On ductile fracture initiation toughness: Effects of void volume fraction,void shape and void distribution

This paper studies the effects of the initial relative void spacing, void pattern, void shape and void volume fraction on ductile fracture toughness using three-dimensional, small scale yielding models, where voids are assumed to pre-exist in the material and are explicitly modeled using refined finite elements. Results of this study can be used to explain the observed fracture toughness anisotropy in industrial alloys. Our analyses suggest that simplified models containing a single row of voids ahead of the crack tip is sufficient when the initial void volume fraction remains small. When the initial void volume fraction becomes large, these simplified models can predict the fracture initiation toughness (J_Ic) with adequate accuracy but cannot predict the correct J–R curve because they over-predict the interaction among growing voids on the plane of crack propagation. Consequently, finite element models containing multiple rows of voids should be used when the material has large initial void volume fraction.     

Effects of deformed volume, volume fraction and particle size on the deformation behaviour of W/Cu composites

Tungsten/copper (W/Cu) particle reinforced composites were used to investigate the scaling effects on the deformation and fracture behaviour. The effects of the volume fraction and the particle size of the reinforcement (tungsten particles) were studied. W/Cu-80/20, 70/30 and 60/40 wt.% each with tungsten particle size of 10 μm and 30 μm were tested under compression and shear loading. Cylindrical compression specimens with different volumes (D_S = H) were investigated with strain rates between 0.001 s⁻¹ and about 5750 s⁻¹ at temperatures from 20 °C to 800 °C. Axis-symmetric hat-shaped shear specimens with different shear zone widths were examined at different strain rates as well. A clear dependence of the flow stress on the deformed volume and the particle size was found under compression and shear loading. Metallographic investigation was carried out to show a relation between the deformation of the tungsten particles and the global deformation of the specimens. The size of the deformed zone under either compression or shear loading has shown a clear size effect on the fracture of the hat-shaped specimens.The quasi-static flow curves were described with the material law from Swift. The parameters of the material law were presented as a function of the temperature and the specimen size. The mechanical behaviour of the composite materials were numerically computed for an idealized axis-symmetric hat-shaped specimen to verify the determined material law.     

Initiation and propagation of localized deformation in elasto-plastic strips under uniaxial tension

This paper deals with the evolution of inhomogeneous deformation in shape memory alloy strips and mild steel strips under uniaxial tension. New experiments on NiTi strips, which initially are in an austenitic phase, show that at a critical stress level martensite nucleates in sharp bands inclined at 55° to the axis of loading. Under prescribed end displacement martensite subsequently spreads either by steady-state propagation of inclined transition fronts or via a criss-cross pattern of finger-like features. Similar events have been reported in the literature regarding the evolution of Lüders bands in fine grained steel strips and wires. The similarity of macroscopic events, despite the different mechanisms of instability at the micro-level, prompted us to approximate the material behavior as a finitely deforming elasto-plastic solid with a trilinear up-down-up nominal stress-strain response. Two such stress-strain responses were used in finite element simulations of strip tension tests. In the first the true stress-strain response maintains its stability and in the second the intermediate branch has a negative slope. While both material models produced inhomogeneous deformations with features similar to those of the experiments, the larger initiation peak associated with the second gave results which closely resembled specific experiments. The numerical simulations confirmed that the evolution of events seen in experiments on SMAs and mild steels is strongly influenced by overall geometric (structural) effects. Furthermore, the success of this simple continuum constitutive model strongly suggests that continuum level events remain dominant players in such fine grained materials.     

The effect of particle shape and distribution on the macroscopic behavior of magnetoelastic composites

The magnetoelastic homogenization framework and the partial decoupling approximation proposed by Ponte Castañeda and Galipeau (2011) are used to estimate material properties for a class of magnetically susceptible elastomers. Specifically, we consider composites consisting of aligned, ellipsoidal magnetic particles distributed randomly with “ellipsoidal” symmetry under combined magnetic and mechanical loading. The model captures the coupling between the magnetic and mechanical fields, including the effects of magnetic saturation. The results help elucidate the effects of particle shape, distribution, and concentration on properties such as the magnetostriction, actuation stress, magnetic modulus, and magnetization behavior of a magnetorheological composite.     

