Crack propagation as a free boundary problem

A sharp interface model of crack propagation as a phase transition process is discussed. We develop a multipole expansion technique to solve this free boundary problem numerically. We obtain steady state solutions with a self-consistently selected propagation velocity and shape of the crack, provided that elastodynamic effects are taken into account. Also, we find a saturation of the steady state crack velocity below the Rayleigh speed, tip blunting with increasing driving force, and a tip splitting instability above a critical driving force.     

Hot cracks in rubber: origin of the giant toughness of rubberlike materials

We study crack propagation in rubberlike materials and show that the nonuniform temperature distribution which occurs in the vicinity of the crack tip has a profound influence on the crack propagation, and may strongly enhance the crack propagation energy G(v) for high crack velocities v. At very low crack-tip velocities, the heat produced at the crack tip can diffuse away, but already at moderate crack-tip velocities a very large temperature increase occurs close to the crack tip resulting in a "hot-crack" propagation regime. The transition between the low-speed regime and the hot-crack regime is very abrupt and may result in unstable crack motion, e.g., stick-slip motion or catastrophic failure.     

Dynamics of surfactant-driven fracture of particle rafts

We investigate the dynamic fracture of a close-packed monolayer of particles, or particle raft, floating at a liquid-gas interface induced by the localized addition of surfactant. Unusually for a two-dimensional solid, our experiments show that the speed of crack propagation here is not affected by the elastic properties of the raft. Instead it is controlled by the rate at which surfactant is advected to the crack tip by means of the induced Marangoni flows. Further, the velocity of propagation is not constant in time and the length of the crack scales as t(3/4). More broadly, this surfactant-induced rupture of interfacial rafts suggests ways to manipulate them for applications.     

Phase field modeling of fast crack propagation

We present a continuum theory which predicts the steady state propagation of cracks. The theory overcomes the usual problem of a finite time cusp singularity of the Grinfeld instability by the inclusion of elastodynamic effects which restore selection of the steady state tip radius and velocity. We developed a phase-field model for elastically induced phase transitions; in the limit of small or vanishing elastic coefficients in the new phase, fracture can be studied. The simulations confirm analytical predictions for fast crack propagation.     

Crack motion in viscoelastic solids: The role of the flash temperature

We present a simple theory of crack propagation in viscoelastic solids. We calculate the energy per unit area, G(v), to propagate a crack, as a function of the crack tip velocity v. Our study includes the non-uniform temperature distribution (flash temperature) in the vicinity of the crack tip, which has a profound influence on G(v). At very low crack tip velocities, the heat produced at the crack tip can diffuse away, resulting in very small temperature increase: in this “low-speed” regime the flash temperature effect is unimportant. However, because of the low heat conductivity of rubber-like materials, already at moderate crack tip velocities a very large temperature increase (of order of 1000 K) can occur close to the crack tip. We show that this will drastically affect the viscoelastic energy dissipation close to the crack tip, resulting in a “hot-crack” propagation regime. The transition between the low-speed regime and the hot-crack regime is very abrupt, which may result in unstable crack motion, e.g. stick-slip motion or catastrophic failure, as observed in some experiments. In addition, the high crack tip temperature may result in significant thermal decomposition within the heated region, resulting in a liquid-like region in the vicinity of the crack tip. This may explain the change in surface morphology (from rough to smooth surfaces) which is observed as the crack tip velocity is increased above the instability threshold.     

Slow crack propagation in heterogeneous materials

Statistics and thermally activated dynamics of crack nucleation and propagation in a two-dimensional heterogeneous material containing quenched randomly distributed defects are studied theoretically. Using the generalized Griffith criterion we derive the equation of motion for the crack tip position accounting for dissipation, thermal noise, and the random forces arising from the defects. We find that aggregations of defects generating long-range interaction forces (e.g., clouds of dislocations) lead to anomalously slow creep of the crack tip or even to its complete arrest. We demonstrate that heterogeneous materials with frozen defects contain a large number of arrested microcracks and that their fracture toughness is enhanced to the experimentally accessible time scales.     

