Failure instability of a debonded interface in the presence of a main crack

The problem of fracture initiating from an edge crack in a nonhomogeneous beam made of two dissimilar linear elastic materials that are partially bonded along a common interface is studied by the strain energy density theory. The beam is subjected to three-point bending and the unbonded part of the interface is symmetrically located with regard to the applied loading. The applied load acts on the stiffer material, while the edge crack lies in the softer material. Fracture initiation from the tip of the edge crack and global instability of the composite beam are studied by considering both the local and global stationary values of the strain energy density function, dW/dV. A length parameter l defined by the relative distance between the maximum of the local and global minima of dW/dV is determined for evaluating the stability of failure initiation by fracture. Predictions on critical loads for fracture initiation from the tip of the edge crack, crack trajectories and fracture instability are made. In the analysis the load, the length of the edge crack and the length and position of the interfacial crack remained unchanged. The influence of the ratio of the moduli of elasticity of the two materials, the position of the edge crack and the width of the stiffer material on the local and global instability of the beam was examined. A general trend is that the critical load for crack initiation and fracture instability is enhanced as the width and the modulus of elasticity of the stiffer material increase. Thus, the stiffer material acts as a barrier in load transfer.     

Crack growth in concrete slab resting on steel beam: softening and damage accumulation

Analyzed in this work is the four-point bending of a concrete slab supported by a steel beam. An edge crack is assumed to prevail on the tension side of the concrete that would grow gradually while the overall stiffness and local fracture toughness of the concrete would also degrade as damage accumulates. The latter two quantities are assumed to decrease with increasing deflection of the composite system. These effects are incorporated into the strain energy density criterion that can simultaneously predict crack initiation and growth including the event of final termination. Numerical results on load and deflection are obtained for two different composite concrete/steel beam systems such that the prevailing geometric material and loading parameters are accounted for as a combination. The distances between the local and global stationary values of the volume energy density are also determined as an indication of fracture instability. An edge crack tends to extend more stably as the compressive zone ahead increases with deflection of the composite beam.     

Anisotropic elastic and elastic–plastic bending solutions for edge constrained beams

In beam-like fracture tests the rotation at the crack tip is a significant factor controlling the energy release rate. The local deformations of a beam ahead of the crack tip where the lower edge constrained by a stiffness is described for an anisotropic elastic material. This is a useful model for composite delamination tests and gives the crack length correction factor and root rotation which are used in determining energy release rate. The solution is calibrated using FE results and found to be accurate to within 2%.The solution is extended by analogy to plasticity where the yielding of the constrained edge is modelled. The assumption that the deformations are controlled by the same parameters as the elastic solution is confirmed numerically. It is shown that in most practical cases the bottom edge remains elastic. This constraint is important in calculating the root rotation.     

The stability of crack growth in a beam subject to combined bending and tensile loadings. II: Beam subject to rotations and lateral displacements at the ends

The stability of crack growth in a beam subject to combined bending and tensile loadings is examined for the case where the material is very ductile and where the beam is built-in at one end. Application of a displacement at the free end, and variation of the angle which the displacement makes with the beam, allows the combined effects of bending and tensile loadings on the stability of crack growth to be assessed. The stability analysis is based on the tearing modulus procedure, and the general conclusion is that tensile loadings can promote crack instability.     

The stability of crack growth in a beam subject to combined bending and tensile loadings: I: Beam built-in at one end

The stability of crack growth in a beam subject to combined bending and tensile loadings is examined for the case where the material is very ductile and where the beam is built-in at one end. Application of a displacement at the free end, and variation of the angle which the displacement makes with the beam, allows the combined effects of bending and tensile loadings on the stability of crack growth to be assessed. The stability analysis is based on the tearing modulus procedure, and the general conclusion is that tensile loadings can promote crack instability.     

Oblique edge crack in an anisotropic material under antiplane shear

An oblique edge crack in an anisotropic material under antiplane shear loadings is investigated. The antiplane problems are formulated based on a linear transformation method. An anisotropic solid containing an edge crack subjected to concentrated forces is first considered. The stress intensity factor for the edge crack with concentrated forces is obtained from the solution of the transformed edge crack in an isotropic material which is solved by using conformal mapping technique and complex function theory. The solution of the edge crack under concentrated loads is used to construct the stress intensity factor for the oblique edge crack in the anisotropic material subjected to antiplane distributed loads. Some numerical computations are carried out to calculate the stress intensity factors for the edge crack in inclined orthotropic materials subjected to point forces as well as distributed tractions.     

