Effect of notch depth and radius on the critical fracture load of bainitic functionally graded steels under mixed mode I + II loading

Functionally graded steels are produced from austenitic stainless steel and carbon steel by controlling the chemical distribution of chromium, nickel and carbon atoms at the remelting stage through electroslag remelting process. In the present paper, the strain-energy density criterion is employed to assess the critical load of rounded V-notched components made of functionally graded bainitic steel. A crack arrester configuration under mixed mode loading is considered. The flow (yield/ultimate) strength and fracture toughness are assumed to vary exponentially along the notch depth direction while the Young’s modulus and the Poisson’s ratio are assumed to be constant. The control volume, which is a reminiscent of Neuber’s elementary structural volume, depends on the ultimate tensile strength σ_ut and the fracture toughness K _IC in the case of brittle or quasi-brittle materials subjected to static loadings. Since, σ_ut and K _IC are not constant along the notch depth, the control volume which can be obtained numerically as a function of the variation of these material properties through the specimen width. Different values of the notch root radius (from 0.2 to 2.0 mm) and notch depth (from 5 to 7 mm) are considered. The assessed critical fracture loads are in sound agreement with the experimental results.     

Nd: YAG激光烧蚀裂解加工技术模拟分析与实验研究

激光裂解技术能够极大改善发动机缸体主轴承座的加工质量并显著提高加工效率. 为探寻Nd:YAG激光烧蚀球墨铸铁材料裂解槽的裂解性能, 本文基于有限元法成功构建了发动机缸体主轴承座激光裂解加工过程仿真模型, 针对QT500-7球墨铸铁主轴承座的裂解参数进行了仿真分析. 研究结果表明: 在影响裂解质量的三个裂解槽几何参数中, 槽深较张角及曲率半径对裂解载荷的影响效应更为明显; 裂解载荷随槽深的增加而迅速降低, 随槽张角和曲率半径的增加而升高; QT500-7球墨铸铁发动机缸体主轴承座激光裂解加工优化参数应为裂解槽深选为0.5 mm, 裂解槽张角选为60^o, 裂解槽半径选为0.2 mm. 有限元模拟分析结果得到了单向拉伸实验结果的验证. 本工作通过ABAQUS仿真模拟及大量裂解载荷试验确立了裂解槽几何形状的优化参数, 为显著降低裂解载荷和优化裂解工艺提供了数值参考, 有利于实现发动机缸体加工的快速发展, 从而促进汽车工业实现绿色制造.     

A study of process parameters during pulsed Nd:YAG laser notching of C70S6 fracture splitting connecting rods

This paper reports on the laser notching technology in C70S6 steel for fracture splitting connecting rod using a Nd:YAG pulsed laser. The effects of process parameters on starting notch (SN) dimension and morphology were investigated by both finite element method (FEM) simulations and physical experiments for various process parameters. Optical microscopy and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for the measurement of SN dimension and the observation of SN morphology in the experiment. The results were compared with the predictions. It was found that the FEM simulations results showed good consistency with the experiments, which indicates that the finite element model is feasible and reliable. Based on the principal findings from the two methods, optimum ranges of process parameters for different fracture splitting connecting rods were predicted, which are a flexibly adjusting notch depth, a curvature radius less than 0.08 mm and an opening angle within the range 18–26°. The results indicate that the predicting ranges are suitable for making good SNs, which has also been proved by the fracture splitting experiments.     

Fracture Assessment of Inclined Double Keyhole Notches in Isostatic Graphite

In the present contribution, the static strength of isostatic graphite using keyhole notch specimens under mixed mode loading is investigated. An experimental program was performed and in total, 18 new experimental data are provided. In addition, different loading mode ratios are considered by varying the inclination angle of the notch with respect to the direction of the applied load. The criterion based on the averaged value of the strain energy density over a control volume at the notch edge is applied to assess the static strength of specimens. A sound agreement is found between experimental data and the results obtained from strain energy density criterion.     

Compressive Brittle Fracture Prediction in Blunt V-Notched PMMA Specimens by Means of the Strain Energy Density Approach

The paper aims to examine the suitability of the strain energy density criterion in predicting the fracture behavior of blunt V-notched specimens under compression load. Recent studies on local stress fields have shown that the strain energy density, averaged over a specific control volume which embraces the notch round border, could be a robust parameter in the brittle fracture assessment of several materials. A set of experimental results recently published in the literature on compressive brittle fracture of V-notched specimens made out of polymethyl methacrylate has here been considered. Finite element analyses have been performed on plane strain condition and experimental data have been summarized by means of the SED criterion. It has been shown that the proposed criterion permits a satisfactory evaluation of the fracture load of polymethyl methacrylate specimens weakened by notches having different opening angles and radii.     