晶体相场法研究应力状态及晶体取向对微裂纹尖端扩展行为的影响

采用晶体相场模拟研究了单向拉伸作用下初始应力状态、晶体取向角度对单晶材料内部微裂纹尖端扩展行为的影响, 以(111)晶面上的预制中心裂纹为研究对象探讨了微裂纹尖端扩展行为的纳观机理, 结果表明: 微裂纹的扩展行为主要发生在<011>(111)滑移系上, 扩展行为与扩展方向与材料所处的初始应力状态及晶体取向紧密相关. 预拉伸应力状态将首先诱发微裂纹尖端生成滑移位错, 进而导致晶面解理而实现微裂纹尖端沿[011]晶向扩展, 扩展到一定程度后由于位错塞积, 应力集中, 使裂纹扩展方向沿另一滑移方向[101], 并形成锯齿形边缘; 预剪切应力状态下, 微裂纹尖端首先在[101]晶向解理扩展, 并诱发位错产生, 形成空洞聚集型长大的二次裂纹, 形成了明显的剪切带; 预偏变形状态下微裂纹尖端则直接以晶面解理形式[101]在上进行扩展, 直至断裂失效; 微裂纹尖端扩展行为随晶体取向不同而不同, 较小的取向角度会在裂纹尖端形成滑移位错, 诱发空位而形成二次裂纹, 而较大的取向角下的裂纹尖端则以直接解理扩展为主, 扩展方向与拉伸方向几近垂直.     

Dynamic caustics and its applications

For the study of elastodynamic problems of propagating cracks it is necessary to evaluate the dynamic stress intensity factor K^d_I which depends on the form of expressions for the stress components existing at the running crack tip at any instant of the propagation of the crack and the corresponding dynamic mechanical and optical properties of the material of the specimen under identical loading conditions. In this paper the distortion of the form of the corresponding reflected caustic from the lateral faces of a dynamically loaded transparent and optically inert specimen containing a transverse crack running under constant velocity was studied on the basis of complex potential elasticity theory and the influence of this form on the value of the dynamic stress intensity factor was given. The method was applied to the study of a propagating Mode I crack in a PMMA specimen under various propagation velocities and the corresponding dynamic stress intensity factor K^d_I evaluated. Also, crack propagation behaviour of notched composites in dynamic loading modes are reviewed and evaluated. A relatively large data base using metal-epoxy particulates, rubber-toughened poly(methyl methacrylate), and Sandwich plates are given. In all cases, a combination of high-speed photography and the optical method of dynamic caustics has been used. Results on the dynamic crack propagation mode, fracture toughness and crack propagation velocities of several rubber-modified composite models are presented. The composite models studied include specimens with one and/or two ‘complex’ two-stage inclusions, i.e. PMMA round inclusions surrounded by concentric rubber rings, one and/or press-fifting inclusions without rubber interface, all under dynamic loading. In all cases both qualitative and quantitative results were obtained. Also, results on crack propagation mode, crack propagation velocity, stress intensity factors and on the influence of the sandwich phases on crack propagation mode are presented.     

Molecular dynamic simulations of crack propagation

Molecular dynamic simulations of crack propagation are reviewed with emphasis on the investigations of the last 5 yr. The major part of the review is based on the work of the authors and their colleagues and covers the following main topics: the role of the interatomic potential, the local stresses at the crack tip, dymamic simulations with emphasis on the crack propagation velocity, and some environmental effects on fracture.     

Crack tip plasticity in dynamic fracture

The mechanics of crack tip plasticity in dynamic crack growth is considered as it influences two modes of dynamic fracture—cleavage and micro-void nucleation, growth and coalescence. The subject is approached using both the continuum theory of visco-plasticity and dislocation dynamics. The viewpoint underlying each approach is that the crack is traveling through material with a relatively high density of pre-existing mobile dislocations. Analysis is directed at discovering the role played by the associated rate-dependent plasticity in establishing conditions for dynamic crack propagation. The theory is far from complete, but the contents of the paper should serve to aid understanding of basic material fracture phenomena, such as cleavability and the ductile-brittle transition, as well as provide a background for the engineering theory of dynamic fracture.     

