Effect of matrix yield properties on fragmentation behavior of single fiber composites

Experimental and theoretical investigations have been conducted to study the dependence of fiber fragmentation behavior on matrix yielding properties. The cured Epikote 828 resins with two types of curing agents have almost similar elastic moduli, but different tensile yield strengths. The interfacial chemistry between fiber and epoxy resin is unchanged due to the same constituent of the epoxy resin. The experimental results indicate that the fragmentation behavior of the fibers embedded in the matrix is significantly different for the tested glass fiber treated by γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. The average fragment length decreased with increasing tensile yield strength of resin, which suggests that the interfacial shear strength determined in the fragmentation test should be different depending on the tensile yield strength of resin used. The important phenomenon observed is the transition of the micro-damage mode from matrix crack to interfacial debonding. An elastoplastic shear-lag model was used to calculate the shear stress and fiber tensile stress distributions considering different plastic behaviors of the matrices. The theoretical results indicate that the plastic behavior of the matrix has a large influence on stress transfer. Based on elastic and plastic properties of the matrix, the fiber fragmentation behavior in the matrix is predicted. Experimental and theoretical results are favorably compared.     

A Numerical Investigation on the Influence of Steel Fiber Shape and Interface Strength in Reinforced Concrete

Not all steel fiber reinforced concrete composites are equally effective in enhancing structural performance. Their mechanical behaviour strongly depends upon the reinforcement morphology as well as the properties of the interface lying between steel reinforcement and concrete matrix. Using bone-shaped short (BSS) steel fibers, instead of conventional straight short (CSS) steel fibers, to reinforce concrete has demonstrated their potential in improving toughness, ductility and energy absorbing capacity under impact significantly and simultaneously. Accomplishing a strong steel–concrete interface leads to a slight increase in composite strength but simultaneously to a significant decrease in its toughness. Due to the sensitivity of steel reinforced concrete performance on these complex geometric and material parameters, the development of a numerical tool capable of simulating accurately the composite mechanical behaviour and thus leading to optimized design solutions is desirable. The physical problem of the present work involves a typical concrete composite uniformly reinforced with steel fibers subjected to tensional loading. A micromechanical non-linear finite element formulation is utilized in order to predict the load transfer characteristics and the failure process. A linear material behaviour is assumed for the steel component; a non-linear multi-crack material response is used to describe concrete while a mix-mode bilinear behaviour is utilized for the interface providing separation of primary material phases. Numerical results are presented in terms of the global design parameters. The influence of the fiber end shape, the interface strength and the fiber volume fraction on the composite strength and toughness is addressed and consequently optimized design preferences arise.     

Pull-out tests with fibre-metal systems

Fibre pull-out experiments have been carried out to compare the behaviour of reactive and non-reactive fibre-reinforced metal systems. The test samples were made by melting the metal matrix in vacuum and lowering the fibre a known depth into the liquid. In all cases some brittleness appeared to develop, since final interface failure, except with steel-99% AI, was sudden, and the values of the debonding force were quite scattered in all cases. Otherwise the results agreed with earlier observations, i.e. a linear increase in debonding force with increasing embedded length until the force was high enough to break the fibre rather than debond it. Some yielding was noticeable before failure. An elasticity analysis suggested that high shear stresses were needed in some cases to initiate yielding. However, the interface strengths, as indicated by the debonding forces, were no more than about twice the shear yield stresses of the matrices, as indicated by compressive tests on the metals. A reaction layer was observed on steel which was embedded in the aluminum, but this did not appear to reduce the interface strength. With W-Cu, on the other hand, a thin layer of copper was present on the pulled out tungsten fibre, while with SiC-AI, the silicon carbide had some carbon present on the surface, with traces of AI.     

