing integral equation to a sequence of integrals of elementary functions, which can be easily solved by the method of collocations. The case of uniform loading is considered as an example. The accuracy of the obtained solution is rigorously verified by different criteria.     

压电介质内裂纹问题的精确解

在压电介质断裂力学分析中,人们常假定裂纹面上的电位移法向分量为零,可是实验表明,这一假设将导致错误的结果。本文基于精确的电边界条件,并应用Stroh公式的方法,导出了含裂纹压电介质在无限远处均匀外载作用下二维问题的精确解。结果表明:(ⅰ)应力强度因子与各向同性材料相同,而电位移强度因子取决于材料常数和机械载荷,但与电载荷无关;(ⅱ)能量释放率大于纯弹性各向异性材料内的值,即总是正的,且与电载荷无关;(ⅲ)裂纹内所含空气的介电常数对介质内的场强无影响。     

Boundary integral equation method in thermoelasticity: part II crack analysis

The boundary integral equation formulation of thermoelasticity problems from part I is applied to crack problems in both finite and infinite thermoelastic bodies. For a flat crack in an infinite body the normal and tangential crack opening displacement are decoupled. Transient and steady state problems of thermoelasticity, as well as stationary problems, are considered.     

Multiple crack fatigue growth modeling by displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements

This paper presents a numerical approach for modeling multiple crack fatigue growth in a plane elastic infinite plate. It involves a generation of Bueckner’s principle, a displacement discontinuity method with crack-tip elements (a boundary element method) proposed recently by the author and an extension of Paris’ law to a multiple crack problem under mixed-mode loading. Because of an intrinsic feature of the boundary element method, a general multiple crack growth problem can be solved in a single-region formulation. In the numerical simulation, for each increment of crack extension, remeshing of existing boundaries is not necessary. Crack extension is conveniently modeled by adding new boundary elements on the incremental crack extension to the previous crack boundaries. Fatigue growth modeling of an inclined crack in an infinite plate under biaxial cyclic loads is taken into account to illustrate the effectiveness of the present numerical approach. As an example, the present numerical approach is used to study the fatigue growth of three parallel cracks with same length under uniaxial cyclic load. Many numerical results are given.     

三维横观各向同性介质界面裂纹的边界积分方程方法

基于两相三维横观各向同性介质的基本解和Somigliana恒等式,对三维横观各向同性介质中的任意形状的平片界面裂纹,以裂纹面上的不连续位移为待求参量建立了超奇异积分_微分方程,界面平行于横观各向同性面.根据发散积分的有限部积分理论,应用积分方程方法研究得到裂纹前沿的位移和应力场的表达式、奇性指数以及应力强度因子的不连续位移表达式.在非震荡情形下,超奇异积分_微分方程退化为超奇异积分方程,与均匀介质的超奇异积分方程形式完全相同.     

Optimization in constrained crack problems

Following the optimization approach to brittle fracture, we consider the evolution of a crack in a domain as solution of the global problem of constrained minimization of the total potential energy with respect to both state variables (the displacement vector) and shape variables (parameters of the crack shape). This formulation describes the initiation of a crack in a homogeneous body and its stable as well as unstable propagation, which allows also a kink (topology change) of the crack during the evolution process. By this we assume that contact can occurs between the opposite crack faces. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Analysis of anti-plane interface cracks in one-dimensional hexagonal quasicrystal coating

The displacement discontinuity method is extended to study the fracture behavior of interface cracks in one-dimensional hexagonal quasicrystal coating subjected to anti-plane loading. The Fredholm integral equation of the first kind is established in terms of displacement discontinuities. The fundamental solution for anti-plane displacement discontinuity is derived by the Fourier transform method. The singularity of stress near the crack front is analyzed, and Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind are numerically adopted to solve the integral equations. The displacement discontinuities across crack faces, the stress intensity factors, and the energy release rate are calculated from the coefficients of Chebyshev polynomials. In combination with numerical simulations, a comprehensive study of influencing factors on the fracture behavior is conducted.     

压电材料中两平行对称可导通裂纹断裂性能分析

采用Schmidt研究了压电材料中对称平行的双可导通裂纹的断裂性能,利用富里叶变换使问题的求解转换为求解两对以裂纹面位移之差为未知变量的对偶积分方程,并采用Schmidt方法来对这两对对偶积分程进行数值求解。结果表明应力强度因子和电位移强度因子与裂纹的几何尺寸有关。与不可导通裂纹有关结果相比,可导通裂纹的电位移强度因子远小于相应问题不可导通裂纹的电位移强度因子。     

Stress intensity factor for multiple cracks in bonded dissimilar materials using hypersingular integral equations

This paper deals with the multiple inclined or circular arc cracks in the upper half of bonded dissimilar materials subjected to shear stress. Using the complex variable function method, and with the help of the continuity conditions of the traction and displacement, the problem is formulated into the hypersingular integral equation (HSIE) with the crack opening displacement function as the unknown and the tractions along the crack as the right term. The obtained HSIE are solved numerically by utilising the appropriate quadrature formulas. Numerical results for multiple inclined or circular arc cracks problems in the upper half of bonded dissimilar materials are presented. It is found that the nondimensional stress intensity factors at the crack tips strongly depends on the elastic constants ratio, crack geometries, the distance between each crack and the distance between the crack and boundary.     