Influence of the particle size and volume fraction on micro-damage of the composites

The bulk and shear modulus of metal matrix composites with various volume fractions of particles are modified based on the Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method combined with self-consistent scheme. By introducing the modified modulus, a new model, which can predict the particle size effects on the stress–strain relation under interfacial debonding damage between matrix and particles, is established. The results obtained from the present investigation show a better agreement with the experimental data.     

Gas jets in fluidized beds: The influence of particle size,shape and density on gas and solids entrainment

Gas has been injected in two-dimensional fluidized beds of solids different in size, density and shape. The ranges of solids sizes and bed heights were such as to produce relatively steady permanent jets.The mechanics of dispersion of these jets has been studied measuring jet angles, jet gas and solids velocity profiles, and particle entrainment velocities. The proportions of total mass and momentum flowrates pertaining to gas and solids have been calculated from these data.     

On the influence of local fluctuations in volume fraction of constituents on the effective properties of nonlinear composites. Application to porous materials

Composite materials often exhibit local fluctuations in the volume fraction of their individual constituents. This paper studies the influence of such small fluctuations on the effective properties of composites. A general asymptotic expansion of these properties in terms of powers of the amplitude of the fluctuations is given first. Then, this general result is applied to porous materials.As is well-known, the effective yield surface of ductile voided materials is accurately described by Gurson's criterion. Suitable extensions for viscoplastic solids have also been proposed. The question addressed in the present study pertains to nonuniform distributions of voids in a typical volume element or in other words to the presence of matrix-rich and pore-rich zones in the material. It is shown numerically and analytically that such deviations from a uniform distribution result in a weakening of the macroscopic carrying capacity of the material.     

Influence of particle shape on the microstructure evolution and the mechanical properties of granular materials

In order to study the influence of particle shape on the microstructure evolution and the mechanical properties of granular materials, a two-dimensional DEM analysis of samples with three particle shapes, including circular particles, triangular particles, and elongated particles, is proposed here to simulate the direct shear tests of coarse-grained soils. For the numerical test results, analyses are conducted in terms of particle rotations, fabric evolution, and average path length evolution. A modified Rowe's stress–dilatancy equation is also proposed and successfully fitted onto simulation data.     

Finite deformation analysis of crack-tip opening in elastic-plastic materials and implications for fracture

Analyses of the stress and strain fields around smoothly-blunting crack tips in both non-hardening and hardening elastic-plastic materials, under contained plane-strain yielding and subject to mode I opening loads, have been carried out by use of a finite element method suitably formulated to admit large geometry changes. The results include the crack-tip shape and near-tip deformation field, and the crack-tip opening displacement has been related to a parameter of the applied load, the J-integral. The hydrostatic stresses near the crack tip are limited due to the lack of constraint on the blunted tip, limiting achievable stress levels except in a very small region around the crack tip in power-law hardening materials. The J-integral is found to be path-independent except very close to the crack tip in the region affected by the blunted tip. Models for fracture are discussed in the light of these results including one based on the growth of voids. The rate of void-growth near the tip in hardening materials seems to be little different from the rate in non-hardening ones when measured in terms of crack-tip opening displacement, which leads to a prediction of higher toughness in hardening materials. It is suggested that improvement of this model would follow from better understanding of void-void and void-crack coalescence and void nucleation, and some criteria and models for these effects are discussed. The implications of the finite element results for fracture criteria based on critical stress or strain, or both, is discussed with respect to transition of fracture mode and the angle of initial crack-growth. Localization of flow is discussed as a possible fracture model and as a model for void-crack coalescence.     

