颗粒增强铝基复合材料冲击疲劳裂纹扩展的行为和机理

本文针对发展新一代步兵战车复合材料履带板所面临的关键问题，结合其实际受载特点，设计制备了冲击疲劳实验加载装置，并着重从实验设计及机理分析上进行细致深入的探索，揭示了Al_2O_3/LC_4复合材料冲击疲劳破坏的微观过程和机理。首先分别对SiC_P/LC_4、Al_2O_(3P)/LC_4 及基体 LC_4 进行了显微组织的观察与定量分析，并对其拉伸、三点弯曲破坏过程进行了在位观察，结合其断裂形貌的观察与分析，揭示出颗粒增强铝基复合材料断裂破坏的根本原因是颗粒的聚集及脆性相在晶界的严重偏聚。针对这一结论，给材料制备单位提出工艺改进意见。对工艺改进后制备的复合材料进行常规力学性能的测试，结果表明，其拉伸性能明显优于改进前制备的相应材料。为了进行冲击疲劳的实验研究，在分析步兵战车履带板实际受载特点的基础上，自行设计制备了冲击疲劳实验的加载装置。主要包括主体框架和测量系统，前者与小型振动系统配合使用可以实现冲击能量为 0.3J、冲击频率为 1Hz、冲击速度为 0.6m/s 的多次冲击实验；后者可以准确记录下任意时刻的冲击载荷波形及冲击疲劳载荷的循环数。为了考察颗粒与加载速率对复合材料疲劳机理的影响，实验研究了 Al_2O_3/LC_4 复合材料和 LC_4 纯基体材料在冲击疲劳和常规疲劳过程中裂纹的扩展过程及扩展速率。综合结果发现：与LC_4纯基体材料相比，Al_2O_3/LC_4复合材料疲劳裂纹扩展得更为迅速。复合材料中，由于颗粒的加入，两种疲劳方式下袭纹都发生严重偏转；裂纹经过颗粒时，多数是绕过，少数是切过颗粒；冲击疲劳裂纹扩展速率明显高于常规疲劳裂纹扩展速率。纯基体材料中，两种加载方式下，裂纹基本都以穿晶的方式扩展，裂纹常常表现为小锯齿状；冲击疲劳裂纹尖端的塑性变形程度比常规疲劳更大；冲击疲劳裂纹比常规疲劳裂纹更曲折，表现出多尺度的锯齿状（Zig-Zag）特征；冲击疲劳裂纹扩展速率高于常规疲劳的裂纹扩展速率。在基本实验的基础上，进一步对断口及裂纹扩展途径进行了微观观察和定量分析，最后综合全文的实验和统计结果，讨论了颗粒增强铝基复合材料的冲击疲劳机理。复合材料疲劳裂纹扩展速率的提高主要与裂纹的偏转有关，裂纹更倾向于沿着颗粒与基体的界面扩展；两种材料的疲劳裂纹扩展速率均随加载速率的增加而增加，呈现加载速率的反作用。加载方式的改变，一方面，由于冲击情况下载荷持续时间降低，使裂纹扩展速率降低；另一方面，加载速率的提高使得断裂韧性值降低，材料变脆，裂纹扩展速率升高。这两个方面相互影响，相互竞争，决定实际的裂纹扩展速率。两种材料中，不同加载速率下的疲劳裂纹扩展的微观机制基本一致，没有明显的本质区别。

Structural Failure Analysis and Numerical Simulation of Micro-Accelerometers under Impulsive Loading

Micromachined accelerometer is a kind of inertial MEMS devices, which usually operate under intensive impact loading. The reliability of micromachined accelerometers is one of the most important performance indices for their design, manufacture and commer

Generalization of Response Number for Dynamic Plastic Response of Shells Subjected to impulsive Loading

A dimensionless number, termed as response number in Zhao [Archive of Applied Mechanics 68 (1998) 524], has been suggested for the dynamic plastic response of beams and plates made up of rigidly perfect plastic materials subjected to dynamic loading. Many theoretical and experimental results can be reformulated into new concise forms with the response number. The concept of a new dimensionless number, response number, termed as Rn(n), is generalized in Zhao [Forschung im Ingenieurwesen 65 (1999) 107] to study the elastic, plastic, dynamic elastic as well as dynamic plastic buckling problems of columns, plates as well as shells. The response number Rn(n) is generalized to the dynamic behaviour of shells of various shapes in the present paper.

