Fracture toughness of fibrous membranes

Random fibrous networks exist in both natural biological and engineering materials. While the nonlinear deformation of fibrous networks has been extensively studied, the understanding of their fracture behaviour is still incomplete. To study the fracture toughness of fibrous materials, the near-tip region is crucial because failure mechanisms such as fibril rupture occur in this region. The consideration of this region in fracture studies is, however, a difficult task because it involves microscopic mechanical responses at a small length scale. This paper extends our previous finite element analysis by incorporating the microscopic responses into a macroscopic domain by using a submodeling technique. The detailed study of microstructures at crack tips show a stochastic toughness of membranes due to the random nature of fibrous networks. Further, the sizes of crack tip region, which are sufficient to provide a reasonable prediction of fracture behaviour in a specific type of fibrous network, were presented. Future work includes improving the current linear assumption in the macroscopic models to become nonlinear.

Failure mechanisms in fibrous scaffolds.

Polymeric fibrous scaffolds have been considered as replacements for load-bearing soft tissues, because of their ability to mimic the microstructure of natural tissues. Poor toughness of fibrous materials results in failure, which is an issue of importance to both engineering and medical practice. The toughness of fibrous materials depends on the ability of the microstructure to develop toughening mechanisms. However, such toughening mechanisms are still not well understood, because the detailed evolution at the microscopic level is difficult to visualize. A novel and simple method was developed, namely, a sample-taping technique, to examine the detailed failure mechanisms of fibrous microstructures. This technique was compared with in situ fracture testing by scanning electron microscopy. Examination of three types of fibrous networks showed that two different failure modes occurred in fibrous scaffolds. For brittle cracking in gelatin electrospun scaffolds, the random network morphology around the crack tip remained during crack propagation. For ductile failure in polycaprolactone electrospun scaffolds and nonwoven fabrics, the random network deformed via fiber rearrangement, and a large number of fiber bundles formed across the region in front of the notch tip. These fiber bundles not only accommodated mechanical strain, but also resisted crack propagation and thus toughened the fibrous scaffolds. Such understanding provides insight for the production of fibrous materials with enhanced toughness.

Prediction of FRP debonding using the global-energy-balance approach

A major research program was carried out to analyze the mechanism of FRP debonding from concrete beams using global-energy-balance approach (GEBA). The key findings are that the fracture process zone is small so there is no R-curve to consider, failure is dominated by Mode I behavior, and the theory agrees well with tests. The analyses developed in the study provide an essential tool that will enable fracture mechanics to be used to determine the load at which FRP plates will debond from concrete beams. This obviates the need for finite element (FE) analyses in situations where reliable details of the interface geometry and crack-tip stress fields are not attainable for an accurate analysis. This paper presents an overview of the GEBA analyses that is described in detail elsewhere, and explains the slightly unconventional assumptions made in the analyses, such as the revised moment-curvature model, the location of an effective centroid, the separate consideration of the FRP and the RC beam for the purposes of the analysis, the use of Mode I fracture energies and the absence of an R-curve in the fracture mechanics analysis.

Failure mechanisms in fibrous scaffolds

Polymeric fibrous scaffolds have been considered as replacements for load-bearing soft tissues, because of their ability to mimic the microstructure of natural tissues. Poor toughness of fibrous materials results in failure, which is an issue of importance to both engineering and medical practice. The toughness of fibrous materials depends on the ability of the microstructure to develop toughening mechanisms. However, such toughening mechanisms are still not well understood, because the detailed evolution at the microscopic level is difficult to visualize. A novel and simple method was developed, namely, a sample-taping technique, to examine the detailed failure mechanisms of fibrous microstructures. This technique was compared with in situ fracture testing by scanning electron microscopy. Examination of three types of fibrous networks showed that two different failure modes occurred in fibrous scaffolds. For brittle cracking in gelatin electrospun scaffolds, the random network morphology around the crack tip remained during crack propagation. For ductile failure in polycaprolactone electrospun scaffolds and nonwoven fabrics, the random network deformed via fiber rearrangement, and a large number of fiber bundles formed across the region in front of the notch tip. These fiber bundles not only accommodated mechanical strain, but also resisted crack propagation and thus toughened the fibrous scaffolds. Such understanding provides insight for the production of fibrous materials with enhanced toughness. © 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An analysis of competing toughening mechanisms in layered and particulate solids