Elastic-plastic fracture analysis of notched Al 7075-T6 plates by means of the local energy combined with the equivalent material concept

The main goal of the present research is to analyze tensile fracture in Al 7075-T6 thin plates weakened by blunt V-notches. For this purpose, first, 27 fracture tests are carried out on rectangular plates containing a central rhombic hole with two blunt V-shaped corners horizontally located. The experimental observations indicated that a plastic region initiates from the notch tip and grows as the tensile load monotonically increases, and finally, fracture happens suddenly with a significant opening of the notch tip. By showing significant plastic deformations around the notch tip and also inclined fracture planes, the specimens after fracture confirm well the ductile rupture in V-notched Al 7075-T6 plates. As the main experimental result, the load-carrying capacity of the notched plates corresponding to the onset of crack initiation from the notch tip is recorded. To theoretically predict the experimental results, the equivalent material concept is utilized together with the well-known brittle fracture criterion, namely the averaged strain energy density criterion. Without requiring elastic-plastic finite element analysis, it is shown that the combination of the averaged strain energy density and equivalent material concept is successful in predicting the load-carrying capacity of the V-notched Al 7075-T6 plates that fail by moderate-scale yielding regime.     

Kinetic study of copper precipitates under VVER-type reactor conditions

The copper-rich cluster evolution in the neutron-irradiated VVER steels is investigated beginning at the nucleation stage. For this, typical VVER-type reactor conditions are considered. The cluster dynamics approach is used for calculation of the density distribution of copper precipitates related to the number of Cu-atoms or radius, mean radius, volume content, number density of precipitates and the concentration of free Cu-atoms in dependence on the irradiation time. The results for time of one year are compared with the results of small angle neutron scattering experiments which were carried out on specimens irradiated at the surveillance positions of VVER reactors. It has revealed the intermediate type of the evolution kinetics between diffusion and interfacial kinetics limited regimes. The duration of the nucleation and deterministic stages is estimated. The coarsening stage does not occur.     

Brittle Fracture of Rounded V-Notches in Isostatic Graphite under Static Multiaxial Loading

While a large bulk of experimental results from cracked specimens of polycrystalline graphite under pure modes of loading, in particular under mode I loading, can be found in the literature, only a very limited number of tests have been carried out on notches. At the best of the author knowledge dealing with the specific case of V-notches under mixed mode loading (tension + torsion) no results can be found in the literature. With the aim to fill this lack, the problem of mixed mode (I + III) brittle fracture of polycrystalline graphite is investigated systematically here for the first time. The present study considers cylindrical specimens weakened by circumferential notches characterized by different acuities. A new complete set of experimental data is provided considering different geometrical configurations by varying the notch opening angle and the notch tip radius. The multiaxial static tests have been performed considering different values of the mode mixity ratio (i.e. the ratio between the nominal stress due to tension and that due to torsion loading). A criterion based on the local strain energy density previously applied by the same authors only to pure modes of loading is extended here to the case of tension and torsion loadings applied in combination. The proposed criterion allows a sound assessment of the fracture loads.     

Crack Initiation at V-Notch Tip under In-Plane Mixed Mode Loading: A Review of the Fictitious Notch Rounding Concept

The fictitious notch rounding concept has been recently applied for the first time to V-notches with root hole subjected to in-plane mixed mode loading. Out-of-bisector crack propagation is taken into account. The fictitious notch radius is determined as a function of the real notch radius (the microstructural support length) and the notch opening angle. Due to the complexity of the problem, a method based on the simple normal stress failure criterion has been used. It is combined with the maximum tangential stress criterion to determine the crack propagation angle. An analytical method based on Neuber’s procedure has been developed. The method provides the values of the microstructural support factor as a function of the mode ratio and the notch opening angle. The support factor is considered to be independent of the microstructural support length. Finally, for comparison, the support factor is determined on a purely numerical basis by iterative analysis of finite element models. The present paper is aimed to give a brief overview of the recent findings on this challenging topic making clear the state of the art.     

