Limitations of growth regimes for cracks initiated in smooth fatigue specimens

The stages of the growth of small cracks initiating at natural flaws in smooth specimens subjected to fatigue loading are characterized and the dominant propagation mechanisms and corresponding fracture paths are described. Characteristic crack lengths are introduced to assess the transition between the regimes of microstructurally small cracks, physically small cracks and long cracks. A log Δσ-log a-diagram is used to derive estimates of these crack lengths. It is shown that simple formulate can be found which relate these characteristic crack lengths to mechanical and material parameters that can be measured using standard fracture mechanics specimens and fatigue tests.     

Morphology of horizontal cracks in swelling soils

Horizontally formed cracks in the network of cracked swelling soils tend to influence water and solute transport. An approach is suggested for estimating the mean width and volume of horizontal cracks. It is assumed that the nearly horizontal cracks appear as a result of inhomogeneous soil subsidence caused by rapid drying and shrinkage of thin layers at the walls of vertical cracks. Compared with the moist soil matrix, at the same soil depth, horizontal cracks originate as ruptures in stretched layers of the drying walls of vertical cracks. A characteristic of the average inhomogeneity of soil subsidence, i.e., the mean potential relative subsidence (MPRS) depending on the soil depth is defined. It is calculated on the basis of linear shrinkage in the clay soil matrix and at the walls of vertical cracks of different depths, and on two geometrical parameters of crack networks. They are namely the maximum crack depth and the thickness of the upper intensive-cracking layer. The absolute value and sign of the derivative of the MPRS function with respect to soil depth determine the specific volume of horizontal cracks (horizontal-cracks porosity), and their mean width as functions of depth. Model predictions are obtained using published data on variation of linear shrinkage with depth in 19 soil profiles. For lack of data specific to horizontal-crack characteristics model, predictions were compared with data on vertical cracks and subsidence at the soil surface. Satisfactory agreement was obtained for all soil depths up to the maximum crack depth.     

Stress intensification in cracked shank of tightened bolt

Defects or cracks in the shank of bolts can degrade their load carrying capacity. The ways with which loading and residual stress intensify the crack border stress field can be reflected through the stress intensity factor quantity as defined in the linear elastic fracture mechanics theory. Use is made of the stiffness derivative method where quarter-point singular finite elements are used in the numerical calculation. Improved accuracy is achieved by considering the displacements not only of the main nodes but also of those quarter-point nodes in plane normal and adjacent to the crack.Numerical results are obtained for a semi-elliptical shaped crack in the bolt shank owing to tension, bending, residual stress and stress caused by tightening of the bolt. Maximum value of the Mode I stress intensity factor K_a due to tension or bending could prevail either at the deepest point on the crack border or at the root of the shank where the crack border terminates depending on the aspect ratio of the ellipse. In general, K₁ at the deepest point of crack penetration is larger than that at the free surface for tension and bending for a fixed crack depth with reference to the bolt diameter. Tightening of the bolt tends to increase K₁ at the free surface if the crack depth is small. The opposite is obtained for deeper cracks. Assumed residual stress effect obtained from experimental data is found to have negligible influence on the stress intensity factor when compared with that arising from tensile load.     

隧道洞口段非均质及各向异性土质裂缝仰坡稳定性上限解

针对忽略岩土体非均质和各向异性将导致边坡稳定性评价产生误差的问题,应用极限分析上限理论及抗剪强度系数折减法,推导土体强度非均质和各向异性影响下隧道洞口含裂缝仰坡稳定性解析式,探究土体强度非均质和各向异性对仰坡稳定性系数、坡顶裂缝位置、隧道拱顶失稳范围及仰坡安全系数的影响。结果表明,裂缝深度及坡角越大,仰坡稳定性系数越小;非均质系数越大和各向异性系数越小,维持仰坡稳定的临界坡高越大;非均质系数及各向异性系数越大,裂缝距坡顶边缘越远,隧道拱顶失稳范围越大;非均质系数增大有利于仰坡稳定,而各向异性系数越大仰坡越易失稳。     

对蓬安县三元水库大坝外坡裂缝产生的原因及整治工程的探讨

本文通过对蓬安县三元水库大坝外坡裂缝产生的原因分析，进而运用岩、土力学的理论与方法反算推论出了裂缝的产生不是深层坝体土滑动引起的，而是局部浅层坝体土在水的诱发作用下作蠕滑-拉裂变形所产生的。在明确了大坝裂缝产生的原因后，提出了一系列相应整治工程措施，以达到彻底根治裂缝和稳固大坝的目的。     