The relative potency of common toughening mechanisms is explored for layered solids and particulate solids, with an emphasis on crack multiplication and plasticity. First, the enhancement in toughness due to a parallel array of cracks in an elastic solid is explored, and the stability of co-operative cracking is quantified. Second, the degree of synergistic toughening is determined for combined crack penetration and crack kinking at the tip of a macroscopic, mode I crack; specifically, the asymptotic problem of self-similar crack advance (penetration mode) versus 90 ° symmetric kinking is considered for an isotropic, homogeneous solid with weak interfaces. Each interface is treated as a cohesive zone of finite strength and toughness. Third, the degree of toughening associated with crack multiplication is assessed for a particulate solid comprising isotropic elastic grains of hexagonal shape, bonded by cohesive zones of finite strength and toughness. The study concludes with the prediction of R-curves for a mode I crack in a multi-layer stack of elastic and elastic-plastic solids. A detailed comparison of the potency of the above mechanisms and their practical application are given. In broad terms, crack tip kinking can be highly potent, whereas multiple cracking is difficult to activate under quasi-static conditions. Plastic dissipation can give a significant toughening in multi-layers especially at the nanoscale. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

TEMPERATURE AND STRAIN-RATE DEPENDENCE OF FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLYETHER KETONE

A strong strain-rate and temperature dependence was observed for the fracture toughness of phenolphthalein polyether ketone (PEK-C). Two separate crack-blunting mechanisms have been proposed to account for the fracture-toughness data. The first mechanism involves thermal blunting due to adiabatic heating at the crack tip for the high temperatures studied. In the high-temperature range, thermal blunting increases the fracture toughness corresponding to an effectively higher test temperature. However, in the low-temperature range, the adiabatic temperature rise is insufficient to cause softening and Jic increases with increasing temperature owing to viscoelastic losses associated with the p-relaxation there. The second mechanism involves plastic blunting due to shear yield/flow processes at the crack tip and this takes place at slow strain testing of the single-edge notched bending (SENB) samples. The temperature and strain-rate dependence of the plastic zone size may also be responsible for the temperature and strain-rate dependence of fracture toughness.

FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLYETHER KETONE

The static and impact fracture toughness of phenolphthalein polyether ketone (PEK-C) were studied at different temperatures. The static fracture toughness of PEK-C was evaluated via the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) and the J-integral analysis. Impact fracture toughness was also analyzed using the LEFM approach. Temperature and strain rate effects on the fracture toughness were also studied. The enhancement in static fracture toughness at 70 degrees C was thought to be caused by plastic crack tip blunting. The increase in impact fracture toughness with temperature was attributed two different mechanisms, namely, the relaxation process in a relatively low temperature and thermal blunting of the crack tip at higher temperature. The temperature-dependent fracture toughness data obtained in static tests could be horizontally shifted to match roughly the data for impact tests, indicating the existence of a time-temperature equivalence relationship. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

TEMPERATURE EFFECT ON IMPACT FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS AND FRACTURE MECHANISM OF PHENOLPHTHALEIN POLY(ETHER KETONE)

Phenolphthalein poly(ether ketone) (PEK-C) was tested using an instrumented impact tester to determine the temperature effect on the fracture toughness K-c and critical strain energy release rate G(c). Two different mechanisms, namely the relaxation processes and thermal blunting of the crack tip were used to explain the temperature effect on the fracture toughness. Examination of the fracture surfaces revealed the presence of crack growth bands. It is suggested that these bands are the consequence of variations in crack growth along crazes that are formed in the crack tip stress field. As the crack propagates, the stress is relaxed locally, decreasing the growth rate allowing a new bundle of crazes to nucleate along which the crack advances.

Stress corrosion cracking of AISI 321 stainless steel in acidic chloride solution

The stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of LambdaISI 321 stainless steel in acidic chloride solution was studied by slow strain rate (SSR) technique and fracture mechanics method. The fractured surface was characterized by cleavage fracture. In order to clarify the SCC mechanism, the effects of inhibitor KI on SCC behaviour were also included in this paper. A study showed that the inhibition effects of KI on SCC were mainly attributed to the anodic reaction of the corrosion process. The results of strain distribution in front of the crack tip of the fatigue pre-cracked plate specimens in air, in the blank solution (acidic chloride solution without inhibitor KI) and in the solution added with KI measured by speckle interferometry (SPI) support the unified mechanism of SCC and corrosion fatigue cracking (CFC).