加载角度和线型缺口对锂离子电池隔膜拉伸性能的影响

锂离子电池隔膜作为防止正负极接触的物理屏障,其结构完整性对于电池安全至关重要。进行了4种商业隔膜单轴拉伸实验,分析加载角度和线型缺口对隔膜材料拉伸强度、弹性模量、断裂模式的影响。结果表明:无缺口试样在0°方向上的拉伸强度最大,90°方向上拉伸强度最小;当两个无缺口试样的加载角度互为补角时,它们的拉伸强度接近。对于缺口试样而言,缺口方向沿着90°的试样有最大破坏载荷;线型缺口试样有更高的弹性模量,但是塑性变形大幅减少。无缺口试样和缺口试样在拉伸过程中的断裂模式相同,即除0°试样沿横向断裂外,其他加载角度的试样均沿着纵向断裂。     

Some recent results on the fatigue strength of notched specimens made of 40CrMoV13.9 steel at room and high temperature

The work summarizes a large bulk of experimental data from specimens made of 40CrMoV13.9 steel. The first part of the paper deals with multiaxial fatigue strength of notched round bars tested under combined tension and torsion loading, both in-phase and out-of-phase. The results from multi-axial tests are discussed together with those obtained under pure tension and pure torsion loading from notched specimens with the same geometry. The second part of the paper summarizes data from uniaxial-tension stress-controlled fatigue tests on specimens made of the same steel. Tests are performed varying temperature, from room temperature up to 650°C. Altogether more than 180 new fatigue data are summarised in the present work, corresponding to more than two-years of testing programme. All fatigue data are presented first in terms of nominal stress amplitudes referred to the net area and then re-analysed in terms of the mean value of the strain energy density evaluated over a given, crescent shape volume embracing the stress concentration region. For the specific steel, the radius of the control volume is found to be independent of the loading mode.     

Fracture investigation of V-notch made of tungsten-copper functionally graded materials

The fracture of V-notches with end holes made of tungsten-copper functionally graded material under mode I has been studied in this paper. The averaged strain energy density over a well-defined control volume was employed to predict the fracture loads. A numerical approach was used to determine the outer boundary of the control volume. Mechanical properties such as elasticity modulus, Poisson’s ratio, fracture toughness K_Ic, and ultimate tensile stress have been considered to obey the power law function through the specimen width.     

Mixed mode I/II brittle fracture in V-notched Brazilian disk specimens under negative mode I conditions

The well-known round-tip V-notched Brazilian disk specimen is utilized for conducting mixed mode I/II fracture tests on PMMA under negative mode I conditions for different notch angles and various notch radii with the aim to measure experimentally the fracture load and the fracture initiation angle. It is shown by the finite element analysis that although the notch is under negative mode I loading, one side of the notch border still experiences tensile tangential stresses suggesting that fracture would take place from the same side of notch border. Experimental observations also indicated that fracture occurs from the tensile side of the notch border confirming the finite element results. The experimental results are then theoretically estimated by means of two stress-based brittle fracture criteria, namely the round-tip V-notch maximum tangential stress and the mean-stress criteria. It is shown that both criteria provide very good predictions to the experimental results obtained under negative mode I conditions.     

爆炸磁通量压缩发生器金属管爆炸试验研究

 描述了对爆炸磁通量压缩发生器（MFCG）的爆炸金属管进行的爆轰测试试验。利用电探针方法,测试得到了金属管中的粉状RDX炸药的爆轰速度。采用高速分幅相机测试技术,得到了金属管膨胀运动过程的分幅照片,掌握了金属管的膨胀及破裂情况,并由此测得了膨胀角。本试验结果为MFCG的设计和改进提供了依据。     

The effect of the boundary conditions on in-plane and out-of-plane stress field in three dimensional plates weakened by free-clamped V-notches

Dealing with the material microstructure an analytical multiscale model has recently been developed by Sih. Physically, the different orders of the stress singularities are related to the different constraints associated with the defect thought as a microscopic V-notch at the tip of the main crack. Irregularities of the material microstructure tend to curl the crack tip being the clamped-free boundary conditions the more realistic and general representation of what occurs on the microscopic V-notch. As a result, mixed mode conditions are always present along the V-notch bisector line.It is known for a long time that at the antisymmetric (mode II) stress distribution ahead of the crack tip generates a coupled out-of-plane singular mode. Recent theoretical and numerical analyses have demonstrated that this out-of-plane mode due to three-dimensional effects occurs also in the case of large V-notches where the mode II stress field is no longer singular. In addition, when the notch opening angle is non-zero, the three-dimensional singular stress state is strongly influenced by the plate thickness.The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of free-fixed boundary conditions along the notch edges in three dimensional plates weakened by pointed V-notches and quantify the intensity of the out-of-plane singularity occurring under this constraint configuration. For the sake of simplicity a macronotch is considered rather than a micronotch. A synthesis of the magnitude of the stress state through the plate thickness is carried out by using the mean value of the strain energy density over a given control volume embracing the notch tip. The capability of the strain energy density to capture all the combined effects due to the out-of-plane mode make it a powerful parameter at every scale levels.     