三维计算断裂力学

断裂力学理论从1921年Griffith研究玻璃的脆性断裂问题开始,经历了从线弹性体系到弹塑性以及蠕变理论体系、从单参数到多参数体系和从理想的二维平面理论到实际三维含裂纹结构的三维断裂理论的发展历程。针对应力强度因子K和J积分以及C(t)积分的计算方法从理想化模型的理论计算发展到实际复杂工程结构裂纹体计算的各种商业软件平台以及专业的断裂理论分析平台。尤其是随着计算机技术的发展,对三维含裂结构的静态和扩展裂纹的计算模拟已经能够融入计算机辅助设计。结合本研究组近30年来在三维疲劳断裂理论和应用研究方面的体会,简述了三维计算断裂力学从裂纹体应力应变分析和断裂参数计算到三维蠕变断裂和疲劳裂纹扩展模拟的国内外进展,并对涉及的计算方法,包括原子尺度和跨尺度的计算模拟,以及目前面临的挑战性问题作了简要介绍和分析。     

岩石劈裂破坏过程的计算模拟

岩体的破坏主要是岩体中裂纹的扩展与贯通的结果.受压岩体的裂纹尖端,可能处于压剪状态,也可能处于拉剪状态.从断裂力学的角度,研究了地下工程围岩中的裂纹在各种受力条件下(包括拉剪、压剪两种情况)的起裂、扩展及贯通以至最终形成劈裂裂缝的特征及各个阶段的判据.针对压剪断裂,裂纹之间存在有粘结力与摩擦强度的特征,提出了岩石压剪断裂性判据.最后以受压岩体中的斜裂纹扩展过程分析为例,模拟了岩体中裂纹逐渐发展成劈裂破坏的过程,并说明了各个阶段的计算方法.     

The singularity in weakly nonlinear fracture mechanics

Material failure by crack propagation essentially involves a concentration of large displacement-gradients near a crack's tip, even at scales where no irreversible deformation and energy dissipation occurs. This physical situation provides the motivation for a systematic gradient expansion of general nonlinear elastic constitutive laws that goes beyond the first order displacement-gradient expansion that is the basis for linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM). A weakly nonlinear fracture mechanics theory was recently developed by considering displacement-gradients up to second order. The theory predicts that, at scales within a dynamic lengthscale ℓ from a crack's tip, significant logr displacements and 1/r displacement-gradient contributions arise. Whereas in LEFM the 1/r singularity generates an unbalanced force and must be discarded, we show that this singularity not only exists but is also necessary in the weakly nonlinear theory. The theory generates no spurious forces and is consistent with the notion of the autonomy of the near-tip nonlinear region. The J-integral in the weakly nonlinear theory is also shown to be path-independent, taking the same value as the linear elastic J-integral. Thus, the weakly nonlinear theory retains the key tenets of fracture mechanics, while providing excellent quantitative agreement with measurements near the tip of single propagating cracks. As ℓ is consistent with lengthscales that appear in crack tip instabilities, we suggest that this theory may serve as a promising starting point for resolving open questions in fracture dynamics.     

Analysis of cyclic crack growth in high strength roller bearings

The lives of ball and roller bearings and raceways depend on the number of rolling contacts consumed by 3 stages of the failure process: (i) the preinitiation; (ii) crack initiation, and (iii) crack growth stages. This paper employs fracture mechanics analyses to estimate the portion of the bearing life residing in the crack growth stage. Rough estimates of: (a) the Mode II, ΔK_II driving force for small cracks below the rim surface subjected to repeated 2-dimensional, pure rolling contacts, (b) the corresponding crack growth rates, and (c) the number of contacts to failure, are obtained as a function of the peak contact pressure, initial flaw size and other variables. Factors influential to the growth stage are identified. Finally, the comparisons with measured total lives provide insights into the validity of the analysis and the importance of growth relative to the preinitiation and crack initiation stages.     

Shape factors for nozzle-corner cracks

Epoxy pressure vessels with fatigue cracks in the nozzle corner were burst.¹ The remains were cut into beams forK _Ic measurements. With nominal stress from burst pressures, crack sizes from measurements and stress intensities fromK _Ic, the shape factors were determined from the fundamental equation of fracture mechanics.     

