Electroelastic analysis of a penny-shaped crack in a piezoelectric ceramic under mode I loading

Following the theory of linear piezoelectricity, we consider the electroelastic problem for a piezoelectric ceramic with a penny-shaped crack under mode I loading. The problem is formulated by means of Hankel transform and the solution is solved exactly. The stress intensity factor, energy release rate and energy density factor for the exact and impermeable crack models are expressed in closed form and compared for a P-7 piezoelectric ceramic. Based on current findings, we suggest that the energy release rate and energy density factor criteria for the exact crack model are superior to fracture criteria for the impermeable crack model.     

Fatigue crack propagaion under mixed mode loading

Mixed model fatigue crack propagation is analyzed in this paper, using a centre cracked plate geometry, loaded under un-iaxial cyclic tension. Based on maximum principal stress criterion, a modified Paris expression of fatigue crack growth rate is derived in terms of ΔK and crack angle β_α for an inclined crack. It is also shown that it is more convenient to express the Paris equation by means of crack length projected on the x -axis, α_x rather than the actual length, α itself. The crack trajectory due to cyclic loading is predicted, β is varied from 29° to 90°. Experimental data on Type L3 aluminium agree fairly well with predicted values when β_α exceeds 30°.     

A method for measuring mode I crack tip constraint under static and dynamic loading conditions

A novel experimental technique for measuring crack tipT-stress, and hence in-plane crack tip constraint, in elastic materials has been developed. The method exploits optimal positioning of stacked strain gage rosette near a mode I crack tip such that the influence of dominant singular strains is negated in order to determineT-stress accurately. The method is demonstrated for quasi-static and low-velocity impact loading conditions and two values of crack length to plate width ratios (a/W). By coupling this new method with the Dally-Sanford single strain gage method for measuring the mode I stress intensity factorK _I , the crack tip biaxiality parameter is also measured experimentally. Complementary small strain, static and dynamic finite element simulations are carried out under plane stress conditions. Time histories ofK _I andT-stress are computed by regression analysis of the displacement and stress fields, respectively. The experimental results are in good agreement with those obtained from numerical simulations. Preliminary data for critical values ofK _I and β for dynamic experiments involving epoxy specimens are reported. Dynamic crack initiation toughness shows an increasing trend as β becomes more negative at higher impact velocities.     

Dynamic behaviors of mode III interfacial crack under a constant loading rate

In an earlier study on intersonic crack propagation, Gao et al. (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 49: 2113–2132, 2001) described molecular dynamics simulations and continuum analysis of the dynamic behaviors of a mode II dominated crack moving along a weak plane under a constant loading rate. The crack was observed to initiate its motion at a critical time after the onset of loading, at which it is rapidly accelerated to the Rayleigh wave speed and propagates at this speed for a finite time interval until an intersonic daughter crack is nucleated at a peak stress at a finite distance ahead of the original crack tip. The present article aims to analyze this behavior for a mode III crack moving along a bi-material interface subject to a constant loading rate. We begin with a crack in an initially stress-free bi-material subject to a steadily increasing stress. The crack initiates its motion at a critical time governed by the Griffith criterion. After crack initiation, two scenarios of crack propagation are investigated: the first one is that the crack moves at a constant subsonic velocity; the second one is that the crack moves at the lower shear wave speed of the two materials. In the first scenario, the shear stress ahead of the crack tip is singular with exponent ?1/2, as expected; in the second scenario, the stress singularity vanishes but a peak stress is found to emerge at a distance ahead of the moving crack tip. In the latter case, a daughter crack supersonic with respect to the softer medium can be expected to emerge ahead of the initial crack once the peak stress reaches the cohesive strength of the interface.     

Transient dislocation emission from a crack tip under dynamic mode III loading

Summary  Transient dislocation emission from a crack tip under dynamic mode III loading is analyzed. By taking into account the dynamic interaction between the crack and dislocation, the governing equation for the dislocation motion is derived under the quasi-steady assumption. The behavior of dislocation emission is explored in detail by solving this equation numerically. A critical initial speed can be determined, which must be exceeded by dislocations to escape from the crack tip. The dislocation emission process is found to be completed in such a short time period that the applied load may be approximately treated as constant during dislocation emission. Based on this fact, an asymptotic criterion for transient dislocation emission is developed, from which the critical initial speed can be evaluated. In the case that the dislocation is emitted from rest, we recover the quasi-static criterion of dislocation emission. Received 22 November 2000; accepted for publication 20 March 2001     

A half plane crack under three-dimensional combined mode impact loading

The dynamic stress intensity factor history for a half plane crack in an otherwise unbounded elastic body, with the crack faces subjected to a traction distribution consisting of two pairs of suddenly-applied shear line loads is considered. The analytic expression for the combined mode stress intensity factors as a function of time is obtained. The method of solution is based on the application of integral transforms and the Wiener-Hopf technique. Some features of the solutions are discussed and graphical numerical results are presented. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