Application of response number for dynamic plastic response of plates subjected to impulsive loading

A dimensionless number, termed response number, is applied to the dynamic plastic response of plates subjected to dynamic loading. Many theoretical and experimental results presented by different researchers are reformulated into new concise forms with the response number. The advantage of the new forms is twofold: (1) they are more physically meaningful, and (2) they are independent of the choice of units, thus, they have wider range of applications.

Influence of 2 secondary effects on shear failure of cantilever with attached mass block under impulsive loading

The influence of two secondary effects, rotatory inertia and presence of a crack, on the dynamic plastic shear failure of a cantilever with an attached mass block at its tip subjected to impulsive loading is investigated. It is illustrated that the consideration of the rotatory inertia of the cantilever and the presence of a crack at the upper root of the beam both increase the initial kinetic energy of the block required to cause shear failure at the interface between the beam tip and the tip mass, where the initial velocity has discontinuity Therefore, the influence of these two secondary effects on the dynamic shear failure is not negligible.

Notch sensitivity of circular rings subjected to impact loading

'Notch-sensitive regions' have been observed during a series of experimental investigations into the dynamic plastic behaviour and failure of thin-walled metallic radially notched circular rings with are-shaped supports subjected to concentrated impact loads. The experimental results show that the exterior notches at some regions have no effect on the deformation of the rings, but do have effect at the remaining regions. The notch-sensitive region is theoretically determined by using the equivalent structures technique; fairly good agreement has been reached between the simple theory and the experimental results. Both dimensional and theoretical analyses prove that whether a plastic hinge formed or not at the notched section does not depend on the mean radius of the ring and the input kinetic energy. It depends on the weak coefficient of the notched section and the angle of the support. Generally speaking, there are mainly three failure modes for a notched circular ring with are-shaped support under impact loading: Mode I, large inelastic deformation when the notch is outside the sensitive region, in this case the ring deforms as a normal one; Mode II, large inelastic deformation only at some part of the ring and tearing occurred at the notched sections; Mode III, large inelastic deformation and total rupture occurred at the notched sections. It is believed that the present study could assist the understanding of the dynamic behaviour and failure of other kinds of nonstraight components with macroscopic imperfections under impulsive loading.

Initial development of microdamage under impact loading

In this paper, the initial development of microdamage in material subjected to impulsive loading was investigated experimentally and analytically with controllable short-load duration. Based on a general solution to the statistical evolution of a one-dimensional system of ideal microcracks, a prerequisite to experimental investigation of nucleation of microcracks was derived. By counting the number of microcracks, the distribution of nucleation of microcracks was studied. The law of the nucleation rate of microcracks can be expressed as a separable function of stress and cracksize. It is roughly linear dependence on loading stress. The normalized number density of microcracks is in agreement with that of a second-phase particle.

Suggestion of a new dimensionless number for dynamic plastic response of beams and plates

A dimensionless number, termed response number in the present paper, is suggested for the dynamic plastic response of beams and plates made of rigid-perfectly plastic materials subjected to dynamic loading. It is obtained at dimensional reduction of the basic governing equations of beams and plates. The number is defined as the product of the Johnson's damage number and the square of the half of the slenderness ratio for a beam; the product of the damage number and the square of the half of the aspect ratio for a plate or membrane loaded dynamically. Response number can also be considered as the ratio of the inertia force at the impulsive loading to the plastic limit load of the structure. Three aspects are reflected in this dimensionless number: the inertia of the applied dynamic loading, the resistance ability of the material to the deformation caused by the loading and the geometrical influence of the structure on the dynamic response. For an impulsively loaded beam or plate, the final dimensionless deflection is solely dependent upon the response number. When the secondary effects of finite deflections, strain-rate sensitivity or transverse shear are taken into account, the response number is as useful as in the case of simple bending theory. Finally, the number is not only suitable to idealized dynamic loads but also applicable to dynamic loads of general shape.

Prediction of structural dynamic plastic shear failure by Johnson's damage number

It is proved that Johnson's damage number is the sole similarity parameter for dynamic plastic shear failure of structures loaded impulsively, therefore, dynamic plastic shear failure can be understood when damage number reaches a critical value. It is suggested that the damage number be generally used to predict the dynamic plastic shear failure of structures under various kinds of dynamic loads (impulsive loading, rectangular pressure pulse, exponential pressure pulse, etc.,). One of the advantages for using the damage number to predict such kind of failure is that it is conveniently used for dissimilar material modeling.