A framework for statistical modelling of plastic yielding initiated cleavage fracture of structural steels

The well established consensus that cleavage fracture is preceded by plastic deformation in structural steels implies that plastic yielding is the threshold stress state for a volume element to incur cleavage fracture. An accurate compliance with this consensus underlies the normalisation of cumulative cleavage fracture probability and the justification of constraint effect on cleavage fracture. These understandings lead to the proposal of a framework for statistical modelling of cleavage fracture in structural steels. The framework takes the spatial microcrack distribution into account to formulate the cumulative failure probability model that allows for a pertinent physical interpretation of Weibull statistics, and derives the fracture probability of an elemental volume in conformity with the yielding condition from a set of commonly adopted microcrack size or strength distributions. Alternative approaches to calibrating model parameters are suggested based on frequency analysis of brittle particles as cleavage initiators and on statistical analysis of cleavage fracture stress. The strict adherence to plastic yielding as a prerequisite to cleavage fracture also reveals the probabilistic nature of notch brittleness and ductile-to-brittle transition behaviour.     

Fracture Loads Prediction on Notched Short Glass Fibre Reinforced Polyamide 6 Using the Strain Energy Density

This paper provides an energetic approach useful for the prediction of critical loads on U-notched components without an ideally linear elastic behaviour. The methodology has been applied to 100 fracture specimens of short glass fibre reinforced polyamide 6 (SGFR-PA6), combining four different fibre contents (5, 10, 30 and 50 wt %) and five different notch radii (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mm). The proposal combines the application of the strain energy density criterion with the use of the whole absorbed energy in the tensile test (elastic-plastic area under the stress-strain curve). With all of this, the fracture loads have been well estimated in this type of material.     

一体化导光板中微结构的设计与仿真

通过LIGHTOOLS软件对背光源中导光板微结构的设计进行了模拟仿真,以期获得导光板微结构对背光源特性的影响,结果显示:圆形微结构高度小于0.15mm时,均匀度和亮度变差;高度为0.15mm,半径为1.8mm,锥度为0.6的圆锥型结构可以获得较好的亮度分布;微结构应该优先采用棱镜结构,采用80°—110°之间的顶角,可以获得较好的亮度和视角分布。     

Mössbauer study of turbine blade steels

Mössbauer investigations were carried out on low carbon steels containing 12–13.5% Cr and 3–5% Ni in order to get information about the reason of cracking and fracture which take place during the use of turbine blade wheels. The quantity of retained austenite determined from the Mössbauer spectra of steels was low (<1%) in the cracked and fractured basic materials. Comparing this value with those being considerable in quenched (≈11%) as well as in annealed state (≈5%) of the same sample, we can conclude that the transformation of the austenite taking place during the working of turbine blade wheel can be associated with the cracking and the fracture. We found an anomalous increase of the quantity of the austenite in steel samples (quenched from different temperature between 700 and 1000 °C and aged at 450–600 °C) aged again at 450–550 °C. On the basis of the evaluation of Mössbauer spectra of the steels, information can be obtained about the changes in the concentration of alloying elements being in martensite at the various heat treatments.     

Impact toughness of EK-181 ferritic-martensitic chromium (12%) steel under loading by concentrated bending

The low-temperature fracture of a high-temperature low-activated ferritic-martensitic EK-181 chromium (12%) steel (RUSFER-EK-181: Fe-12Cr-2W-V-Ta-B) is studied using impact and static concentrated bending tests as a function of the specimen dimensions (standard, small), the type of stress concentrator (V-shaped notch, fatigue crack), and the temperature (from −196 to +100°C). The ductile-brittle transition temperature falls in the range from −85 to +35°C. The temperature dependences of stress-intensity factor K _Ic and fracture toughness J _Ic are determined. The severest type of impact toughness tests is represented by tests of V-notched specimens with an additional fatigue crack and two lateral V-shaped notches (three-sided V-shaped notch with a central fatigue crack). The fracture energy of the steel depends on the type of stress concentrator and the specimen dimensions and is determined by the elastic energy and the plastic deformation conditions in the near-surface layers of a specimen, which are controlled by the lateral notches. At the same test temperature, the impact toughness and the fracture toughness are interrelated. Irrespective of the type of specimen (including notches and a fatigue crack), the ferritic-martensitic steel exhibits the same fracture mechanism.