Effect of Residual Stresses on Delamination Cracks in Fiber Reinforced Composites

In the processing of cross-ply fiber reinforced materials, residual stresses, as well as possible transverse cracking may arise. These affect the stress field about a delamination between two layers. In this investigation, the effect of residual stresses resulting from curing and transverse cracks is examined. A 0°/90°/0° ply system is considered with a delamination assumed between one of the 0° and 90° layers. The residual stresses along the interface without the delamination are calculated. First, this analysis is done neglecting the transverse cracks in the 90° layer. Then, the transverse cracks are included and several methods are employed to calculate the residual stresses. These include the shear lag method, a semi-analytic method and the finite element method. It is seen that the latter two methods produce similar results. By means of the superposition principle, the stress intensity factors resulting from the residual stresses are obtained for the delamination. Use is made of the conservative M-integral with tractions along the crack faces.     

激光扫描阵列结构增强不锈钢与塑料的连接强度

本文采用光纤激光器在不锈钢表面上制备圆形阵列结构来增强不锈钢与塑料的连接强度。研究了激光制备的圆形阵列结构参数以及连接参数对不锈钢与塑料连接强度的影响。结果表明,不锈钢表面经过激光扫描构形处理后能显著提高不锈钢与塑料的连接强度,在压力作用下,熔融塑料渗入激光构造微孔形成的机械互锁是增强不锈钢与塑料连接强度的主要机制。激光构形后不锈钢表面上的毛刺高度、数量以及覆盖率对连接接头的连接强度有重要影响。毛刺高度为10~20μm,毛刺数量占比Tm小于14.82%时,不锈钢与塑料在连接面处断裂,剪切力随着Tm的增加而增加;当Tm值高于14.82%时,在塑料处断裂,且剪切力数值在塑料的平均拉伸断裂力(950 N)上下浮动。不锈钢与塑料连接接头断裂于塑料处时所对应的最小覆盖率为38.5%,此时剪切力为900 N。此外,激光扫描处理过程中不锈钢与塑料连接的温度与压力对连接强度有重要影响,在加热温度为400℃时,不锈钢与塑料连接接头的剪切力最强;当压力为75 kN时,不锈钢与塑料连接接头的剪切力最强。     

Single-fiber electromechanical pull-out testing and its application to studying the interface between steel fiber and cement

The experimental technique of single-fiber electromechanical pull-out testing was introduced and used to study the interface between steel fiber and cement. The technique involves measuring both the contact electrical resistivity between fiber and matrix and the shear bond strength in a fiber-matrix interface sample. Samples that are identically prepared differ in contact resistivity and bond strength, which correlate. The correlation allows determination of even small differences in bond strength due to differences in sample preparation conditions, such as fiber surface treatment, cement curing age and admixtures to the cement paste. It also gives information on the structure of the interface and allows the bond strength to be non-destructively determined by measuring the contact resistivity.     

The single-fibre pull-out method: its advantages,interpretation and experimental realization

Past results from the single-fibre pull-out tests are reviewed and new results obtained with carbon in thermoplastics are presented. The force-distance curve during pull-out indicates some pseudo-ductility, in some cases, as the applied force builds up to the failure load. However, the failure itself is not ductile; rather, it is sudden, suggesting brittle fracture. The debonding force vs. embedded length (L) plots range from straight lines intersecting the origin, through smooth curves, to scatter diagrams, depending on the fibre and polymer. Interfacial shear strengths estimated from the shorter embedded lengths are often high and, quite frequently, higher than that of the polymer matrix. In addition, there is normally no correlation between interface properties (strength or work of fracture) and the corresponding polymer properties. This could well be due to the growth of an oriented interphasial layer, with a modulus and strength up to six times greater than that of the bulk polymer, as has been observed for modulus at least, with particulate reinforced materials.     