Material response and failure mechanism of unidirectional metal matrix composites under impulsive shear loading

The material response and failure mechanism of unidirectional metal matrix composite under impulsive shear loading are investigated in this paper. Both experimental and analytical studies were performed. The shear strength of unidirectional C-f/A356.0 composite and A356.0 aluminum alloy at high strain rate were measured with a modified split Hopkinson torsional bar technique. The results indicated that the carbon fibers did not improve the shear strength of aluminum matrix if the fiber orientation aligned with the shear loading axis. The microscopic inspection of the fractured surface showed a multi-scale zigzag feature which implied a complicated shear failure mechanism in the composite. In addition to testing, the micromechanical stress field in the composite was analyzed by the generalized Eshelby equivalent method (GEEM). The influence of cracking in matrix on the micromechanical stress field was investigated as well. The results showed that the stress distribution in the composite is quite nonhomogeneous and very high shear stress concentrations are found in some regions in the matrix. The high shear stress concentration in the matrix induces tensile cracking at 45 degrees to the shear direction. This in turn aggravates the stress concentration at the fiber/matrix interface and finally leads to a catastrophic failure in the composite. From the correlation between the analysis and experimental results, the shear failure mechanism of unidirectional C-f/A356.0 composite can be elucidated qualitatively.

Dynamic properties and asymmetry of tension and compression of metal matrix composites under impact loading

The mechanical behaviors of 2124, Al-5Cu, Al-Li and 6061 alloys reinforced by silicon carbide particulates, together with 15%SiCw/6061 alloy, were studied under the quasi-static and impact loading conditions, using the split Hopkinson tension/compression bars and Instron universal testing machine. The effect of strain rate on the ultra tensile strength (UTS), the hardening modulus and the failure strain was investigated. At the same time, the SEM observations of dynamic fracture surfaces of various MMC materials showed some distinguished microstructures and patterns. Some new characteristics of asymmetry of mechanical behaviors of MMCs under tension and compression loading were also presented and explained in details, and they could be considered as marks to indicate, to some degree, the mechanism of controlling damage and failure of MMCs under impact loading. The development of new constitutive laws about MMCs under impact loading should benefit from these experimental results and theoretical analysis.

Microcracks Propagation in One Al/SiCp under Impact Loading

Numerous microcracks propagation in one metal matrix composite, Al/SiCp under impact loading was investigated. The test data was got with a specially designed impact experimental approach. The analysis to the density, nucleating locations and distributions of the microcracks as well as microstructure effects of the original composite was received particular emphasis. The types of microcracks or debonding nucleated in the tested composite were dependent on the stress level and its duration. Distributions of the microcracks were depended on that of microstructures of the tested composite while total number of microcracks in unit area and unit duration, was controlled by the stress levels. Also, why the velocity was much lower than theoretical estimations for elastic solids and why the microcracks propagating velocities increased with the stress levels' increasing in current experiments were analysed and explained.

Damage evolution, localization and failure of solids subjected to impact loading

In order to reveal the underlying mesoscopic mechanism governing the experimentally observed failure in solids subjected to impact loading, this paper presents a model of statistical microdamage evolution to macroscopic failure, in particular to spallation. Based on statistical microdamage mechanics and experimental measurement of nucleation and growth of microcracks in an Al alloy subjected to plate impact loading, the evolution law of damage and the dynamical function of damage are obtained. Then, a lower bound to damage localization can be derived. It is found that the damage evolution beyond the threshold of damage localization is extremely fast. So, damage localization can serve as a precursor to failure. This is supported by experimental observations. On the other hand, the prediction of failure becomes more accurate, when the dynamic function of damage is fitted with longer experimental observations. We also looked at the failure in creep with the same idea. Still, damage localization is a nice precursor to failure in creep rupture.

Dynamic SIF of interface crack between two dissimilar viscoelastic bodies under impact loading

In this paper, the transient dynamic stress intensity factor (SIF) is determined for an interface crack between two dissimilar half-infinite isotropic viscoelastic bodies under impact loading. An anti-plane step loading is assumed to act suddenly on the surface of interface crack of finite length. The stress field incurred near the crack tip is analyzed. The integral transformation method and singular integral equation approach are used to get the solution. By virtue of the integral transformation method, the viscoelastic mixed boundary problem is reduced to a set of dual integral equations of crack open displacement function in the transformation domain. The dual integral equations can be further transformed into the first kind of Cauchy-type singular integral equation (SIE) by introduction of crack dislocation density function. A piecewise continuous function approach is adopted to get the numerical solution of SIE. Finally, numerical inverse integral transformation is performed and the dynamic SIF in transformation domain is recovered to that in time domain. The dynamic SIF during a small time-interval is evaluated, and the effects of the viscoelastic material parameters on dynamic SIF are analyzed.