Analysis of fracture initiation angle in some cracked ceramics using the generalized maximum tangential stress criterion

Brittle fracture in ceramics sometimes occurs under combined opening-sliding (or mixed mode I/II) crack deformation. In this paper, a generalized maximum tangential stress criterion is employed for predicting the fracture initiation angle under mixed mode I/II loading in some brittle ceramics including alumina, zirconia, soda lime glass and three silicon based ceramics. The experimental results reported for the fracture angles in these ceramics have been obtained from fracture tests on the centrally cracked circular disc (often called the Brazilian disc). Very good agreement is shown to exist between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions. According to the fracture model, the mixed mode fracture angle is strongly dependent on the elastic T-stress in the tested ceramics. The negative T-stress that exists in the Brazilian disc specimen can be the main influencing parameter for decreasing the fracture initiation angle in the investigated ceramics.     

中心直裂纹平台巴西圆盘复合型动态应力强度因子

为了指导用中心直裂纹平台巴西圆盘(CSTFBD)试样进行岩石复合型动态断裂 试验,利用有限元法首先验证了文献中对中心直裂纹巴西圆盘(CSTBD)得到的有关结果,分析 比较了不同无量纲裂纹长度(即裂纹半长和圆盘半径之比)时两种圆盘的I, II型动态应力 强度因子的时间历程,发现两者的差异大部分在10{\%}以内,同时验证了该文数值方法的可 靠性. 然后讨论了CSTFBD试样I, II型动态应力强度因子的复合比、起裂角以及纯II型加 载角. 研究成果可为复合型动态断裂试验中CSTFBD试样的加工、试样上应变片的粘贴、起裂 方向和起裂时间的估计等提供参考.     

Experimental and Theoretical Assessment of Brittle Fracture in Engineering Components Containing a Sharp V-Notch

A criterion was proposed to predict brittle fracture in engineering components containing sharp V-shaped notches and subjected to mixed mode I/II loading. The criterion, called SV-MTS, was developed based on the maximum tangential stress (MTS) criterion proposed originally for analyzing crack problems. The curves which are obtained from the SV-MTS criterion could be used conveniently to predict the fracture resistance and also the notch bifurcation angle in sharp V-notched components under pure mode II and also mixed mode loading. To evaluate the validity of the proposed criterion, a set of fracture tests were conducted on a new test specimen, called sharp V-notched Brazilian disc (SV-BD), under mixed mode loading conditions. It is shown that the experimental results obtained from PMMA specimens are in very good agreement with the curves of SV-MTS criterion.     

Determination of mode II fracture toughness for U-shaped notches using Brazilian disc specimen

A brittle fracture criterion is proposed for predicting fracture toughness of U-shaped notches under pure mode II loading. The criterion, called UMTS, is developed based on the maximum tangential stress (MTS) criterion. The UMTS criterion can be generally used for determining the mode II fracture toughness of U-notched components as well as the fracture initiation angle in U-shaped notches under pure mode II loading. To verify the validity of the proposed criterion, a set of experiments were carried out on the U-notched Brazilian disc (UNBD) specimens made of PMMA and also soda-lime glass. It is shown that there is a good agreement between the results of the UMTS criterion and the experimental results both for fracture toughness and for the fracture initiation angle under pure mode II conditions.     

On determination of mode II fracture toughness using semi-circular bend specimen

The cracked semi-circular specimen subjected to three-point bending has been recognized as an appropriate test specimen for conducting mode I, mode II and mixed mode I/II fracture tests in brittle materials. The manufacturing and pre-cracking of the specimen are simple. No complicated loading fixture is also required for a fracture test. However, almost all of the theoretical criteria available for mixed mode brittle fracture fail to predict the experimentally determined mode II fracture toughness obtained from the semi-circular bend (SCB) specimen. In this paper, a modified maximum tangential stress criterion is used for calculating mode II fracture toughness K_IIc in terms of mode I fracture toughness K_Ic. The modified criterion is used for predicting the reported values of mode II fracture toughness for two brittle materials: a rock material (Johnstone) and a brittle polymer (PMMA). It is shown that the modified criterion provides very good predictions for experimental results.     