Monte Carlo simulation of complex cohesive fracture in random heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials

A numerical method is developed to simulate complex two-dimensional crack propagation in quasi-brittle materials considering random heterogeneous fracture properties. Potential cracks are represented by pre-inserted cohesive elements with tension and shear softening constitutive laws modelled by spatially-varying Weibull random fields. Monte Carlo simulations of a concrete specimen under uni-axial tension were carried out with extensive investigation of the effects of important numerical algorithms and material properties on numerical efficiency and stability, crack propagation processes and load-carrying capacities. It was found that the homogeneous model led to incorrect crack patterns and load–displacement curves with strong mesh-dependence, whereas the heterogeneous model predicted realistic, complicated fracture processes and load-carrying capacity of little mesh-dependence. Increasing the variance of the tensile strength random fields with increased heterogeneity led to reduction in the mean peak load and increase in the standard deviation. The developed method provides a simple but effective tool for assessment of structural reliability and calculation of characteristic material strength for structural design.     

Dynamic crack tip fields and dynamic crack propagation characteristics of anisotropic material

Based on mechanics of anisotropic material, the dynamic crack propagation problem of I/II mixed mode crack in an infinite anisotropic body is investigated. Expressions of dynamic stress intensity factors for modes I and II crack are obtained. Components of dynamic stress and dynamic displacements around the crack tip are derived. The strain energy density theory is used to predict the dynamic crack extension angle. The critical strain energy density is determined by the strength parameters of anisotropic materials. The obtained dynamic crack tip fields are unified and applicable to the analysis of the crack tip fields of anisotropic material, orthotropic material and isotropic material under dynamic or static load. The obtained results show Crack propagation characteristics are represented by the mechanical properties of anisotropic material, i.e., crack propagation velocity M and fiber direction α. In particular, the fiber direction α and the crack propagation velocity M give greater influence on the variations of the stress fields and displacement fields. Fracture angle is found to depend not only on the crack propagation but also on the anisotropic character of the material.     

On some crack problems in anisotropic thermoelasticity

Some basic equations recently derived by Clements are used to consider crack problems in anisotropic thermoelasticity. The problems concern a single crack in an anisotropic material in which the displacement and stress are independent of one Cartesian coordinate. No symmetry elements of the material are assumed and the temperature, displacement and stress fields are determined for an arbitrary distribution of temperature or heat flux over the crack faces.     

梁结构中裂纹参数识别方法研究

以等效弹簧模型来模拟裂纹引起的局部软化效应,将该模型同Bernoulli-Euler梁理论、模态分析方法以及断裂力学原理等结合起来,利用传递矩阵法导出含裂纹梁振动的各种边界条件下的特征方程通解。借助于特征方程,提出两种识别裂纹深度和位置参数的数值方法,最后,通过对含裂纹悬臂梁的分析说明文中方法的有效性。     

Crack in a 2D beam lattice: Analytical solutions for two bending modes

We consider an infinite square-cell lattice of elastic beams with a semi-infinite crack. Symmetric and antisymmetric bending modes of fracture under remote loads are examined. The related long-wave asymptotes corresponding to a continuous anisotropic bending plate are also considered. In the latter model, the symmetric mode is characterized by the square-root type singularity, whereas the antisymmetric mode results in a hyper-singular field. A solution for the continuous plate with a finite crack is also presented. These closed-form continuous solutions describe the fields in the whole plane. The main goal is to establish analytical connections between the ‘macrolevel’ state, defined by the continuous asymptote of the lattice solution, and the maximal bending moment in the crack-front beam, that is, to determine the resistance of the lattice with an initial crack to the crack advance. The solutions are obtained in the same way as for mass-spring lattices. Considering the static problems we use the discrete Fourier transform and the Wiener-Hopf technique. Monotonically distributed bending moments ahead of the crack are determined for the symmetric mode, and a self-equilibrated transverse force distribution is found for the antisymmetric mode. It is shown that in the latter case only the crack-front beam resists to the fracture development, whereas the forces in the other beams facilitate the fracture. In this way, the macrolevel fracture energy is determined in terms of the material strength. The macrolevel energy release is found to be much greater than the critical strain energy of the beam, especially in the hyper-singular mode. In both problems, it is found that among the beams surrounding the crack the crack-front beam is maximally stressed, and hence its strength defines the strength of the structure.     