Two displacement methods for in-plane deformations of orthotropic linear elastic materials

Two displacement formulation methods are presented for the plane strain and plane stress problems of orthotropic linear elastic materials having the three planes of symmetry at x₁ = 0, x₂ = 0 and x₃ = 0. The first method starts with solving the two governing partial differential equations simultaneously, while the second method begins with solving one equation and ends with enforcing the other. The former follows the approach of Eshelby, Read and Shockley, whereas the latter is based on an extended version of Green's theorem and thus has similarities with Airy's stress function method. The two displacement methods lead to the same characteristic equation that is identical to the one obtained by Lekhnitskii using a stress formulation method. The general solutions resulting from the two displacement methods can be used to solve plane elasticity problems of orthotropic materials with displacement or mixed boundary conditions.     

压电材料中两个非对称平行裂纹的基本解

采用Schmidt方法分析压电材料中非对称平行的双可导通裂纹的断裂性能．利用Fourier变换使问题的求解转换为求解两对以裂纹面位移之差为未知变量的对偶积分方程．为了求解对偶积分方程,直接把裂纹面位移差函数展开成Jacobi多项式形式．最终得到了裂纹的应力强度因子与电位移强度因子之间的关系．数值结果表明,应力强度因子和电位移强度因子与裂纹间的距离、裂纹的几何尺寸有关;与不可导通裂纹有关结果相比,可导通裂纹的电位移强度因子远小于相应问题不可导通裂纹的电位移强度因子．同时可以发现裂纹间的“屏蔽”效应也在压电材料中出现．     

An asymptotic approach in problems of crack identification

An asymptotic approach to solving problems of the identification of a rectilinear crack of small relative size is presented. The solution of the direct problem is reduced to solving a boundary integral equation. Using the proposed approach, its kernel is investigated, and the main part of the asymptotic form is singled out. The inverse problem of determining the crack parameters from prescribed information on the amplitudes of the displacement on the boundary of a layer is solved. Transcendental equations are obtained, from which the characteristics of a crack are determined in stages. Numerical results of the solution of the inverse problem are presented.     

Transient response of two collinear dielectric cracks in a piezoelectric solid under inplane impacts

The paper is focused on the dynamic analysis of two collinear dielectric cracks in a piezoelectric material under the action of in-plane electromechanical impacts. Considering the dielectric permeability of crack interior, the electric displacements at the crack surfaces are governed by the jumps of electric potential and crack opening displacement across the cracks. The permeable and impermeable crack models are the limiting cases of the general one. The Laplace and Fourier transform techniques are further utilized to solve the mixed initial-boundary-value problem, and then to obtain the singular integral equations with Cauchy kernel, which are solved numerically. Dynamic intensity factors of stress, electric displacement and crack opening displacement are determined in time domain by means of a numerical inversion of the Laplace transform. Numerical results for PZT-5H are calculated to show the effects of the dielectric permeability inside the cracks, applied electric loadings and the geometry of the cracks on the fracture parameters in graphics. The observations reveal that based on the COD intensity factor, a positive electric field enhances the dynamic dielectric crack growth and a negative one impedes the dynamic dielectric crack growth in a piezoelectric solid.     

External circular crack under arbitrary shear loading

An exact closed form solution in terms of elementary functions has been obtained to the governing integral equation of an external circular crack in a transversely isotropic elastic body. The crack is subjected to arbitrary tangential loading applied antisymmetrically to its faces. The recently discovered method of continuity solutions was used here. The solution to the governing integral equation gives the direct relationship between the tangential displacements of the crack faces and the applied loading. Now a complete solution to the problem, with formulae for the field of all stresses and displacements, is possible.     

The Method of Smooth Domains in the Equilibrium Problem for a Plate with a Crack

A free boundary problem is considered of the equilibrium of an elastic plate with a crack. We suppose that some boundary mutual nonpenetration conditions are given on the crack faces in the form of simultaneous equalities and inequalities. We suggest a new approach to posing the problem in a smooth domain although it was stated in a domain with cuts originally. We treat the constraints on the components of the displacement vector and stress tensor on the crack faces as interior constraints, i.e., constraints given on subsets of the smooth domain of a solution.     

Steady-state motion of a mode-III crack on imperfect interfaces

The aim of the present paper is to analyse the behaviour ofthe stress and displacement fields in the vicinity of the tipof a crack moving along a bi-material interface. For simplicity,we consider a straight interface of infinite extent. We assumethat the two phases are separated by a thin layer which is either‘soft’ or ‘stiff’ compared to the othertwo phases. We derive the transmission conditions which takeinto account the material properties of the layer and modelthe way the load is transferred across the layer from one phaseto the other. We assume that the point of interchange in theboundary/transmission conditions coincides with the crack tipthat moves along the interface boundary with a constant speed.We develop an integral equation formulation and derive asymptoticformulae for the out-of-plane displacement and the Mode-IIIstress intensity factor associated with such a motion of thecrack inside the interphase layer. The theoretical results areillustrated by numerical examples.