Fracture analysis of U-notched disc-type graphite specimens under mixed mode loading

Fracture phenomenon was investigated both experimentally and theoretically for a type of coarse-grained polycrystalline graphite weakened by a U-shaped notch under mixed mode loading. First, 36 disc-type graphite specimens containing a central U-notch, so called in literature as the U-notched Brazilian disc (UNBD), were prepared for four different notch tip radii and the fracture tests were performed under mode I and mixed mode I/II loading conditions. Then, the experimentally obtained fracture loads and the fracture initiation angles were predicted by using the U-notched maximum tangential stress (UMTS) and the newly formulated U-notched mean stress (UMS) fracture criteria. Both the criteria were developed in the form of the fracture curves and the curves of fracture initiation angle, in terms of the notch stress intensity factors (NSIFs). The results showed that while the criteria could predict successfully the experimental notch fracture toughness values, the UMS criterion provides slightly better predictions than the UMTS criterion, particularly for shear-dominant deformations. Also, found in this research was that the curves of fracture initiation angle were almost identical for the two criteria which both could predict well the experimental results.     

Experimental and Numerical Study of Shear Fracture in Brittle Materials with Interference of Initial Double Cracks

A simultaneous experimental and numerical study of shear fracture of concrete-like materials is carried out using Brazilian disc specimens with initial double edge cracks and fourpoint bending beam specimens with double edge-notches.The interference effects of two cracks/notches are investigated through varied ligament angles and crack lengths.It is shown that shear fracturing paths change remarkably with the initial ligament angles and crack lengths.The cracked specimens are numerically simulated by an indirect boundary element method.A comparison between the numerical results and the experimental ones shows good agreement.     

基于GMTS准则的岩石复合型断裂机理研究

使用国际岩石力学协会规定的半圆盘岩石试件,加工不同倾角的直裂纹试样,通过三点弯曲加载试验得到不同I-II复合比断裂的断裂韧性和初始断裂角．传统裂纹扩展准则忽视了常数项即T应力及更高阶项的影响,导致该扩展准则的理论预测结果存在较大缺陷,本文通过考虑常数项,建立广义最大周向应力准则(GMTS)．在此基础上,分别采用传统的裂纹扩展准则和考虑T应力的裂纹扩展准则预测不同复合比裂纹的断裂韧性和初始扩展角,然后对比理论预测结果和实验结果．分析可得：常数项即T应力对断裂的临界应力强度因子和初始断裂角的影响是不可忽略的,且II型断裂占比较大时影响更大,广义最大周向应力准则预测值与实验测试结果之间的误差最小．     

Particle flow study on strength and meso-mechanism of Brazilian splitting test for jointed rock mass

A discrete element method （DEM） called particle flow code （PFC2D） was used to construct a model for Brazilian disc splitting test in the present study. Based on the experimental results of intact Brazilian disc of rock-like material, a set of micro-parameters in PFC2D that reflected the macro-mechanical behavior of rock-like materials were obtained. And then PFC2D was used to simulate Brazilian splitting test for jointed rock mass specimens and specimen containing a central straight notch. The effect of joint angle and notch angle on the tensile strength and failure mode of jointed rock specimens was detailed analyzed. In order to reveal the meso-mechanical mechanism of crack coalescence, displacement trend lines were applied to analyze the displacement evolution during the crack initiation and propagation. The investigated conclusions can be described as follows. （1） The tensile strength of jointed rock mass disc specimen is dependent to the joint angle. As the joint angle increases, the tensile strength of jointed rock specimen takes on a nonlinear variance. （2） The tensile strength of jointed rock mass disc specimen containing a central straight notch distributes as a function of both joint angle and notch angle. （3） Three major failure modes, i.e., pure tensile failure, shear failure and mixed tension and shear failure mode are observed in jointed rock mass disc specimens under Brazilian test. （4） The notch angle roles on crack initiation and and joint angle play important propagation characteristics of jointed rock mass disc specimen containing a central straight notch under Brazilian test.     

A MIXED MODE FRACTURE CRITERION BASED ON THE MAXIMUM TANGENTIAL STRESS IN BRITTLE INCLUSION

A closed-form solution for predicting the tangential stress of an inclusion located in mixed mode Ⅰ and Ⅱ crack tip field was developed based on the Eshelby equivalent inclusion theory. Then a mixed mode fracture criterion, including the fracture direction and the critical load, was established based on the maximum tangential stress in the inclusion for brittle inclusioninduced fracture materials. The proposed fracture criterion is a function of the inclusion fracture stress, its size and volume fraction, as well as the elastic constants of the inclusion and the matrix material. The present criterion will reduce to the conventional one as the inclusion having the same elastic behavior as the matrix material. The proposed solutions are in good agreement with detailed finite element analysis and measurement.     

