R-curve and size effect in quasibrittle fractures: Case of notched structures

Within the framework of Bažant’s theory, the size effect on nominal strength of notched structures deduced from a size-dependent R-curve is proposed. It is shown that the expected size effect is more complicated than the one proposed in Bažant’s Size Effect Law (SEL) and especially in the crossover regime. As a function of the fracture parameters describing the R-curve, two kinds of size effect on the resistance at peak load are possible and lead to three different scalings on the nominal strength. We argue that these expected size effects are mainly driven by the value of the scaling exponent characterizing the size effect on the critical crack length increment and on the critical resistance assumed in the R-curve behavior. The three resulting size effects on the nominal strength are compared to Bažant’s SEL. It appears that, if Bažant’s SEL always underestimates nominal strength and consequently provides a safety design of structures, an optimal design should take into account the size effect on the R-curve and their consequences on the size effect on the nominal strength especially for large structures sizes.     

Size effect in quasibrittle failure: Analytical model and numerical simulations using cohesive zone model

The recent rewriting of the Ba?ant’s size effect law (Morel, 2008) which has suggested the existence of an additional asymptotic regime for intermediate structure sizes is now compared to numerical simulations of fracture of geometrically similar notched structures of different sizes extending over 2.4 decades. The quasibrittle fracture behavior is simulated through cohesive zone model (bilinear softening) using a constant set of cohesive parameters whatever the specimen size D is. The R-curves resulting from the load–displacement responses are estimated and appear as size-independent. On this basis, the different asymptotic regimes expected for the size effect on fracture properties at peak load such as the relative crack length, the resistance to crack growth and the nominal strength are shown in fair agreement with the size effect observed on the results obtained from numerical simulations.     

Determination of mixed-mode stress intensity factors, fracture toughness, and crack turning angle for anisotropic foam material

A numerical and experimental investigation for determining mixed-mode stress intensity factors, fracture toughness, and crack turning angle for BX-265 foam insulation material, used by NASA to insulate the external tank (ET) for the space shuttle, is presented. BX-265 foam is a type of spray-on foam insulation (SOFI), similar to the material used to insulate attics in residential construction. This cellular material is a good insulator and is very lightweight. Breakup of segments of this foam insulation on the shuttle ET impacting the shuttle thermal protection tiles during liftoff is believed to have caused the space shuttle Columbia failure during re-entry. NASA engineers are interested in understanding the processes that govern the breakup/fracture of this material from the shuttle ET. The foam is anisotropic in nature and the required stress and fracture mechanics analysis must include the effects of the direction dependence on material properties. Material testing at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has indicated that the foam can be modeled as a transversely isotropic material. As a first step toward understanding the fracture mechanics of this material, we present a general theoretical and numerical framework for computing stress intensity factors (SIFs), under mixed-mode loading conditions, taking into account the material anisotropy. We present SIFs for middle tension – M(T) – test specimens, using 3D finite element stress analysis (ANSYS) and FRANC3D fracture analysis software. SIF values are presented for a range of foam material orientations. Mode I fracture toughness of the material is determined based on the SIF value at failure load. We also present crack turning angles for anisotropic foam material under mixed-mode loading. The results represent a quantitative basis for evaluating the strength and fracture properties of anisotropic foam insulation material.     

Micromorphic continuum modelling of the deformation and fracture behaviour of nickel foams

An anisotropic compressible plasticity model is incorporated into the framework of the micromorphic continuum theory in order to describe some size effects observed in ductile nickel foams. This continuum model reproduces the fact that the presence of a machined hole in a foam plate does not affect its mechanical response when the hole size becomes comparable to the cell size of the material. Finite element simulations are compared to strain field measurements in nickel foam plates with a machined hole for different hole sizes, in order to identify the characteristic length of the model. Based on a simple ductile damage law, the model is then shown to be able to account for the strong anisotropy of the initiation of crack propagation in central crack panels made of nickel foams under mode I loading conditions.     

用试验室尺寸的试样预测混凝土及岩石结构的准脆性断裂

0Introduction Thefracturepropertiesofconcreteandrockmaterials,suchasfracturetoughnessKICand strengthfthavebeenofgreatinterestsformanyyearsbecauseoftheirimportantroleincontrolling thestructuralintegrityofvariousengineeringstructures[1-27].Varioustestingtec…     

A numerical study on the SEN-TPB test applied to mode I wood fracture characterization

A numerical study involving the single edge notched-three point bending test was methodically performed to evaluate its adequacy for wood fracture characterization under mode I loading. Stress analysis along the ligament length using cohesive zone modeling allowed understating the influence of the compressive stresses induced by bending on the stress profile for geometrically similar specimens with different sizes. The stress relief region induced by the presence of the crack was identified by a stress analysis procedure along the beam length. A data reduction scheme based on the beam theory and on the crack equivalent concept was then developed considering an approach using a rectangular stress relief region. The method allows estimating the Resistance-curve without monitoring the crack length during propagation. Important remarks regarding the aspects which contribute to explain the size effect phenomenon in wood are highlighted in this study. Following the presented procedure the application of the single edge notched-three point bending test for wood fracture characterization under mode I has become considerably user-friendlier.     