An easy-to-use estimate of the energy-release rate for crack arrays

Formation of crack arrays plays an increasing role in several fields of applied physics. The energy-release rate of the cracks controls the development of the array. Therefore, following the concept of configurational forces, a simplified analytical expression is provided for the energy-release rate, which is based both on numerical studies and on a specially adapted beam model. Comparisons of this easy-to-use estimate of the energy-release rate with established results from the literature as well as detailed numerical results are presented. The provided estimate of the energy-release rate can easily be extended to non-equidistant cracks and an anisotropic material.     

The stability of growth of a through-wall circumferential crack in a pipe subject to combined bending and tensile loadings

The stability of growth of a through-wall circumferential crack in a pipe is analysed for the case where the material has a high crack growth resistance, the analysis being based on the tearing modulus procedure. Rotations and lateral displacements are applied at the ends of the pipe, and this allows the combined effects of bending and tensile loadings on the stability of crack growth to be assessed. The general conclusion is that tensile loadings can have an adverse effect on crack stability, in accord with the conclusion reached in the author's earlier studies of plane strain crack growth in a beam. The stability results are compared with those obtained by Tada, Paris and Gamble, who allowed the tensile loadings to affect the position of the neutral axis, but did not consider instability in terms of the deformations produced by these loadings.     

Arrestment of cracks in plane extension by local reinforcements

Crack stoppers ahead of an edge crack in panels under tensile load are analyzed. They consist of rectangular and semi-annular patches placed symmetrically on both sides of the panel and at a finite distance ahead of the crack tip. Depending on this distance, the predicted crack path could remain straight or curve. Moreover, the crack could either be arrested or run through the reinforcements. Such a behavior can be determined from the local and global stationary value of the strain energy density function. The degree of instability is reflected by an index parameter that accounts for the effect of load, geometry and material.Edge crack plexiglass specimens were made by reinforcing them with steel and aluminum patches placed at different distance from the crack. For sufficiently low local energy intensity, the crack would run straight and arrest at the patch regardless of the other variables. As the local energy intensity is increased, crack would tend to curve and lead to complete fracture of the patched specimens. This is equivalent to moving the patch closer to the crack tip. The test results agree well with the predictions made from the strain energy density theory.     

Material instabilities of anisotropic saturated multiphase porous media

This paper analyses the material instability of fully saturated multiphase porous media. On account of the fact that anisotropic mechanical behaviours are widely observed in saturated and partially saturated geomaterials, the anisotropic constitutive model developed by Rudnicki for geomaterials is used to model the anisotropic mechanical behaviour of the solid skeleton of saturated porous geomaterials in axisymmetric compression test. The inertial coupling effect between solid skeleton and pore fluid is also taken into account in dynamic cases. Conditions for static instability (strain localisation) and dynamic instability (stationary discontinuity and flutter instability) of fully saturated porous media are derived. The critical modulus, shear band angle for strain localisation, and the bound within which flutter instability may occur are given in explicit forms. The effects of material parameters on material instability are investigated in detail by numerical computations.     

Stability Estimates for a Twisted Rod Under Terminal Loads: A Three-dimensional Study

The stability of an inextensible unshearable elastic rod with quadratic strain energy density subject to end loads is considered. We study the second variation of the corresponding rod-energy, making a distinction between in-plane and out-of-plane perturbations and isotropic and anisotropic cross-sections, respectively. In all cases, we demonstrate that the naturally straight state is a local energy minimizer in parameter regimes specified by material constants. These stability results are also accompanied by instability results in parameter regimes defined in terms of material constants.     