Equivalent thickness conception for corner cracks

Thickness dependence of the one-parameter-based fracture toughness has been well recognized and widely studied. However, it is still a challenge to predict the fracture of structures with curved cracks from the fracture toughness data obtained from the standard through-the-thickness cracked specimens. The complicated three-dimensional (3D) stress fields near the crack front play a vital role in the fracture strength of materials. Based on a systematical numerical study of the 3D stress fields near the crack tip of quarter elliptic corner cracks and comparison with that of ideal through-the-thickness cracks, an equivalent thickness conception for curved cracks is proposed from the viewpoint of out-of-plane constraint, and a semi-analytical solution for the equivalent thickness of corner cracks is obtained. With the evaluated equivalent thickness, the fracture toughness of corner cracked specimens is predicted efficiently by the plane-strain toughness value of the material obtained from the standard through-the-thickness specimen.     

预制裂缝宽度对HCFBD试件确定岩石断裂韧度的影响

为了考察人工预制裂缝宽度对确定岩石断裂韧度的影响,采用大理岩制作了含有不同预制裂缝宽度的中心圆孔裂缝平台巴西圆盘试件(hole-cracked flattened Brazilian disc, HCFBD),在RMT150B试验机上进行试验,对不同预制裂缝宽度圆盘的应力强度因子进行有限元计算,并对测试方法进行了研究。结果表明,采用将预制裂缝宽度视作零宽度裂缝方法确定的断裂韧度值偏低,给出了一种采用最小载荷和最大无量纲应力强度因子确定岩石断裂韧度的新方法,该方法能够消除预制裂缝宽度对圆盘试件测定岩石断裂韧度的影响。     

Fracture analyses of different pre-holed concrete specimens under compression

Crack propagation processes in specially prepared concrete discs and rectangular specimens containing a single cylindrical hole or multiple holes of varying diameters have been studied both experimentally and numerically.In this research, the cracks coalescence paths in Brazilian disc and rectangular specimens made from rock-like material containing multi-holes are investigated. These concrete specimens are specially prepared from an appropriate mixture of Portland Pozzolana Cement(PPC), fine sands, and water.The pre-holed Brazilian discs and rectangular specimens are experimentally tested under compression. The breakage load in the ring type disc specimens containing an axial hole with varying diameters is measured and the distribution of the induced lateral stress is obtained. The mechanism of cracks propagation in the wall of the ring type specimens is also studied. In the case of multi-hole Brazilian disc and rectangular specimens, the cracks propagation and cracks coalescence are also investigated. These experiments are numerically modeled by a modified higher order displacement discontinuity method. It has been shown that the corresponding experimental and numerical results are in good agreement with each other. The results presented in this research validate the accuracy and applicability of these crack analyses procedures.     

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.     

Dynamic crack curving and branching under biaxial loading

A 16-spark-gap camera was used to record the dynamic photoelastic patterns of ten centrally cracked, Homalite-100 specimens which fractured under ten initial biaxial-stress ratios ranging from 3.7 to 0, some of which do not exist in normal fracture specimens. The dynamic photoelastic patterns of curved cracks were used to verify the previously developed dynamic-crack-curving criterion. Cracks which immediately curved upon propagation in three specimens under abnormally high inital biaxial loading were used to verify the static counterpart of the dynamic-crack-curving criterion under these extreme loading conditions. A previously developed dynamic-crack-branching criterion was also verified by four dynamic photoelastic results involving cracks which eventually branched under the lower initial biaxial loading.     

The mixed mode brittle fracture criteria in siliding mode fracture

It is well-known that the present mixed mode brittle fracture criteria are all theopening mode fracture criterion.We consider that mixed mode brittle fracture of slidingmode fracture exists too.Hence we propose three criteria of mixed mode brittle fracture ofsliding mode fracture;:the radial shearing stress criterion,the maximum shearing stresscriterion and the distortional strain-energy-density criterion.Thus,we can overall explainthe phenomena of brittle fracture in the structural elements with cracks.     

