Finite strain analysis of crack tip fields in incompressible hyperelastic solids loaded in plane stress

A new method is developed to determine the dominant asymptotic stress and deformation fields near the tip of a Mode-I traction free plane stress crack. The analysis is based on the fully nonlinear equilibrium theory of incompressible hyperelastic solids. We show that the dominant singularity of the near tip stress field is governed by the asymptotic solution of a linear second order ordinary differential equation. Our method is applicable to any hyperelastic material with a smooth work function that depends only on the trace of the Cauchy-Green tensor and is particularly useful for materials that exhibit severe strain hardening. We apply this method to study two types of soft materials: generalized neo-Hookean solids and a solid that hardens exponentially. For the generalized neo-Hookean solids, our method is able to resolve a difficulty in the previous work by Geubelle and Knauss (1994a). Our theoretical results are compared with finite element simulations.     

Constraint effects in adhesive joint fracture

Constraint effects in adhesive joint fracture are investigated by modelling the adherents as well as a finite thickness adhesive layer in which a single row of cohesive zone elements representing the fracture process is embedded. Both the adhesive and the adherents are elastic-plastic with strain hardening. The bond toughness Γ (work per unit area) is equal to Γ₀+Γ_p, where Γ₀ is the intrinsic work of fracture associated with the embedded cohesive zone response and Γ_p is the extra contribution to the bond toughness arising from plastic dissipation and stored elastic energy within the adhesive layer. The parameters of the model are identified from experiments on two different adhesives exhibiting very different fracture properties. Most of the tests were performed using the wedge-peel test method for a variety of adhesives, adherents and wedge thicknesses. The model captures the constraint effects resulting from the change in Γ_p: (i) the plastic dissipation increases with increasing bond line thickness in the fully plastic regime and then decreases to reach a constant value for very thick adhesive layers; (ii) the plastic dissipation in the fully plastic regime increases drastically as the thickness of the adherent decreases. Finally, this model is used to assess a simpler approach which consists of simulating the full adhesive layer as a single row of cohesive elements.     

Mode I and mode II crack tip asymptotic fields with strain gradient effects

The strain gradient effect becomes significant when the size of fracture process zone around a crack tip is comparable to the intrinsic material lengthl, typically of the order of microns. Using the new strain gradient deformation theory given by Chen and Wang, the asymptotic fields near a crack tip in an elastic-plastic material with strain gradient effects are investigated. It is established that the dominant strain field is irrotational. For mode I plane stress crack tip asymptotic field, the stress asymptotic field and the couple stress asymptotic field can not exist simultaneously. In the stress dominated asymptotic field, the angular distributions of stresses are consistent with the classical plane stress HRR field; In the couple stress dominated asymptotic field, the angular distributions of couple stresses are consistent with that obtained by Huang et al. For mode II plane stress and plane strain crack tip asymptotic fields, only the stress-dominated asymptotic fields exist. The couple stress asymptotic field is less singular than the stress asymptotic fields. The stress asymptotic fields are the same as mode II plane stress and plane strain HRR fields, respectively. The increase in stresses is not observed in strain gradient plasticity for mode I and mode II, because the present theory is based only on the rotational gradient of deformation and the crack tip asymptotic fields are irrotational and dominated by the stretching gradient. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19704100), National Natural Science Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJ951-1-20), CAS K.C. Wong Post-doctoral Research Award Fund and Post-doctoral Science Fund of China     

Piezomagnetic and piezoelectric poling effects on mode I and II crack initiation behavior of magnetoelectroelastic materials

The ferrite and ferroelectric phase of magnetoelectroelastic (MEE) material can be selected and processed to control the macroscopic behavior of electron devices using continuum mechanics models. Once macro- and/or microdefects appear, the highly intensified magnetic and electric energy localization could alter the response significantly to change the design performance. Alignment of poling directions of piezomagnetic and piezoelectric materials can add to the complexity of the MEE material behavior to which this study will be concerned with.Appropriate balance of distortional and dilatational energy density is no longer obvious when a material possesses anisotropy and/or nonhomogeneity. An excess of the former could result in unwanted geometric change while the latter may lead to unexpected fracture initiation. Such information can be evaluated quantitatively from the stationary values of the energy density function dW/dV. The maxima and minima have been known to coincide, respectively, with possible locations of permanent shape change and crack initiation regardless of material and loading type. The direction of poling with respect to a line crack and the material microstructure described by the constitutive coefficients will be specified explicitly with reference to the applied magnetic field, electric field and mechanical stress, both normal and shear. The crack initiation load and direction could be predicted by finding the direction for which the volume change is the largest. In contrast to intuition, change in poling directions can influence the cracking behavior of MEE dramatically. This will be demonstrated by the numerical results for the BaTiO₃–CoFe₂O₄ composite having different volume fractions where BaTiO₃ and CoFe₂O₄ are, respectively, the inclusion and matrix.To be emphasized is that mode I and II crack behavior will not have the same definition as that in classical fracture mechanics where load and crack extension symmetry would coincide. A striking result is found for a mode II crack. By keeping the magnetic poling fixed, a reversal of electric poling changed the crack initiation angle from θ₀=+80° to θ₀=−80° using the line extending ahead of the crack as the reference. This effect is also sensitive to the distance from the crack tip. Displayed and discussed are results for r/a=10⁻⁴ and 10⁻¹. Because the theory of magnetoelectroelasticity used in the analysis is based on the assumption of equilibrium where the influence of material microstructure is homogenized, the local space and temporal effects must be interpreted accordingly. Among them are the maximum values of (dW/dV)_max and (dW/dV)_min which refer to as possible sites of yielding and fracture. Since time and size are homogenized, it is implicitly understood that there is more time for yielding as compared to fracture being a more sudden process. This renders a higher dW/dV in contrast to that for fracture. Put it differently, a lower dW/dV with a shorter time for release could be more detrimental.     