小湾水电站进水口高边坡变形机理分析及工程意义

小湾水电站进水口高边坡地质条件及开挖坡型复杂,断层、节理裂隙发育并相互切割,坝顶平台至进水口底板平台平均开挖坡度88°,最大高差106m,其中垂直开挖段81m,最大水平退坡深度170余米。伴随边坡开挖过程中,边坡上部岩体产生了一系列的变形破裂现象,主要表现为沿混凝土坡面分布的张开宽度和延伸长度不一的裂缝及起壳现象。本文结合边坡的实际工程地质条件和监测结果数据,对变形破裂现象的形成机制进行了系统的分析。结果表明,裂缝产生的原因主要是由于地处高地应力区岩体在边坡开挖过程中产生的卸荷回弹表现,是正常的卸荷松弛变形。在此基础上,对边坡的稳定性分析表明,该边坡稳定性良好。     

Effects of static electric field on the fracture behavior of piezoelectric ceramics

The paper gives an overview on experimental observations of the failure behavior of electrically insulating and conducting cracks in piezoelectric ceramics. The experiments include the indentation fracture test, the bending test on smooth samples, and the fracture test on pre-notched (or pre-cracked) compact tension samples. For electrically insulating cracks, the experimental results show a complicated fracture behavior under electrical and mechanical loading. Fracture data are much scattered when a static electric field is applied. A statistically based fracture criterion is required. For electrically conducting cracks, the experimental results demonstrate that static electric fields can fracture poled and depoled lead zirconate titanate ceramics and that the concepts of fracture mechanics can be used to measure the electrical fracture toughness. Furthermore, the electrical fracture toughness is much higher than the mechanical fracture toughness. The highly electrical fracture toughness arises from the greater energy dissipation around the conductive crack tip under purely electric loading, which is impossible under mechanical loading in the brittle ceramics. The project supported by an RGC grant from the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China     

光弹法实测正交异性双材料界面裂纹断裂参数

采用光弹贴片法实测正交异性双材料界面裂纹尖端区域的应力应变场, 进而求出界面裂纹的断裂力学参量. 将正交异性双材料板加工成拉伸试件,在聚碳酸酯贴片 的单侧表面镀金属铝膜,以提高贴片的反射效率. 沿贴片后的双材料界面预制裂缝,逐渐加 大载荷,得到一系列清晰的等差线条纹图. 利用正交异性双材料界面裂纹尖端应力分量表达 式计算出应力强度因子. 实验表明,光弹贴片法可有效地分析正交异性双材料界面裂纹问题.     

Fractal geometry concerned with stable and dynamic fracture mechanics

Fractal modeling of the rugged crack geometry is considered for the stable and dynamic fracture mechanics characterizing the morphology of a fracture surface and the influence of its growth. It is shown that the fractal dimension has a strong influence on the rising of the R-curve in brittle materials. For the unstable Griffith–Mott’s approach or dynamical crack growth the fractal dimension has a strong influence on the velocity limit of the crack growth. It is also shown that the limit of crack velocity lowers with increasing surface ruggedness (higher fractal dimension D = 2 − H) explaining the intangibility of the Rayleigh wave velocity by the cracks.     

爆炸荷载作用下模型介质裂纹扩展试验与分析

为研究爆炸载荷作用下裂隙介质裂纹扩展规律,以含人工裂隙的有机玻璃薄板为介质,分别以炮孔中心到人工裂隙垂直距离L和人工裂隙长度D为变量,采用单发雷管爆炸加载试验模型进行试验。试验结果表明,爆炸荷载作用将使裂隙介质形成径向裂纹、翼裂纹、层裂裂纹和似层裂裂纹;人工裂隙能够阻隔径向裂纹的扩展,径向裂纹的扩展对距离L比长度D更敏感;翼裂纹是爆炸绕射波或绕射波与压缩应力波共同作用产生的,翼裂纹的长度随距离L增加而降低;入射压缩应力波与反射拉伸应力波叠加形成的净拉伸应力拉裂介质形成层裂效应、引起径向裂纹弯曲形成似层裂效应,层裂裂纹和似层裂裂纹几乎平行于人工裂隙。研究结果可为裂隙岩体爆破设计、冲击矿压防治和结构工程防护等提供理论依据。     

鄂西北山区降雨型边坡失稳模式和评价方法

2003年6月的一次连续降雨诱发了鄂西北山区郧漫公路沿线多处边坡失稳。根据边坡岩土体的组成和结构特征,总结出了5种典型的暴雨型边坡失稳模式：浅层堆积体滑移、含软弱面顺层滑移、切层边坡水压劈裂破坏、碎裂岩似弧形追踪破坏和块裂岩楔体滑移。根据边坡破坏特点和降雨作用形式提出了相应的评价方法,认为浅层堆积体在暴雨下含水量,即85%~100%液限含水量时易发生滑移,通过平面无限斜坡评价法计算边坡稳定性;含软弱面顺层边坡及块裂楔形体均为剪切滑移失稳,采用简化的刚体极限平衡法计算其稳定性;切层边坡中陡倾裂缝经历了卸荷张开－水压开裂－贯通破坏的过程,通过Ⅰ型裂缝扩展判据评价边坡稳定性;碎裂岩边坡发生类似弧形滑移的追踪破坏,采用连续介质圆弧法计算边坡稳定性。     