A modified upper bound approach to limit analysis for plane strain deeply cracked specimens

The classical upper bound approach of limit analysis is based on assumption of rigid blocks of deformation that move between lines of tangential displacement discontinuity. This assumption leads to considerable simplification but often at cost of higher estimate of the actual load. Moreover, in many cases, it does not give a correct shape of the plastic field. In order to overcome these limitations a modified upper bound approach is proposed in this article. The proposed approach is basically an energetic approach but unlike the classical upper bound approach it is capable of including presence of statically governed stress field. As an application, of proposed approach, theoretical plane strain solutions are presented for deeply cracked fracture mechanics specimens (single edge cracked specimen in pure bending – SE (PB), single edge cracked specimen in three-point bending – SE (B), and compact tension – C (T) specimens). Plane strain plasticity problem in rigid elastic–plastic mono-material (homogeneous) was solved to evaluate useful parameters like limit load, plastic eta function (η_p) and plastic rotation factor (r_p) and in bi-material (mismatch welds) to evaluate mismatch limit load, for deeply cracked specimens. New kinematically admissible velocity fields are proposed for SE (B) and C (T) specimens. Proposed theoretical solutions were confirmed by classical slip-line field solutions, wherever available, and by detailed elastic–plastic finite element analysis with Von-Mises yield criterion. Good agreement was found between proposed solutions and results obtained from the classical slip-line field theory and finite element analysis.     

Brittle fracture: Variation of fracture toughness with constraint and crack curving under mode I conditions

The effect of constraint on brittle fracture of solids under predominantly elastic deformation and mode I loading conditions is studied. Using different cracked specimen geometry, the variation of constraint is achieved in this work. Fracture tests of polymethyl methacrylate were performed using single edge notch, compact tension and double cantilever beam specimens to cover a bread range of constraint. The test data demonstrate that the apparent fracture toughness of the material varies with the specimen geometry or the constraint level. Theory is developed using the critical stress (strain) as the fracture criterion to show that this variation can be interpreted using the critical stress intensity factorK _Cand a second parameterT orA ₃,whereT andA ₃are the amplitudes of the second and the third term in the Williams series solution, respectively. The implication of this constraint effect to the ASTM fracture toughness value, crack tip opening displacement fracture criterion and energy release rateG _Cis discussed. Using the same critical stress (strain) as the fracture criterion, the theory further predicts crack curving or instability under mode I loading conditions. Experimental data are presented and compared with the theory.     

岩石偏心圆孔单裂纹平台圆盘的动态裂纹扩展与止裂

针对平台圆环构型的优点, 提出偏心圆孔单裂纹平台圆盘(cracked eccentrically holed flattened disc, CEHFD), 该试样具有更长的断裂路径。利用霍普金森压杆加载系统, 径向冲击CEHFD试样, 完成Ⅰ型动态断裂实验。砂岩试样表面粘贴应变片和裂纹扩展计, 用于监测裂纹动态起裂、扩展和止裂的全过程。实验表明, 在整个断裂过程中, 裂纹非匀速扩展, 裂纹扩展速度在裂纹起裂后加速上升, 在裂纹止裂前有明显的减速, 与地震时断层的动态破裂全过程完全吻合。采用实验-数值-解析法得到动态应力强度因子, 其时间历程呈现先增大后减小的趋势。根据断裂过程不同时刻, 得到相应的动态起裂韧度、扩展韧度及止裂韧度。在动态断裂全过程中, 动态扩展韧度为速度的函数, 变化趋势与速度一致, 随着时间先增大后减小; 动态起裂韧度大于动态止裂韧度, 止裂韧度随着裂纹最大扩展速度的增大而降低, 并且有较大的离散性。     

Separation work analysis of cohesive law and consistently coupled cohesive law

An appropriate coupled cohesive law for predicting the mixed mode failure is established by combining normal separation and tangential separation of surfaces in the cohesive zone model (CZM) and the cohesive element method. The Xu-Needleman exponential cohesive law with the fully shear failure mechanism is one of the most popular models. Based on the proposed consistently coupled rule/principle, the Xu-Needleman law with the fully shear failure mechanism is proved to be a non-consistently coupled cohesive law by analyzing the surface separation work. It is shown that the Xu-Needleman law is only valid in the mixed mode fracture when the normal separation work equals the tangential separation work. Based on the consistently coupled principle and the modification of the Xu-Needleman law, a consistently coupled cohesive (CCC) law is given. It is shown that the proposed CCC law has already overcome the non-consistency defect of the Xu-Needleman law with great promise in mixed mode analyses.