Computation of V-notch shape factors in four-point bend specimen for fracture tests on brittle materials

Four-point bend (FPB) specimen is an important test sample in mixed mode fracture study of notched components made from brittle materials like rocks, brittle polymers, ceramics, etc. On the other hand, the notch stress intensity factors (NSIFs) are vital parameters in brittle fracture assessment of V-notched structures. Therefore, computation of NSIFs in FPB specimens is of practical interest to engineers and researchers. Since the available methods for calculating the NSIFs are often cumbersome and need complicated calculations, it is preferred to show them as a set of dimensionless parameters for the FPB specimen. In this research, the finite element method coupled with a recently developed algorithm called FEOD is employed to calculate the NSIFs of a FPB specimen for several V-shape notches and for different combinations of mode I and mode II. The obtained NSIFs are then converted to dimensionless parameters called notch shape factors and are illustrated in a number of figures. It is shown that depending on the notch depth and the location of loading points, full mode mixity from pure mode I to pure mode II can be provided in the FPB specimen. The numerical results obtained in this research are verified by using very limited results reported earlier in literature.     

Simulation of elastic–plastic deformation and fracture of materials at micro-, meso- and macrolevels

Physical Mesomechanics of materials is a new branch of mechanics that focuses attention on a mesovolume of loaded material. It is a macro particle in classical continuum mechanics and its behavior under load is equivalent to the bulk. The structural elements for a particular application requires specific models while the computational techniques have to be developed.These research groups have been studying heterogeneous materials behavior at the mesolevel under different types of loading. Hierarchical models are developed to study deformation and fracture of solids at the micro- meso- and macrolevels. Taken into account are the influence of micro- and mesostructure of loaded material in relation to its macro behavior.This work focuses on unifying the method of approach to be supported by tests and calculations. In particular, deformation and fracture mechanisms at the micro-, meso- and macrolevels are examined for metals and composites.     

Theory of creep deformation with kinematic hardening for materials with different properties in tension and compression

A constitutive model for creep deformation that describes the loading-history-dependent behavior of initially isotropic materials with different properties in tension and compression under stress vector rotations limited by 50–60° is presented within a thermodynamic framework. In the proposed constitutive model a kinematic hardening rule is adopted. This model also introduces an effective equivalent stress in the creep potential that is based on the first and second invariants of the effective stress tensor, and on the joint invariant of the effective stress tensor and eigenvector associated with the maximum principal Cauchy stress. The formulation of the kinematic hardening rule is presented and discussed. All the material parameters in the model have been obtained from a series of proposed basic experiments with constant stresses. These model parameters are then used to predict the creep deformation of the aluminum alloy under multiaxial loading with constant stresses, and under non-proportional uniaxial and non-proportional multiaxial loadings for both isothermal and nonisothermal processes.     

Anomalous rheology of polypyrrole nanoparticle/alginate suspensions: effect of solids volume fraction, particle size, and electronic state

The rheology of dispersions of polypyrrole (PPY) nanoparticles (nPPY) is compared to that of micron-sized PPY particles (CPPY), each suspended in aqueous sodium alginate. With increasing PPY volume fraction, the Newtonian viscosity of the CPPY/alginate suspensions exhibits a ??normal?? increase, whereas that of the nPPY/alginate suspensions decreases to a minimum and then increases again. Enhanced elasticity, indicative of agglomerate formation via bridging interactions with the alginate, is observed only in the CPPY rheology. By comparing doped versus dedoped nPPY particles, and investigating the effect of nPPY particle size, we conclude that the negative viscosity change of the nPPY dispersions is due to adsorption of a dense layer of alginate, resulting in a decrease in bulk alginate concentration. The viscosity upturn at higher nPPY volume fractions indicates the onset of particle agglomeration via bridging interactions with alginate. The results demonstrate improved dispersability of both doped and dedoped nPPY over CPPY particles.     

