Micromechanisms and Mechanics of Damage and Fracture in Thin Film/Substrate Systems

The purpose of this paper is to review the mechanisms and available theoretical methods for modeling the strength and failure of thin film/substrate systems     

Development of a finite-element analysis methodology for the propagation of delaminations in composite structures

Analysing the collapse of skin-stiffened structures requires capturing the critical phenomenon of skin-stiffener separation, which can be considered analogous to interlaminar cracking. This paper presents the development of a numerical approach for simulating the propagation of interlaminar cracks in composite structures. A degradation methodology was introduced in MSC.Marc, which involved the modelling of a structure with shell layers connected by user-defined multiple-point constraints (MPCs). User subroutines were written that employ the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) to determine the onset of crack growth and modify the properties of the user-defined MPCs to simulate crack propagation. Methodologies for the release of failing MPCs are presented and are discussed with reference to the VCCT assumption of self-similar crack growth. The numerical results obtained by using the release methodologies are then compared with experimental data for a double-cantilever beam specimen. Based on this comparison, recommendations for the future development of the degradation model are made, especially with reference to developing an approach for the collapse analysis of fuselage-representative structures. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 15–42, January–February, 2007.     

Tying together the ultrastructural modifications of wood fibre induced by pulping processes with the mechanical properties of paper

The composition and ultrastructural arrangement of cell wall polymers in wood fibres have determining influence on the properties of wood derived materials. It is therefore important to improve our understanding of the relationship between fibres organisation, the modifications induced by pulping treatments, and the resulting paper sheet mechanical properties. The different treatments to which fibres are subjected during the manufacturing of pulps and papers induce morphological and micro-structural alterations due to the removal of wall constituents and of microfibrillar elements. The impact of pulping processes on fibres was investigated at the ultrastructural scale of transmission electron microscopy. Particular attention was given to the effects of beating in refiners at various intensities on the ultrastructure of fibres. The most characteristic effects consisted of delaminations, microfibril disorganisation, and even fractures, of varying importance depending on the intensity of the mechanical refining. The consequences of internal alterations and surface modifications of the fibres were examined in relation to the paper sheet mechanical properties. Correlations between the type of alteration observed in the fibres and its possible impact on a given paper mechanical property are suggested. With similar approaches, the effects of drying and recycling were studied.     

Application of XPS imaging analysis in understanding interfacial delamination and X‐ray radiation degradation of PMMA

The recent development of X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) instrumentation with spatial resolution down to several microns has advanced the capability of elemental and chemical state imaging. XPS imaging analysis has been applied in understanding the delamination problems of siloxane coatings on polymethyl‐methacrylate (PMMA) polymer. It was found that delamination occurred by interfacial failure, and the coating suffered complete delamination from a PMMA substrate. This example offered an opportunity for the investigation of X‐ray damage on polymers encountered in XPS imaging analysis. This paper also demonstrated how to construct a constrained peak model with the aid of chemical knowledge and supporting evidence of the sample. Monte Carlo error analysis was used to determine the validity of the peak fit models used. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the influence of singular-type finite elements on the critical force in studying the buckling of a circular plate with a crack

The axisymmetric buckling (delamination) of a circular disk (plate) with a penny-shaped crack is analyzed using a continuum model, piecewise-homogeneous model, and the three-dimensional linearized theory of stability. The FEM is used. The analysis is carried out using various singular and ordinary finite elements. The numerical results obtained indicate that it is not necessary to use singular finite elements to solve the problem Published in Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 43, No. 9, pp. 120–129, September 2007.     

THE EFFECT OF BILINEAR BEHAVIOUR ON THE DIRECTION AND MAGNITUDE OF THE PEELING MOMENT IN A BI-MATERIAL BEAM

In this work a bi-material beam exhibiting partly bilinear behaviour under a uniform temperature change is analyzed. The essence of solution is based on the approach of Timoshenko’s mechanics of materials. The main aim of the present analysis is to understand the effect of the bilinear behaviour on the peeling moment. This theoretical mechanics model mentioned here can give us useful insights to improve the resistance against the delamination.     

Flexural reinforcement of concrete floor slabs by carbon fiber textiles

The effect of carbon fiber textile for flexural reinforcement to deteriorated reinforced concrete floor slab is tested in laboratory by cutting out six specimens from existing structure aged more than 70 years. The repair method between concrete and carbon fiber textile is used as experimental parameter. From the test results, deformation, bond characteristic of carbon fiber textile and the applicability of carbon fiber textiles to flexural reinforcement of floor slabs are discussed.     

Interfacial cracking in ceramic laminates

The lamination of composite elements such as sheets or fibres made from ceramic powders represents a cheap and easy way of making tough ceramics. The fabrication and failure behaviour of such layered structures is described. It is shown that crack growth along the interfaces is dominated by dynamic effects due to the storage of excess elastic energy and that effects of loading state, in the silicon carbide/graphite system at least, appear to be relatively unimportant. Crack deflection at interfaces is also discussed and it is shown that observations made in these systems are not consistent with existing theories. Various possibilities are investigated.     

Scratching behavior of elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) coatings

Scratch testing has been performed on elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) coatings on stainless steel with a spherical indenter. The friction coefficient (horizontal‐to‐normal force ratio) during scratching decreases with increasing normal load. This result can be explained by assuming that during scratching the contact area is determined by elastic deformation and the horizontal force is proportional to the contact area. With increasing driving speed, the friction coefficient increases, but the rate of increase decreases; this suggests that the scratching of the PDMS coating is a rate process and that the viscoelastic property of the coating influences its frictional behavior. Below a critical normal load, which increases with the coating thickness, the PDMS coating recovers elastically after being scratched so that there are no scratch marks left behind. Above the critical normal load, the coating is damaged by a combination of delamination at the coating/substrate interface and through‐thickness cracking. When the coating is damaged, there is an increase in the friction coefficient, and the friction force displays significant fluctuations. Furthermore, the critical normal load increases with the driving speed; this implies that time is needed to nucleate damage. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1530–1537, 2002     

压电传感器探测层合板分层的数值分析

用修正的准三维有限元法分析了受单轴拉伸表面覆盖有压电薄膜的复合材料层合板。文中首先讨论了压电薄膜层对层合板层间应力的影响，然后在存在分层裂纹的情况下，计算了压电层的电压分布。结果表明将压电薄膜作为传感器来进行分层探测是可行的。文中最后考虑了多种因素对传感灵敏度的影响。