复合材料Ⅰ、Ⅱ混合型分层试验研究

通过对T300／5405、1300／913、1300／HD03三种航空材料Ⅰ、Ⅱ混合型分层研究，进一步研究了新的Ⅰ、Ⅱ混合型分层断裂测试的JJ法，并和MMB法进行了比较，发现两者较为吻合。但JJ法耗费试件少，简单易行，操作方便，有利于建立混合型分层的失效判据，它可以适用于不同环境下的混合型分层实验的测试。     

Coupled continuum and discrete analysis of random heterogeneous materials: Elasticity and fracture

Recent work has suggested that the heterogeneous distribution of mechanical properties in natural and synthetic materials induces a toughening mechanism that leads to a more robust structural response in the presence of cracks, defects or other types of flaws. Motivated by this, we model an elastic solid with a Young′s modulus distribution described by a Gaussian process. We study the pristine system using both a continuum and a discrete model to establish a link between the microscale and the macroscale in the presence of disorder. Furthermore, we analyze a flawed discrete particle system and investigate the influence of heterogeneity on the fracture mechanical properties of the solid. We vary the variability and correlation length of the Gaussian process, thereby gaining fundamental insights into the effect of heterogeneity and the essential length scales of heterogeneity critical to enhanced fracture properties. As previously shown for composites with complex hierarchical architectures, we find that materials with disordered elastic fields toughen by a ‘distribution-of-weakness’ mechanism inducing crack arrest and stress delocalization. In our systems, the toughness modulus can increase by up to 30% due to an increase in variability in the elastic field. Our work presents a foundation for stochastic modeling in a particle-based micromechanical environment that can find broad applications within natural and synthetic materials.     

Comments on “Explicit transient solutions for a mode III crack subjected to dynamic concentrated loading in a piezoelectric material” by Yi-Shyong Ing, Mau-Jung Wang [Int. J. Solids Struct. 41 (2004) 3849–3864]

In this comment it is pointed out that the analysis of the dynamic stress intensity factor, dynamic electric displacement intensity factor and dynamic energy release rate conducted by Ing and Wang [Ing, Y.S., Wang, M.J., 2004. Explicit transient solutions for a mode III crack subjected to dynamic concentrated loading in a piezoelectric material. International Journal of Solids and Structures 41, 3849–3864] is incorrect. The correct analysis and corresponding correct plots are presented.     

Extension of the Coherent Gradient Sensor (CGS) to the Combined Measurement of In-Plane and Out-of-Plane Displacement Field Gradients

The Coherent Gradient Sensor (CGS) is extended to the optical differentiation of specular, diffracted wave fronts leading to the combined measurement of in- and out-of-plane displacement field gradients. A derivation of the underlying optical interference principles is presented along with an analysis of the effective instrument sensitivity. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the technique, experimental measurements of crack-tip deformation fields were conducted under various loading conditions corresponding to mode-I, mode-II, and mixed mode near-tip crack fields. The experimental procedures and results of these tests are presented as validation of the technique.     

Comments on ‘‘Dynamic crack propagation in piezoelectric materials—Part I. Electrode solution’’ by Shaofan Li, Peter A. Mataga [J. Mech. Phys. Solids 44 (1996) 1799-1830]

In this comment, it is pointed out that the paper [Li and Mataga, 1996. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 44, 1799-1830], which presents original and valid solution strategy for an important problem of dynamic crack propagation in piezoelectric materials, contains ultimate quantitatively and qualitatively incorrect expressions, conclusions and plots due calculation errors. The correct calculations and corresponding correct conclusions and plots are presented.