含裂隙材料的空洞化损伤

本文研究了含有微小裂隙的韧性材料中细观损伤的演化。随外加应力的增大,在裂隙周围的基体中微小空洞不断地萌生并扩展。在一些情况下,由此而形成的内部损伤与仅有大小空洞的损伤有显著的不同特点。结果还表明,具有细观尺度的短裂纹,其损伤作用不宜用裂纹长度作标志。文中最后提出一个材料韧性断裂的判据。     

基于扩展有限元法的混凝土细观断裂破坏过程模拟

扩展有限元法（XFEM）是分析不连续力学问题（特别是断裂问题）的一种有效的数值方法。在常规的有限元位移模式中,基于单位分解的思想加入一个跳跃函数和渐进缝尖位移场来对不连续体附近的节点自由度进行局部加强,从而反映了位移的不连续性。介绍了扩展有限元的基本原理,给出了扩展有限元进行混凝土开裂及裂纹扩展的分析方法,最后采用扩展有限元法模拟了湿筛混凝土单轴拉伸作用下及WinklerL-型混凝土板的细观断裂破坏过程。分析了混凝土裂纹萌生、扩展的过程及破坏形态,数值结果与实验结果吻合良好。研究表明：扩展有限元法通过特定的位移模式,使裂纹两侧不连续位移场的表达独立于网格划分,能有效地模拟混凝土材料细观断裂破坏过程。     

INFLUENCE OF LOADING RATE ON DYNAMIC FRACTURE BEHAVIOR OF FIBER-REINFORCED COMPOSITES

The effect of loading rate on the dynamic fracture properties and the failure mechanisms of glass fiber-reinforced composite materials under mode I fracture is studied. Dynamic reflective caustic experiments are carried out for two loading rates. By measuring the characteristic dimensions of the shadow spots during the caustic experiments, the dynamic SIFs are calculated for different loading rates. The experimental results indicate that the dynamic fracture toughness Kid increases remarkably with increasing loading rate, and the crack grows faster under the high-velocity impact. Moreover, by examining the crack growth routes and the fracture surfaces, it is shown that the loading rate also greatly affects the failure mechanisms at micro-scale.     

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     

广义平均形状改变能密度断裂准则及应用

基于形状改变能为材料起裂扩展控制参量的物理事实及裂纹尖端断裂控制区能量平均概念,提出了计及裂纹尖端应力场特征级数展开奇异项和常数项的广义平均形状改变能密度(GADSED)准则,建立了Ⅰ-Ⅱ-Ⅲ混合型裂纹断裂判据计算式,为工程结构疲劳断裂评估提供了新选择.基于提出的GADSED准则,系统分析了T应力对裂纹断裂判据的影响,结果表明:当参数|Bα|数值相同时:负值T应力的Ⅰ-Ⅱ混合型裂纹更易起裂扩展,正值T应力的K_Ⅰf值高于负值T应力的K_Ⅰf值,正负T应力的K_Ⅱf值相同;T应力在区间0Ⅰf值(3%以内),T应力降低了K_Ⅱf值.根据GADSED准则完成了双轴疲劳载荷平板表面Ⅰ型裂纹扩展寿命预报,结果表明:基于GADSED准则的裂纹扩展寿命预报值约为传统方法预报值的40.7%,可为工程实际评估提供借鉴.     

Numerical simulation of fracture mode transition in ductile plates

Fracture mode of ductile solids can vary depending on the history of stress state the material experienced. For example, ductile plates under remote in-plane loading are often found to rupture in mode I or mixed mode I/III. The distinct crack patterns are observed in many different metals and alloys, but until now the underlying physical principles, though highly debated, remain unresolved. Here we show that the existing theories are not capable of capturing the mixed mode I/III due to a missing ingredient in the constitutive equations. We introduce an azimuthal dependent fracture envelope and illustrate that two competing fracture mechanisms, governed by the pressure and the Lode angle of the stress tensor, respectively, exist ahead of the crack tip. Using the continuum damage plasticity model, we demonstrate that the distinctive features of the two crack propagation modes in ductile plates can be reproduced using three dimensional finite element simulations. The magnitude of the tunneling effect and the apparent crack growth resistance are calculated and agree with experimental observations. The finite element mesh size dependences of the fracture mode and the apparent crack growth resistance are also investigated.     