The brittle and ductile behavior of clay samples containing a crack under mixed mode loading

The mechanics of propagation of a single crack in brittle and ductile samples of clay as well as their mode of failure were investigated. The crack in the brittle and in the ductile samples was subjected to a mixed-mode (Mode I and Mode II) type of loading. In the brittle and ductile samples, secondary cracks developed from the tips of the original crack. The secondary cracks did not follow the plane of the original crack but formed an angle α with this plane. The angle of crack propagation α was greater in the brittle than in the ductile samples. The brittle samples failed when the secondary cracks reached the edges of the samples. Their mode of failure was a typical tensile failure. In the ductile samples, the secondary cracks extended for a limited distance from the tips of the original crack and did not influence the failure of the samples that was recorded to be in shear. The Maximum Tangential Stress criterion predicted well the direction of crack propagation in the brittle clay samples. The direction of crack propagation in the ductile samples of clay was found to be a function of their water content. From the laboratory results, a relationship from which to obtain the angle of crack propagation α in the ductile samples is presented.     

Kinking of a crack under dynamic loading conditions

Summary A method is presented to analyze elastodynamic stress intensity factors at the tip of a branch which emanates at velocity v and under an angle from the tip of a semi-infinite crack, when the faces of the semi-infinite crack are subjected to impulsive normal pressures. By taking advantage of self-similarity, the system of governing equations is reduced to a set of two Laplace's equations in half-plane regions. The solutions to these equations, which are coupled along the real axes of the half-planes, are obtained by using complex function theory together with summations over Chebychev polynomials. For small values of the Mode I and Mode II stress intensity factors and the corresponding flux of energy into the crack tip have been computed.     

Extension of a cut-induced crack under antiplane loading

The extension of a crack formed by cutting at a high velocity into the surface of an elastic solid is investigated. The solid is assumed to be in a state of uniform antiplane shear before the cut is induced. The anti-plane wave motion which is generated by the cutting process is analyzed through a Green's function technique. This technique leads to an integral equation for the stress in the plane of the crack. The stress intensity and velocity intensity functions are obtained, and the propagation of the crack after the cutting process has been terminated is analyzed by means of the balance-of-rates-of-energy criterion. It is shown that the proclivity towards propagation beyond the length of the cut-induced crack shows a significant dependence on the speed of cutting.

---

Zusammenfassung Es wird die Ausdehnung eines Risses untersucht, der bei Durchschneidung der Oberfläche eines elastischen Festkörpers mit hoher Geschwindigkeit erzeugt ist. Hierbei wird angenommen, dass sich der Festkörper vor dem Schnitt in einem Zustand gleichförmiger Schubspannung befindet. Die Wellenbewegung, welche durch den Schnittprozess erzeugt wird, wird mit Hilfe einer GREENschen-Funktion analysiert. Diese Methode führt für die Spannung in der Ebene des Risses auf eine Intergralgleichung. Man erhält Spannungsintensitätsund Geschwindigkeitsintensitätsfunktionen. Die Rissausbreitung nach Beendigung des Schnittprozesses wurde mit Hilfe des Kriteriums vom Gleichgewicht von Energieraten bestimmt. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Tendenz zur Ausbreitung über die Lage des schnittinduzierten Risses hinaus eine bedeutende Abhängigkeit von der Schnittgeschwindigkeit aufweist.

---

---

Now at the Stanford Research Institute, Menlo Park, Cal.     

Stress state in the plastic zone on the continuation of an elliptic mode I crack under bi-and tri-axial loading

The spatial stress state in a circular plastic zone near an elliptic crack under bi-and tri-axial asymmetric loading at infinity is studied. It is shown that the plastic constraint factor peaks at the points with maximum external tensile tangential stresses on the crack boundary. The use of a two-parameter failure criterion leads to the conclusion that the limit state can first be reached at the ends of the major axis of the elliptic crack depending on the relation between the external stresses __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 43, No. 11, pp. 24–30, November 2007.     

Evaluation of crack initiation angle under mixed mode loading at diverse strain rates

Crack initiation angle, under mixed mode loading at several strain rates, is analysed using an experimental–numerical approach. The physical phenomenon for the problem at hand is influenced by the local and global conditions. One of such factors is the strain rate at the crack tip. For this purpose, PMMA plates with centred angled cracks under mixed mode loading were tested. The strain rate at the neighbourhood of the crack tip before crack propagation was evaluated. Considering that this material is strain rate sensitive, the numerical models were calibrated with the modulus of elasticity measured in tension tests at the observed strain rates. Numerical evaluations were performed with the finite element method in conjunction with the volume energy density criterion. An improvement in the evaluation of the crack propagation angle was observed. In order to complete the analysis, the crack initiation angle was also evaluated with the strain energy density factor S, considering the mechanical properties of PMMA, as evaluated at the observed strain rates, and the stress intensity factors k₁ and k₂. Results are in agreement with those observed experimentally.     