Stress intensity factor for a kinked interfacial crack in dissimilar anisotropic materials under antiplane deformation

The asymptotic problem of a kinked interfacial crack in dissimilar anisotropic materials under antiplane deformation is investigated. The linear transformation method for the problem of the anisotropic bimaterial with a straight interface is proposed. The stress intensity factor for the kinked interfacial crack in the anisotropic composite is obtained from the solution of the transformed problem of the kinked interfacial crack in the isotropic bimaterial based on the linear transformation method. The effects of the material parameters as well as the kink angle on the stress intensity factor are discussed from numerical results of the stress intensity factor. The finite element analysis is carried out to verify the stress intensity factor obtained by using the linear transformation. The influence of the material orientations on the stress intensity factor is investigated for the kinked crack in the bimaterial consisting of dissimilar inclined orthotropic materials.     

基于黏聚区域模型的石拱圈承载力分析方法研究

石拱桥拱圈石之间的拼接界面往往是拱圈结构的薄弱处,决定着拱桥的安全性和承载力。该连接界面往往因其强度低而沿法向起裂并张开扩展,或沿切向发生相对滑移,此复杂的界面行为特性成为石拱桥承载力分析及安全性评估的难点。针对拱圈石连接缝处的起裂及裂缝扩展后结构非连续变形的复杂力学行为的模拟问题,采用多折线型黏聚区域模型描述拱圈石间界面滑动和拉裂破坏变形,并构造无厚度界面单元,形成考虑非连续变形效应的石拱桥极限承载力分析的方法。采用该方法对一石拱圈的破坏全过程进行模拟分析,实现拱圈石块之间非连续变形的数值模拟,得到拱圈结构的极限承载力及相应的破坏形态,验证了本文方法的可行性。本文方法可以模拟石拱桥结构破坏的全过程,可用于石拱桥的承载能力分析及石拱桥结构脆性破坏的安全性评估。     

AN IMPEDANCE ANALYSIS FOR CRACK DETECTION IN THE TIMOSHENKO BEAM BASED ON THE ANTI-RESONANCE TECHNIQUE

An alternative technique for crack detection in a Timoshenko beam based on the first anti-resonant frequency is presented in this paper.Unlike the natural frequency,the anti-resonant frequency is a local parameter rather than a global parameter of structures,thus the proposed technique can be used to locate the structural defects.An impedance analysis of a cracked beam stimulated by a harmonic force based on the Timoshenko beam formulation is investigated.In order to characterize the local discontinuity due to cracks,a rotational spring model based on fracture mechanics is proposed to model the crack.Subsequently,the proposed method is verified by a numerical example of a simply-supported beam with a crack.The effect of the crack size on the anti-resonant frequency is investigated.The position of the crack of the simply-supported beam is also determined by the anti-resonance technique.The proposed technique is further applied to the"contaminated"anti-resonant frequency to detect crack damage,which is obtained by adding 1-3% noise to the calculated data.It is found that the proposed technique is effective and free from the environment noise.Finally,an experimental study is performed,which further verifies the validity of the proposed crack identification technique.     

Thermal stresses in two- and three-component anisotropic materials

This paper deals with an analytical model of thermal stresses which originate during a cooling process of an anisotropic solid continuum with uniaxial or triaxial anisotropy. The anisotropic solid continuum consists of anisotropic spherical particles periodically distributed in an anisotropic infinite matrix. The particles are or are not embedded in an anisotropic spherical envelope, and the infinite matrix is imaginarily divided into identical cubic cells with central particles. The thermal stresses are thus investigated within the cubic cell. This mulfi-particle-（envelope）-matrix system based on the cell model is applicable to two- and three-component materials of precipitate-matrix and precipitate-envelope-matrix types, respectively. Finally, an analysis of the determination of the thermal stresses in the multi-par- ticle-（envelope）-matrix system which consists of isotropic as well as uniaxial- and/or triaxial-anisotropic components is presented. Additionally, the thermal-stress induced elastic energy density for the anisotropic components is also derived. These analytical models which are valid for isotropic, anisotropic and isotropic-anisotropic multi-particle- （envelope）-matrix systems represent the determination of important material characteristics. This analytical determination includes： （1） the determination of a critical particle radius which defines a limit state regarding the crack initiation in an elastic, elastic-plastic and plastic components; （2） the determination of dimensions and a shape of a crack propagated in a ceramic components; （3） the determination of an energy barrier and micro-/macro-strengthening in a component; and （4） analytical-（experimental）-computational methods of the lifetime prediction. The determination of the thermal stresses in the anisotropic components presented in this paper can be used to determine these material characteristics of real two- and three-component materials with anisotropic components or with anisotropic and isotropic components.