Role of weak interface to retain high strength of fiber in monofilamentary SiC fiber/titanium-aluminide composite

The tensile strength of monofilamentary weakly bonded SiC fiber/γ-TiAl intermetallic compound matrix composite, prepared by the sputtering method, was measured and analysed using a fracture mechanical technique. The main results are summarized as follows: (1) The fracture of TiAl occurred prior to that of fiber, resulting in formation of circumferential cracks on the fiber. Interfacial debonding occurred during tensile test, resulting in long pull-out of the fiber. (2) The strength of the fiber in the TiAl matrix was nearly the same as that of the bare fiber. (3) The fracture mechanical analysis showed that (i) the interfacial debonding grows unstably upon initiation and (ii) the stress distribution in the fiber in the cross-section, where the matrix is fractured, approaches to that of bare fiber with increasing debonded length. The reason why the fiber strength was maintained in spite of the formation of cracks on the fiber surface due to the premature fracture of the matrix was accounted for by the fully blunted crack-tip from the above calculation result.     

Growth of interfacial debonding in notched two-dimensional unidirectional composite under stress and displacement controls

A simplified calculation method for study of the growth of interfacial debonding between elastic fiber and elastic matrix ahead of the notch-tip in composites under displacement and stress controlled conditions was presented based on the shear lag approach in which the influences of residual stress and frictional shear stress at the debonded interface were incorporated. The calculation method was applied to a model two-dimensional composite. An outline is given of the difference and similarity in the growing behavior of the debonding between the displacement and stress controls, and of the influences of the residual stresses, frictional shear stress, the nature of the final cut component (fiber or matrix) and sample length on the debonding behavior.     

基于光纤光栅的结构体裂缝三维应变传感

利用光纤光栅的反射谱设计了一种用于混凝土纵向裂缝三维应变传感信号的检测及分析处理的方法.利用ANSYS软件自底向上采用构造法构建混凝土三维断裂模型,分析径向均匀作用力下光纤光栅三轴的应力大小,由三维受力模型拟合光栅传感器的三轴应变函数,给出径向作用力下x和y偏振方向谐振波长与三轴应力间的关系,并且由传输矩阵法计算三轴应力作用下光栅反射谱的变化规律;理论分析和模拟计算光纤光栅传感光谱反射峰的分裂规律.结果表明:在均匀的20N作用力下,10cm长光栅x偏振方向的波长偏移量最大值为10.1nm,y偏振方向的波长偏移量最大值为12nm,此时光纤光栅的谐振峰产生明显分裂,形成两个谐振峰,随着载荷的不断增大,两个谐振峰不断地向两边分开,反射峰的分裂点从短波长向长波方向移动,分裂出来的两个谐振峰中短波谐振峰的反射率高于长波谐振峰,但短波谐振峰的带宽小于长波谐振峰带宽;当光栅长度增加至15cm时,在相同的作用力下,光栅两个反射峰的半高宽度均增加,但两个反射峰的间距几乎不变,灵敏度达0.14nm/N.本文研究可将单根光栅结构传感器的二维传感扩展到三维传感.     

Analysis of single-fiber pull-out from composites by using stress birefringence

During a fiber pull-out test, it is desirable to analyze the stress profiles along the embedded fiber directly within the same time scale as the normal pull-out tests. In the present study, the axial tensile stress profiles of the fiber in a model composite are measured during the single-fiber pull-out tests by using stress birefringence of the fiber. It is concluded from the analysis of the measured stress profiles that an effective radius of matrix, i.e. a radius defining the region of the matrix where the major deformation takes place, is not constant but is an increasing function of the interfacial shear stress. By incorporating the variable values of the effective radius of matrix into the shear-lag model, the axial tensile and the interfacial shear stress profiles are calculated. To accurately estimate the interfacial shear strength, the stress distribution along the embedded fiber and the variability of the effective radius of matrix should be taken into account instead of calculating the interfacial shear strength simply from the pull-out stress and the embedded length.     