Effect of sample dimensions,lubrication and deformation rate on uniaxial compression of gelatin gels

The response of 10% gelatin gels to uniaxial compression is determined in part by frictional effects at the gel-platen interface. By using teflon-coated plates, lubricated with paraffin or silicone oil, these frictional effects are effectively eliminated. The stress-strain response can then be described by the two-constant Mooney-Rivlin relation, the sum of the two parameters (C ₁ +C ₂ ) being about 25% lower in lubricated compression than the value obtained in simple shear and torsion. Cross-head speed (for total testing times of 0.2–3 min) had no effect on material response, but long-term stress relaxation does occur over periods of about 30 min and longer. Sample radius did not affect the response in lubricated compression but had a major effect under unlubricated conditions. No systematic change in response was seen with sample diameter to height (aspect) ratios between 9.6 and 3.1 in lubricated compression, but data scatter for a given sample diameter was worst at the lowest heights (highest aspect ratio). Agreement of all true stress versus strain data was within about ± 7% regardless of sample height or deformation rate.     

The initiation of necking in rectangular elastic/plastic specimens under uniaxial and biaxial tension

Necking in a rectangular parallelepiped of incompressible elastic/plastic material under uniaxia tension is studied as a bifurcation problem. Approximate upper-bound bifurcation stresses are found which show that bifurcation can occur immediately after the load on the specimen reaches a maximum if the length of the specimen is sufficiently great compared to the width and thickness. A simple formula applicable to sufficiently thin specimens is obtained for the approximate bifurcation stress. Sufficient conditions for uniqueness are found for elastic/plastic solids subjected to a general homogeneous stress-field. The particular case of the rectangular specimen under equal biaxial tension is investigated further, and the magnitude of the bifurcation stress is found to be very sensitive to the particular boundary conditions imposed.     

Analysis of creep deformation and creep damage in thin-walled branched shells from materials with different behavior in tension and compression

A constitutive model for describing the creep and creep damage in initially isotropic materials with different properties in tension and compression has been applied to the modeling of creep deformation and creep damage growth in thin-walled shells of revolution with the branched meridian. The approach of establishing the basic equations for axisymmetrically loaded branched shells under creep deformation and creep damage conditions has been introduced. To solve the initial/boundary-value problem, the fourth-order Runge–Kutta–Merson’s method of time integration with the combination of the numerically stable Godunov’s method of discrete orthogonalization is used. The solution of the boundary value problem for the branched shell at each time instant is reduced to integration of the series of systems of ordinary differential equations describing the deformation of each branch and the shell with basic meridian. Some numerical examples are considered, and the processes of creep deformation and creep damage growth in a shell with non-branched meridian as well as in a branched shell are analyzed. The influence of the tension–compression asymmetry on the stress–strain state and damage evolution in a shell with non-branched meridian as well as in a branched shell with time are discussed.     

Prediction of ductile fracture in tension by bifurcation,localization, and imperfection analyses

In this investigation, it is shown that the onset of ductile fracture in tension can be interpreted as the result of a supercritical bifurcation of homogeneous deformation and that this fact can be applied to predict ductile fracture initiation of materials with general imperfections or flaws. We focus on one dimensional quasi-static simple tension for rate-independent isotropic plastic materials. For deformation beyond the bifurcation point, multiple equilibrium paths appear. The homogeneous deformation, as one of the equilibrium paths, loses stability while the inhomogeneous paths are stable, thus indicating the occurrence of strain localization. This investigation also provides a physical example for the application of the Lambert W function in material localization analyses. Material instability is treated as the instability of a static system with dynamic perturbation. We also address the presence of microvoids in a power law plastic material as an unfolding of the supercritical pitchfork bifurcation. The imperfect system, idealized as spherical voids within the plastic matrix, is analyzed using the familiar Gurson model which is based on the presumption of a randomly voided material and characterized by the volume fraction of voids. If, in addition, the sizes of the microvoids are known, this then provides a length scale for the imperfection zone. In this manner, relevance to the sample size effects of strain-to-failure for ductile fracture initiation is addressed by considering separate zones with variations in void volume fractions. Fracture initiation predictions are presented and compare very well to existing experimental results.