Effect of pure mode I,II or III loading or mode mixity on crack growth in a homogeneous solid

Crack growth is analyzed numerically under combined mode I, II and III loading, or under loading in one of these modes alone. The solid is a ductile metal modelled as elastic–plastic, and the fracture process is represented in terms of a cohesive zone model. The analyses are carried out for conditions of small-scale yielding, with the elastic mixed mode solution applied as boundary conditions on the outer edge of the region analyzed. For pure mode I loading crack growth continued far beyond the maximum fracture toughness shows that the predicted subsequent steady-state toughness is well below the maximum. The reason for this is discussed in terms of the local stress and strain fields around the tip. For pure mode II or mode III loading it is shown that there is no maximum before the steady-state. Also results for different mixed mode conditions are presented and discussed in relation to the results for loading in only one mode. Most of the results are based on assuming that the peak tractions for tangential separation are equal to that for normal separation, but it is shown that a relatively smaller peak traction for tangential separation may significantly affect the predictions.     

Assessment of data for dynamic crack initiation under shock pressure loading: Part I—experiment

A technique for analyzing crack initiation and growth in polymeric materials is described. The specimen is a circular plate fixed at the edge and subjected to a pressure shock wave loading. The design of the test is shown to reflect the loading history. Static tests can also be performed with the same equipment. The results of both static and dynamic tests are compared in terms of the load intensity required for crack initiation. It is found that this is higher for the static tests than for the dynamic tests, as expected.     

Coupling between high-frequency modes and a low-frequency mode: Theory and experiment

An analytical and experimental investigation into the response of a nonlinear continuous system with widely separated natural frequencies is presented. The system investigated is a thin, slightly curved, isotropic, flexible cantilever beam mounted vertically. In the experiments, for certain vertical harmonic base excitations, we observed that the response consisted of the first, third, and fourth modes. In these cases, the modulation frequency of the amplitudes and phases of the third and fourth modes was equal to the response frequency of the first mode. Subsequently, we developed an analytical model to explain the interactions between the widely separated modes observed in the experiments. We used a three-mode Galerkin projection of the partial-differential equation governing a thin, isotropic, inextensional beam and obtained a sixth-order nonautonomous system of equations by using an unconventional coordinate transformation. In the analytical model, we used experimentally determined damping coefficients. From this nonautonomous system, we obtained a first approximation of the response by using the method of averaging. The analytically predicted responses and bifurcation diagrams show good qualitative agreement with the experimental observations. The current study brings to light a new type of nonlinear motion not reported before in the literature and should be of relevance to many structural and mechanical systems. In this motion, a static response of a low-frequency mode interacts with the dynamic response of two high-frequency modes. This motion loses stability, resulting in oscillations of the low-frequency mode accompanied by a modulation of the amplitudes and phases of the high-frequency modes.     

Three-dimensional elliptic crack under impact loading

The dynamic stress intensity factor of a three-dimensional elliptic crack under impact loading is determined with the finite element method. The computation results can take into account the influence of time and the ratio of the wave speeds on the stress intensity factor. The present method is suitable not only for three-dimensional dynamic crack, but also for three-dimensional dynamic contact. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. K19672007).     

Mode-III crack kinking under stress-wave loading

A horizontally polarized step-stress wave is incident on a semi-infinite crack in an elastic solid. At the instant that the crack tip is struck, the crack starts to propagate in the forward direction, but under an angle κπ with the plane of the original crack. In this paper a self-similar solution is obtained for the particle velocity of the diffracted cylindrical wave field. The use of Chaplygin's transformation reduces the problem to the solution of Laplace's equation in a semi-infinite strip containing a slit. The Schwarz-Christoffel transformation is employed to map the semi-infinite strip on a half-plane. An analytic function in the half-plane which satisfies appropriate conditions along the real axis, can subsequently be constructed. The Mode-III stress-intensity factor at the tip of the kinked crack has been computed for angles of incidence varying from normal to grazing incidence, for angles of crack kinking defined by -0.5?κ?0.5, and for arbitrary subsonic crack tip speeds.     

Intersonic crack growth under time-dependent loading

The problem investigated in this paper is a mode II crack extending at a uniform intersonic speed in an otherwise unbounded elastic solid subjected to time dependent crack-face tractions. The fundamental solution for this problem is obtained analytically, which is then used to construct the general solution for an intersonic crack subjected to arbitrary time-dependent loading. For time-independent loading, this solution reduces to Huang and Gao’s [J. Appl. Mech 68 (2001) 169] fundamental solution. We have also studied two crack-face loadings that are of interest for engineering applications.     

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.