Enhanced interfacial strength of carbon nanotube/copper nanocomposites via Ni-coating: Molecular-dynamics insights

The molecular bridging between carbon nanotube (CNT) within the meta matrix is hopeful for enhancing nanocomposite's mechanical performance. One of the main problems for nanocomposites is the inadequate bonding between nonstructural reinforcement and meta matrix. Ni-coating on CNT is an effective method to overcome the drawback of the inadequate strength, but the enhancing mechanism has not well interpreted yet. In this paper, the enhancing mechanism will be interpreted from the molecular-dynamics insights. The pullout process of CNT and Ni-coated CNT against copper matrix is investigated. The effects of geometric parameters, including CNT length and diameter, are taken into considerations and discussed. Results show that the interfacial strength is significantly improved after the Ni-coated CNT, which shows a good agreement with the experimental results available in the open literature. Besides, the sliding mechanism of Ni-coated CNTs against copper matrix is much more like a kind of friction sliding and directly related to the embedded zone. However, the pullout force of the CNT without Ni-coating is nearly proportional to its diameter, but independent of embedded length.     

A review on the research progress of push-out method in testing interfacial properties of SiC fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composites

Experimental analysis of single-fiber push-out for SiC fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composites (TMCs) is complicated by the incorporation of large thermal residual stresses, strong chemical bond of the fiber/matrix interface and matrix plastic deformation. This paper summarizes the development of push-out test and the characteristics of push-out test for TMCs such as crack initiating at the bottom face and theoretical analysis of the test. Moreover, it deeply analyzes the progresses of interfacial shear strength and fracture toughness, and work focus is pointed out in future.     

Fabrication of smart cutting tools with embedded optical fiber sensors using combined laser solid freeform fabrication and moulding techniques

To realize the concept of smart tools, embedding of fiber optic sensors in the metallic structure of a cutting tool with combined laser solid freeform fabrication (LSFF) and moulding is presented in this paper. Metallic parts with embedded optical fiber sensors are capable of monitoring physical parameters like force and temperature. These sensors are advantageous relative to other conventional electric and electromagnetic sensors due to their light weight, immunity to external electromagnetic fields, small size, long-term durability, and long-range linearity. In the present work, the optical fibers (e.g., fiber Bragg grating sensor, single-mode fiber optics) are moulded under tensile forces within a mild steel casing filled by Sn–Pb to fabricate a protective layer around them. Afterwards, LSFF is utilized to deposit tungsten carbide reinforced in cobalt (WC–Co) on the surface of the mild steel component. The performance results, in which the sensor exposed to a light bandwidth, show that the maximum light power loss after embedding is about 21% implying that the fiber is not damaged during the embedding process. Also, the sensor output has a linear characteristic under compression loadings indicating that the debonding of the fiber from the protective layer is not probable. The produced samples are examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to assess the physical properties of the tool. Microstructural images reveal no cracks and porosity around the fiber indicating a good bonding between the fiber and the surrounding media. Material characterizations of the manufactured tool are also discussed.     

Damage evaluation of reinforced concrete frame based on a combined fiber beam model

In order to analyze and simulate the impact collapse or seismic response of the reinforced concrete(RC)structures,a combined fiber beam model is proposed by dividing the cross section of RC beam into concrete fiber and steel fiber.The stress-strain relationship of concrete fiber is based on a model proposed by concrete codes for concrete structures.The stress-strain behavior of steel fiber is based on a model suggested by others.These constitutive models are implemented into a general finite element program ABAQUS through the user defined subroutines to provide effective computational tools for the inelastic analysis of RC frame structures.The fiber model proposed in this paper is validated by comparing with experiment data of the RC column under cyclical lateral loading.The damage evolution of a three-dimension frame subjected to impact loading is also investigated.     