Residual stresses near a rail end

Stress fields near a cut end of a rail containing longitudinal residual stress typical of roller-straightened rail were studied using analysis and a finite element model. For a self-equilibrating residual stress distribution with equal maximum and minimum stresses, the distance to reach 95% of the mid-rail residual stress field is from 0.7 to 1.8 times the rail height, with the finite element model predicting a length of 1.1 times the rail height. This gives a measure of the accuracy of the simpler analytical models. At the rail end, the longitudinal residual stress goes to zero, and the vertical residual stress near mid-web reaches a maximum of approximately 27 ksi (186 MPa) (1.35 times the maximum mid-rail longitudinal residual stress of 20 ksi, or 138 MPa). The maximum shear stresses are 6 ksi (41 MPa) and −8 ksi (−55 MPa) near the head-web and web-base intersections, respectively, approximately 2 in. (51 mm) from the end of a 7.3 in. (185 mm) high rail. The shear stress is zero at the cut end and in mid-rail. The worst possible end-crack is a horizontal web crack in the vertical residual stress field at the rail end. The stress intensity K_I on such a crack is estimated to reach 20 ksi√in. (22 MPa√m) for cracks 0.5 in. (13mm) long. This is already 0.4 to 0.8 times K_I for carbon and alloy rails, and about 0.5 times K_Ic for a long crack.     

A fracture damage model for Jointed rock masses and its application to the stability analysis of dam abutments

Based on continuum damage mechanics, for jointed rock masses, a fracture damage model is presented in this paper. First, the damage tensors are defined through the elastic-flexibility of intact rock and the equivalent elastic-damage flexibility for rock mass. Then, by the self-consistent principle of solid mechanics, the equivalent elastic-damage flexibility tensors involving the interaction between multicracks are deduced. The damage evolution law is proposed involving the mechanism of crack propagation process: frictional sliding, crack kinking, growing of branched tension cracks, interlinking of the microcracks near branched crack tips leading to the breakthrough of macro-cracks and finally the failure of rock mass. Thus the evolution of damage variables reasonably unified with the process of crack propagation is given. Finally, a plastic-brittle damage constitutive relation including brittle coupled strain rate, developed and applied to the stability analysis of complicated rock foundation of a dam in China, is described in this paper.     

Damage accumulation and crack growth in bilinear materials with softening: Application of strain energy density theory

A pseudo-elastic damage-accumulation model is developed by application of the strain energy density theory. The three-point bending specimen is analyzed to illustrate the crack growth characteristics according to a linear elastic softening constitutive law that is typical of concrete materials. Damage accumulation is accounted for by the decrease of elastic modulus and fracture toughness. Both of these effects are assessed by means of the strain energy density functions in the elements around a slowly moving crack. The rate of change of the strain energy density factor S with crack growth as expressed by the relation dS/da = constant is shown to describe the failure behavior of concrete. Results are obtained for different loading steps that yield different slopes of lines in an S versus a (crack length) plot. The lines rotate about the common intersect in an anti-clockwise direction as the load steps are increased. The intersect shifts upward according to increase in the specimen size. In this way, the combined interaction of material properties, load steps and specimen geometry and size are easily analyzed in terms of the failure mode or behavior that can change from the very brittle to the ductile involving stable crack growth. An upper limit on specimen or structural size is established beyond which stable crack growth ceases to occur and failure corresponds to unstable crack propagation or catastrophic fracture. The parameters that control the failure mode are the threshold values of the strain energy density function (dW/dV)_c and the strain energy density factor S_c.     

Combined analysis of fracture under stresses acting along cracks

A joint approach to the study of two non-classical fracture mechanisms, namely fracture of cracked materials with initial (residual) stresses acting along the crack planes and fracture under compression along parallel cracks, is considered in the framework of three-dimensional linearized solid mechanics. Mathematical statements of problems for pre-stressed solids that contain interacting circular cracks are given. Problems for an infinite solid containing two parallel co-axial cracks and for a space with the periodical set of co-axial parallel cracks as well as for a half-space with near-the-surface crack are solved. Several patterns of loading on the crack faces (normal loading, radial shear and torsion) are considered. The effects of initial stresses on stress intensity factors are analyzed for highly elastic materials with some types of elastic potentials. Formulation of fracture criteria accounting effect of initial (residual) stresses is given. Critical parameters of fracture of solids containing interacting cracks under compression along the cracks are calculated. The influence of geometrical parameters of the problems as well as physical and mechanical properties of materials on these critical parameters is analyzed.