弹性连续介质中氢致裂纹传播理论

弹性连续介质中的氢原子,在裂纹应力场的诱导下发生聚集,形成氢气团,本文计算了气团分布区平均氢浓度,并将该区看作沿裂纹尖端分布的弹性夹杂,确定了夹杂的本征应变,研究了夹杂的应力场P_ij对裂纹位错密度的影响,求得了裂纹尖端总的应力强度因子,认为氢脆机理是氢气团增大了裂纹尖端应力强度因子,最后还讨论了氢致开裂的物理过程及氢致裂纹扩展速率,所得结果与实验符合很好。 关键词：     

An extensive 3D dislocation dynamics investigation of stage-I fatigue crack propagation

Stage-I fatigue crack propagation is investigated using 3D discrete dislocation dynamics (DD) simulations. Slip-based propagation mechanisms and the role of the pre-existing slip band on the crack path are emphasized. Stage-I crack growth is found to be compatible with successive decohesion of the persistent slip band/matrix interface rather than a mere effect of plastic irreversibility. Corresponding crack tip slip displacement magnitude and the associated crack growth rate are evaluated quantitatively at various tip distances from the grain boundary. This shows that grain boundaries systematically amplify slip dispersion ahead of the crack tip and consequently, slow down the stage-I crack growth rate. The results help in developing an original crack propagation model, accounting for the boundary effects relevant to polycrystals. The crack growth trend is then evaluated from calculations of the energy changes due to crack length increments. It is shown that the crack necessarily propagates by increments smaller than 10 nm.     

Crack propagation in amorphous polymers and their composites

The fracture energy of a polymer depends strongly on the viscoelastic responses of the material, and therefore is a function of temperature and crack velocity. The toughness of a composite is determined by the way in which the reinforcing filler modifies the energy dissipating mechanisms of the polymeric matrix.

The fracture toughness of a variety of polymeric glasses and their composites with glass beads, glass fibers, and rubber particles was measured. The velocity of rapidly moving cracks and the crack propagation rates under controlled loading conditions were also measured.

It was found that the crack propagation velocities in unfilled and glass bead filled materials were controlled by the longitudinal stress waves in the matrix and that the only effects of the glass beads were to blunt the crack tip and limit the viscous deformation. The effect on fracture toughness was relatively small and either positive or negative, depending on which of the above two factors dominated.

The presence of rubber particles as a second phase lowered terminal crack propagation velocities and greatly increased the fracture toughness, indicating a crack retarding effect of the rubber particles. This is related to the induction of crazes in the matrix by the rubber phase.

Glass fibers had a tendency to bridge the tip of a propagating crack, thereby greatly increasing the fracture toughness. In this case the work of fracture comes from a combination of the elastic strain energy stored in the fibers, the energy dissipated in debonding the fibers from the matrix, and the fracture energy of the matrix itself.     

边界元法分析二维线弹性裂纹扩展

用边界元法研究裂纹扩展过程.首先将尖端区域Williams渐近展开的特征分析法与边界积分方程结合,解出切口尖端附近应力奇异性区域的各应力场渐近展开项系数,获得平面切口/裂纹结构完整的位移和应力场.再基于考虑非奇异应力项贡献的最大周向应力脆性断裂准则,运用边界元法分析边缘含裂纹半圆形弯曲试样在荷载作用下的启裂方向,对裂纹扩展过程给出自动跟踪方法,通过算例证明边界元法模拟裂纹扩展过程的正确性和有效性.     