Interphase characterization in polymer composites - monitoring of interphasial behavior in dependence on the mode of loading

Single fiber model composites consisting of epoxy resin matrix and differently sized glass fibers were investigated using pull-out tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning force microscopy (SFM) and single fiber dynamic load test (SFDL). The inhomogeneous stress distribution along the embedded fiber length could be visualized by monitoring. SEM images showed either cohesive fracture or adhesive failure on pulled-out fibers with different sizings. The crack initiation and propagation were detected randomly and multiply distributed as the inhomogeneous interphase itself and depending strongly on the fiber-matrix model combination. The meniscus region acts as a material inhomogeneity and its appearence depends on the surface free energies of fiber and matrix and on the curing conditions of the resin. SFM in force modulation mode has visualized different interphase thicknesses and gradients of local stiffness. The SFDL test has been shown as a worthful tool for the comprehensive determination of fiber-matrix interaction.     

Effect of Surface Roughness, Type and Size of Model Aggregates on the Bond Strength of Aggregate/Mortar Interface

The paper reports on a two-stage study of the interface between three types of model cylindrical aggregates (sandstone, limestone and granite) and two types of mortar matrix (plain and 20% Silica Fume mortar). In the first stage, the surface roughness (R _a) of the aggregates and the interfacial bond strength using push-out specimens have been experimentally determined. In the second, aggregate push-out geometry has been modelled using two different approaches. In the first approach, the surface roughness is ignored and the cylindrical aggregates are assumed to have an ideally smooth surface with a constant radius, r ₀ over the aggregate length, L. In the second approach, the surface roughness of the aggregates is included so that the radius, r varies along the length of the cored rock aggregate. Hence, the influence of the surface roughness of the aggregates on the interfacial bond strength is obtained. It is found that the surface roughness plays a significant role in determining the interfacial bond strength, in particular of smaller size aggregates. The effect, however, diminishes as the aggregate size increases, regardless of the aggregate and mortar type.     

Improvement and mechanism of interfacial adhesion in PBO fiber/bismaleimide composite by oxygen plasma treatment

The improved interfacial adhesion of PBO fiber-reinforced bismaleimide composite by oxygen plasma processing was investigated in this paper. After treatment, the maximum value of interlaminar shear strength was 57.5 MPa, with an increase of 28.9%. The oxygen concentration of the fiber surface increased, as did the surface roughness, resulting in improvement of the surface wettability. The cleavage and rearrangement of surface bonds created new functional groups OCO, NCO and NO, thereby activating the fiber surface. And long-time treatment increased the reaction degree of surface groups while destroyed the newly-created physical structures. The enhancement of adhesion relied primarily on the strengthening of chemical bonding and mechanical interlocking between the fiber and the matrix. The composite rupture planes indicated that the fracture failure shifted from the interface to the matrix or the fiber.     

Mesoscale simulation of concrete spall failure

Although intensively studied, it is still being debated which physical mechanisms are responsible for the increase of dynamic strength and fracture energy of concrete observed at high loading rates, and to what extent structural inertia forces on different scales contribute to the observation. We present a new approach for the three dimensional mesoscale modelling of dynamic damage and cracking in concrete. Concrete is approximated as a composite of spherical elastic aggregates of mm to cm size embedded in an elastic cement stone matrix. Cracking within the matrix and at aggregate interfaces in the μm range are modelled with adaptively inserted—initially rigid—cohesive interface elements. The model is applied to analyse the dynamic tensile failure observed in Hopkinson-Bar spallation experiments with strain rates up to 100/s. The influence of the key mesoscale failure parameters of strength, fracture energy and relative weakening of the ITZ on macromechanic strength, momentum and energy conservation is numerically investigated.     

用埋入式光纤传感器探测建筑结构中的声发射

声发射技术已经应用于金属和混凝土结构中,作为探测内部裂缝的一种无损检测方法。目前用的技术都是由压电换能器来采集声发射信号。讨论了基于用光纤技术的声发射传感器的开发和测量方法。它是用埋入式光纤传感器来监测类似桥梁、高速公路、隧道和房屋建筑等混凝土结构中的开裂信号。