The principle of equivalent eigenstrain for inhomogeneous inclusion problems

In this paper, based on the principle of virtual work, we formulate the equivalent eigenstrain approach for inhomogeneous inclusions. It allows calculating the elastic deformation of an arbitrarily connected and shaped inhomogeneous inclusion, by replacing it with an equivalent homogeneous inclusion problem, whose eigenstrain distribution is determined by an integral equation. The equivalent homogeneous inclusion problem has an explicit solution in terms of a definite integral. The approach allows solving the problems about inclusions of arbitrary shape, multiple inclusion problems, and lends itself to residual stress analysis in non-uniform, heterogeneous media. The fundamental formulation introduced here will find application in the mechanics of composites, inclusions, phase transformation analysis, plasticity, fracture mechanics, etc.     

Effect of acid concentration on closed-vessel microwave-assisted digestion of plant materials

The efficiency of microwave-assisted acid digestion of plants using different concentrations of nitric acid (2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 14 mol l⁻¹) with hydrogen peroxide (30% v/v) was evaluated by measuring the residual carbon content (RCC) using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) with axial viewing. Certified reference materials were used for evaluating the accuracy attained when 2 mol l⁻¹ HNO₃ was employed for digestion. Under all experimental conditions RCC values were always lower than 13% w/v, and even the highest concentration did not cause any interference with element recovery. It seems that the high pressure reached for closed-vessel operation improved the oxidative action of nitric acid due to consequent temperature increase, even when this reagent was not used at high concentrations. According to acid–base titration data, residual acid in the digestates varied from 1.2 to 4.0 mol l⁻¹, depending on the acid concentration initially added. It can be concluded that for plant materials, microwave-assisted acid digestion can be carried out under mild conditions, which implies that digestates do not need extensive dilution before introduction by pneumatic nebulization to ICP-OES. An additional advantage is the lower amount of residue generated when working with less concentrated acid solutions.     

Novel approach for modelling of nanomachining using a mesh-less method

In this paper, a mesh-less method, called Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is used to simulate the nanomachining operation in order to assist with the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of nano scale material deformation and the characteristics of the post machined surface. An elasto-plastic nano-machining analysis is used to form a nano-groove using a conical tool on a copper specimen. The SPH solutions are validated against nano scale machining experiments conducted using a nanoindenter. The simulated results showed that the normal force is greater than the cutting force in this nano scale machining operation, which is consistent with the experimental results. Both the ploughing and cutting mechanisms were observed in these machining conditions and increased with the increase of the depth of cut. Moreover, the results reveal that the larger negative rake angle reduced the ploughing mechanism and caused higher residual stress and strain along the machined surface. Therefore, the effect of machining parameters on the nano deformation mechanism and the quality of the machined surface can be rapidly assessed using SPH.     

Magnetic Barkhausen emission in lightly deformed AISI 1070 steel

The Magnetic Barkhausen Noise (MBN) technique can evaluate both micro- and macro-residual stresses, and provides indication about the relevance of contribution of these different stress components. MBN measurements were performed in AISI 1070 steel sheet samples, where different strains were applied. The Barkhausen emission is also analyzed when two different sheets, deformed and non-deformed, are evaluated together. This study is useful to understand the effect of a deformed region near the surface on MBN. The low permeability of the deformed region affects MBN, and if the deformed region is below the surface the magnetic Barkhausen signal increases.     

Two Dimensions Residual Stresses Analysis Through Incremental Groove Machining Combined with Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry

In this study a new residual stress determination method in two directions simultaneously is presented. This method is based on stresses relaxation in a groove that is machined incrementally. The residual stresses relaxation occurs simultaneously from both the depth and the length of the groove. Thus, measuring the surface strain field generated by the relaxation enables to determine the stress gradient both along the depth and the length of the groove. To measure the surface strain in a direction perpendicular to the groove, a digital speckle pattern interferometer is used. This method is suitable when the residual stress field in the structure varies in the depth as well as along the surface of the part, like for example in a welded structure. The method is tested here on an aluminium plate in which a central band has been shot peened.     

Hole-drilling method using grating rosette and Moiré interferometry

The hole-drilling method is one of the most wellknown methods for measuring residual stresses. To identify unknown plane stresses in a specimen, a circular hole is first drilled in the infinite plate under plane stress, then the strains resulting from the hole drilling is measured. The strains may be acquired from interpreting the Moire signature around the hole. In crossed grating Moire interferometry, the horizontal and vertical displacement fields （u and v） can be obtained to determinate two strain fields and one shearing strain field. In this paper, by means of Moire interferometry and three directions grating （grating rosette） developed by the authors, three displacement fields （u, v and s） are obtained to acquire three strain fields. As a practical application, the hole-drilling method is adopted to measure the relief strains for aluminum and fiber reinforced composite. It is a step by step method; in each step a single laminate or equivalent depth is drilled to find some relationships between the drilling depth and the residual strains relieved in the fiber reinforced composite materials.     

Assessing the effect of residual stresses on the fatigue behavior of integrally stiffened structures

Residual stresses emerge quite often in real structures due to the various manufacturing processes such as, welding, forming, cutting, milling, etc. In such cases, development of cracks at regions influenced by manufacturing operations demand additional attention. In the present work a numerical methodology has been developed, based on three-dimensional Finite Element Analysis, for the calculation of Stress Intensity Factors at cracks in welded components. The residual stress fields, which are used in SIF calculations, have been computed by the numerical simulation of the thermo-mechanical process. A numerical algorithm based on interpolation principles is developed, in order to introduce the three-dimensional field in the computational model of the cracked structure. The SIF calculation methodology is initially validated for the case of a welded plate by comparison of numerical results with existing analytical solutions. A cracked stiffened panel is analysed afterwards and the calculated fatigue crack propagation results are compared to experimentally measured data. Finally, the numerical procedure is applied to study the effect of more complicated residual stress fields on SIF values developing at cracks located in stiffened panels.     

The recent development of neutronic techniques for determination of residual stresses

Neutron diffraction is a well-established non-destructive method for the measurement of residual stress deep inside materials. This paper gives a short overview of the use of neutrons for materials research and measurement techniques. Neutron diffraction has been applied in determining residual stresses in metal matrix composites. Measurement and prediction of residual stress for plastic deformation are presented. More recently, the neutron diffraction technique has also been applied for the determination of plastic strain which results from microstructural defects and leads to peak broadening. Influence of the shot penning treatment on austenitic steel is presented.     

Use of the hole-drilling method for measuring residual stresses in highly stressed shot-peened surfaces

The same shot-peening treatment was applied to five steels with different mechanical properties. The induced residual stress profiles were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and incremental hole drilling (IHD). The results of both techniques showed that IHD can still be successfully used for measuring shot-peening residual stresses, even if these exceed the yield strength of the bulk material. Expected errors due to the plasticity effect are reduced by the strain hardening of the surface. For an assessment of the reliability of IHD data, strain-hardening variation was quantified by microhardness measurements to estimate the yield strength of the plastified layer. All the main calculation methods for IHD were applied. The results were compared and discussed with respect to the characteristics of each method.