Dislocation-crack interaction

In this paper, recent developments in the understanding of the dislocation-crack interaction and its relationship to the phenomena of crack tip deformation and fracture toughness are reviewed. An enhanced research activity in this area began with successful observations of the behavior of crack tip dislocations by various techniques, namely etch pits technique, X-ray topography and transmision electron microscopy. The advantages and limitations of these techniques are compared and the information obtained from these experiments are discussed. The results show that dislocations are emitted from a crack tip when the applied stress is sufficiently high. During crack propagation, dislocations are also generated from other bulk sources and the number of these dislocations relative to those from the crack tip may be an important parameter. The elastic theory of the interaction between dislocations and a crack is presented by considering the force on the dislocations. The theory is applied to derive a dislocation emission condition, which may be expressed in terms of a critical stress intensity factor. It is concluded that the dislocations emitted from a crack tip are repelled from the crack tip and this repulsive interaction is responsible for the formation of a dislocation-free zone. These dislocations shield the crack tip from the applied stress and hence contribute to an increase in the fracture toughness. The physical origin of the dislocation-free zone lies in the presence of a barrier to dislocation emission from the crack tip. One of the barriers to dislocation emission is the image stress. With the dislocation-free zone, the crack tip can maintain a finite stress intensity factor following crack tip deformation. The lattice theories of dislocation-crack interaction indicate that the results are consistent with those of the continuum theory.     

Evidence of deep water penetration in silica during stress corrosion fracture

We measure the thickness of the heavy water layer trapped under the stress corrosion fracture surface of silica using neutron reflectivity experiments. We show that the penetration depth is 65-85 ?, suggesting the presence of a damaged zone of ～100 ? extending ahead of the crack tip during its propagation. This estimate of the size of the damaged zone is compatible with other recent results.     

基于准连续介质方法模拟纳米多晶体Ni中裂纹的扩展

通过准连续介质方法模拟了纳米多晶体Ni中裂纹的扩展过程.模拟结果显示:裂纹尖端的应力场可以导致晶界分解、层错和变形孪晶的形成等塑性形变,在距离裂纹尖端越远的位置,变形孪晶越少,在裂纹尖端附近相同距离处,层错要远多于变形孪晶.这反映了局部应力的变化以及广义平面层错能对变形孪晶的影响.计算了裂纹尖端附近区域原子级局部静水应力的分布.计算结果表明:裂纹前端晶界处容易产生细微空洞,这些空洞附近为张应力集中区,并可能促使裂纹沿着晶界扩展.模拟结果定性地反映了纳米多晶体Ni中的裂纹扩展过程,并与相关实验结果符合得很好     

利用声发射技术监测颗粒填充聚合物材料的裂纹扩展过程

 利用声发射技术监测了颗粒填充聚合物材料含单边缺口试样承受三点弯曲载荷时裂纹尖端形成损伤并断裂的全过程,明显地区分了裂纹尖端起裂和扩展的不同阶段,有效地识别了颗粒填充聚合物材料的破坏模式。研究表明,在承载状态下,裂纹尖端损伤起始和扩展分为3个阶段,且裂纹起裂至快速扩展存在一个演变过程;结合SEM观察结果,判定该材料的断裂模式以颗粒与基材的界面分离为主。     

Finite element analysis of quasistatic crack propagation in brittle media with voids or inclusions

A three-level finite element scheme is proposed for simulation of crack propagation in heterogeneous media including randomly distributed voids or inclusions. To reduce total degrees of freedom in the view of mesh gradation, the entire domain is categorized into three regions of different-level meshes: a region of coarse-level mesh, a region of intermediate-level mesh, and a region of fine-level mesh. The region of coarse-level mesh is chosen to be far from the crack to treat the material inhomogeneities in the sense of coarse-graining through homogenization, while the region near the crack is composed of the intermediate-level mesh to model the presence of inhomogeneities in detail. Furthermore, the region very near the crack tip is refined into the fine-level mesh to capture a steep gradient of elastic field due to the crack tip singularity. Variable-node finite elements are employed to satisfy the nodal connectivity and compatibility between the neighboring different-level meshes. Local remeshing is needed for readjustment of mesh near the crack tip in accordance with crack growth, and this is automatically made according to preset values of parameters determining the propagation step size of crack, and so the entire process is fully automatic. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through several numerical examples. Meanwhile, the effect of voids and inclusions on the crack propagation is discussed in terms of T-stresses, with the aid of three-level adaptive scheme.     

Continuum field description of crack propagation

We develop continuum field model for crack propagation in brittle amorphous solids. The model is represented by equations for elastic displacements combined with the order parameter equation which accounts for the dynamics of defects. This model captures all important phenomenology of crack propagation: crack initiation, propagation, dynamic fracture instability, sound emission, crack branching, and fragmentation.