聚氨酯泡沫塑料的强度与断裂韧性

针对3种密度的聚氨酯泡沫塑料进行了拉伸实验。通过无缺口试件确定了3种密度泡沫塑料的拉伸断裂强度,而利用有缺口试件确定了这些材料的拉伸断裂韧性。为了研究高密度泡沫塑料的拉伸断裂机制,还对破坏后试件进行了扫描电镜分析。此外,还简要讨论了泡沫塑料拉伸断裂力学性能的理论预测问题。     

Propagation of a penny-shaped fluid-driven fracture in an impermeable rock: asymptotic solutions

This paper presents an analysis of the propagation of a penny-shaped hydraulic fracture in an impermeable elastic rock. The fracture is driven by an incompressible Newtonian fluid injected from a source at the center of the fracture. The fluid flow is modeled according to lubrication theory, while the elastic response is governed by a singular integral equation relating the crack opening and the fluid pressure. It is shown that the scaled equations contain only one parameter, a dimensionless toughness, which controls the regimes of fracture propagation. Asymptotic solutions for zero and large dimensionless toughness are constructed. Finally, the regimes of fracture propagation are analyzed by matching the asymptotic solutions with results of a numerical algorithm applicable to arbitrary toughness.     

Activation energy based extreme value statistics and size effect in brittle and quasibrittle fracture

Because the uncertainty in current empirical safety factors for structural strength is far larger than the relative errors of structural analysis, improvements in statistics offer great promise. One improvement, proposed here, is that, for quasibrittle structures of positive geometry, the understrength factors for structural safety cannot be constant but must be increased with structures size. The statistics of safety factors has so far been generally regarded as independent of mechanics, but further progress requires the cumulative distribution function (cdf) to be derived from the mechanics and physics of failure. To predict failure loads of extremely low probability (such as 10^-6 to 10^-7) on which structural design must be based, the cdf of strength of quasibrittle structures of positive geometry is modelled as a chain (or series coupling) of representative volume elements (RVE), each of which is statistically represented by a hierarchical model consisting of bundles (or parallel couplings) of only two long sub-chains, each of them consisting of sub-bundles of two or three long sub-sub-chains of sub-sub-bundles, etc., until the nano-scale of atomic lattice is reached. Based on Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of thermal energies of atoms, the cdf of strength of a nano-scale connection is deduced from the stress dependence of the interatomic activation energy barriers, and is expressed as a function of absolute temperature T and stress-duration τ (or loading rate 1/τ). A salient property of this cdf is a power-law tail of exponent 1. It is shown how the exponent and the length of the power-law tail of cdf of strength is changed by series couplings in chains and by parallel couplings in bundles consisting of elements with either elastic-brittle or elastic-plastic behaviors, bracketing the softening behavior which is more realistic, albeit more difficult to analyze. The power-law tail exponent, which is 1 on the atomistic scale, is raised by the hierarchical statistical model to an exponent of m=10 to 50, representing the Weibull modulus on the structural scale. Its physical meaning is the minimum number of cuts needed to separate the hierarchical model into two separate parts, which should be equal to the number of dominant cracks needed to break the RVE. Thus, the model indicates the Weibull modulus to be governed by the packing of inhomogeneities within an RVE. On the RVE scale, the model yields a broad core of Gaussian cdf (i.e., error function), onto which a short power-law tail of exponent m is grafted at the failure probability of about 0.0001-0.01. The model predicts how the grafting point moves to higher failure probabilities as structure size increases, and also how the grafted cdf depends on T and τ. The model provides a physical proof that, on a large enough scale (equivalent to at least 500 RVEs), quasibrittle structures must follow Weibull distribution with a zero threshold. The experimental histograms with kinks, which have so far been believed to require the use of a finite threshold, are shown to be fitted much better by the present chain-of-RVEs model. For not too small structures, the model is shown to be essentially a discrete equivalent of the previously developed nonlocal Weibull theory, and to match the Type 1 size effect law previously obtained from this theory by asymptotic matching. The mean stochastic response must agree with the cohesive crack model, crack band model and nonlocal damage models. The chain-of-RVEs model can be verified and calibrated from the mean size effect curve, as well as from the kink locations on experimental strength histograms for sufficiently different specimen sizes.     

Elastic wave scattering from a penny-shaped interface crack in coated materials

This paper is concerned with the elastic wave scattering induced by a penny-shaped interface crack in coated materials. Using the integral transform, the problem of wave scattering is reduced to a set of singular integral equations in matrix form. The singular integral equations are solved by the asymptotic analysis and contour integral technique, and the expressions for the stress and displacement as well as the dynamic stress intensity factors (SIFs) are obtained. Using numerical analysis, this approach is verified by the finite element method (FEM), and the numerical results agree well with the theoretical results. For various crack sizes and material combinations, the relations between the SIFs and the incident frequency are analyzed, and the amplitudes of the crack opening displacements (CODs) are plotted versus incident wavenumber. The investigation provides a theoretical basis for the dynamic failure analysis and nondestructive evaluation of coated materials.     

轻质泡沫混凝土的劈裂破坏力学行为分析

利用平台巴西圆盘加载方式和钢质压条加载方式,对两种厚度为25mm和50mm、不同密度的轻质泡沫混凝土(400～1000kg/m3)进行巴西圆盘劈裂试验,研究密度和厚度对泡沫混凝土裂纹宽度、劈裂强度、断裂韧度、断裂能的影响规律。结果表明,在橡胶垫平台巴西圆盘和钢质压条加载方式下,其劈裂断裂特征大致分为四个阶段:线性弹性段、非线性弹性段、起裂阶段、失稳阶段。同样加载率下最大裂纹宽度随着泡沫混凝土密度增加逐渐减小,劈裂拉伸强度、断裂韧度、断裂能呈幂函数形式增加。借鉴Reinhardt非线性软化曲线,对不同密度泡沫混凝土的应力软化关系进行曲线拟合,建立基于拉伸强度、断裂韧度等控制参数的应力-裂纹宽度关系三段式模型。基于试验结果,对理想多孔材料细观力学预测模型进行修正,获得泡沫混凝土孔隙率与拉伸强度的半经验公式。     

Ⅱ型动态扩展裂纹尖端的弹黏塑性渐近场

考虑材料的黏性效应建立了Ⅱ型动态扩展裂纹尖端的力学模型,假设黏性系数与塑性等效应变率的幂次成反比,通过分析使尖端场的弹、黏、塑性得到合理匹配,并给出边界条件作为扩展裂纹定解的补充条件,对理想塑性材料中平面应变扩展裂纹尖端场进行了弹黏塑性渐近分析,得到了不含间断的连续解,并讨论了Ⅱ型裂纹数值解的性质随各参数的变化规律.分析表明应力和应变均具有幂奇异性,对于Ⅱ型裂纹,裂尖场不含弹性卸载区.引入Airy应力函数,求得了Ⅱ型准静态裂纹尖端场的控制方程,并进行了数值分析,给出了裂纹尖端的应力应变场.当裂纹扩展速度(M→0)趋于零时,动态解趋于准静态解,表明准静态解是动态解的特殊形式.     

Effect of electric fields on fracture behavior of ferroelectric ceramics

The asymptotic problem of a semi-infinite crack perpendicular to the poling direction in a ferroelectric ceramic subjected to combined electric and mechanical loading is analyzed to investigate effect of electric fields on fracture behavior. Electromechanical coupling induced by the piezoelectric effect is neglected in this paper. The shape and size of the switching zone is shown to depend strongly on the relative magnitude between the applied electric field and stress field as well as on the ratio of the coercive electric field to the yield electric field. A universal relation between the crack tip stress intensity factor and the applied intensity factors of stress and electric field under small-scale conditions is obtained from the solution of the switching zone. It is found that the ratio of the coercive electric field to the yield electric field plays a significant role in determining the enhancement or reduction of the crack tip stress intensity factor. The fracture toughness variation of ferroelectrics under combined electric and mechanical loading is also discussed.     

Fracture mechanics of plates and shells applied to fail-safe analysis of fuselage Part I: Theory

In this paper, a general theory on the asymptotic field near the crack tip for plates and shells with and without shear deformation effect is established. It is found that four stress intensity factors, two for symmetrical and antisymmetrical stretching and two for symmetrical and antisymmetrical bending, are required to describe arbitrary asymptotic fields near the crack tip for plates without shear deformation. An additional stress intensity factor is required for the transverse shearing force induced by antisymmetrical bending when the shear deformation is included in the analysis. It is also proven by means of the complex variable technique that for problems of plates with shear deformation, there exist similarities in the asymptotic expressions of moments and membrane forces and also in the asymptotic expressions of in-plane displacements and rotations of the mid-surface. The energy release rate associated with crack growth in the direction of the crack line can be expressed in terms of stress intensity factors by means of Irwin's method of work and energy associated with a virtual crack extension. A combined stress intensity factor can be defined through the total energy release rate. The theory of the fracture of plates is generalized and applied to the study of problems in the fracture of shells. An example of an infinitely long cylindrical shell with a circumferential crack subjected to remote axial tension is given to demonstrate the application of the theory and to test the accuracy of the numerical analysis used for the problem.