锦屏电站地下厂房卸荷岩体参数研究

It is a basic work to ascertain the parameters of rock mass for evaluation about stability of the engineering. Anisotropism、inhomogeneity and discontinuity characters of the rock mass arise from the existing of the structural plane. Subjected to water、weathering effect、off-loading, mechanical characters of the rock mass are greatly different from rock itself, Determining mechanical parameters of the rock mass becomes so difficult because of structure effect、dimension effect、rheological character, ‘Can’t give a proper parameter’ becomes one of big problems for theoretic analysis and numerical simulation. With the increment of project scale, appraising the project rock mass and ascertaining the parameters of rock mass becomes more and more important and strict. Consequently, researching the parameters of rock mass has important theoretical significance and actual meaning. The Jin-ping hydroelectric station is the first highest hyperbolic arch dam in the world under construction, the height of the dam is about 305m, it is the biggest hydroelectric station at lower reaches of Yalong river. The length of underground factory building is 204.52m, the total height of it is 68.83m, the maximum of span clearance is 28.90m. Large-scale excavation in the underground factory of Jin-ping hydroelectric station has brought many kinds of destructive phenomenon, such as relaxation、spilling, providing a precious chance for study of unloading parameter about rock mass. As we all know, Southwest is the most important hydroelectric power base in China, the construction of the hydroelectric station mostly concentrate at high mountain and gorge area, basically and importantly, we must be familiar with the physical and mechanical character of the rock mass to guarantee to exploit safely、efficiently、quickly, in other words, we must understand the strength and deformation character of the rock mass. Based on enough fieldwork of geological investigation, we study the parameter of unloading rock mass on condition that we obtain abundant information, which is not only important for the construction of Jin-ping hydroelectric station, but also for the construction of other big hydroelectric station similar with Jin-ping. This paper adopt geological analysis、test data analysis、experience analysis、theory research and Artificial Neural Networks （ANN） brainpower analysis to evaluate the mechanical parameter, the major production is as follows: (1)Through the excavation of upper 5-layer of the underground powerhouse and the statistical classification of the main joints fractures exposed, We believe that there are three sets of joints, the first group is lay fracture, the second group and the fourth group are steep fracture. These provide a strong foundation for the following calculation of and analysis; (2)According to the in-situ measurement about sound wave velocity、displacement and anchor stress, we analyses the effects of rock unloading effect，the results show a obvious time-related character and localization features of rock deformation. We determine the depth of excavation unloading of underground factory wall based on this. Determining the rock mass parameters according to the measurement about sound wave velocity with characters of low- disturbing、dynamic on the spot, the result can really reflect the original state, this chapter approximately the mechanical parameters about rock mass at each unloading area; (3)Based on Hoek-Brown experienced formula with geological strength index GSI and RMR method to evaluate the mechanical parameters of different degree weathering and unloading rock mass about underground factory, Both of evaluation result are more satisfied; (4)From the perspective of far-field stress, based on the stress field distribution ideas of two-crack at any load conditions proposed by Fazil Erdogan (1962)，using the strain energy density factor criterion (S criterion) proposed by Xue changming(1972)，we establish the corresponding relationship between far-field stress and crack tip stress field, derive the integrated intensity criterion formula under the conditions of pure tensile stress among two line coplanar intermittent jointed rock，and establish the corresponding intensity criterion for the exploratory attempt; (5)With artificial neural network, the paper focuses on the mechanical parameters of rock mass that we concerned about and the whole process of prediction of deformation parameters, discusses the prospect of applying in assessment about the parameters of rock mass，and rely on the catalog information of underground powerhouse of Jinping I Hydropower Station, identifying the rock mechanics parameters intellectually，discusses the sample selection, network design, values of basic parameters and error analysis comprehensively. There is a certain significance for us to set up a set of parameters evaluation system，which is in construction of large-scale hydropower among a group of marble mass.

复杂裂隙岩体统计断裂本构关系与变形参数研究

Rock mass is widely recognized as a kind of geologic body which consists of rock blocks and discontinuities. The deformation and failure of rock mass is not only determined by rock block，but also by discontinuity which is virtually more important. Mutual cutting and combination of discontinuities controlled mechanical property of rock mass. The complex cutting of discontinuities determine the intense anisotropy on mechanical property of rock mass，especially under the effect of ground stress. Engineering practice has show that the brittle failure of hard rock always occurs when its working stress is far lower than the yield strength and compressive strength，the failure always directly related to the fracture propagation of discontinuities. Fracture propagation of discontinuities is the virtue of hard rock’s failure. We can research the rock mass discontinuous mechanical properties precisely by the methods of statistical analysis of discontinuities and Fracture Mechanics. According to Superposition Principle in Fracture Mechanics，A Problem or C Problem could be chosen to research. Problem A mainly calculates the crack-tip stress field and displacement field on internal discontinuities by numerical method. Problem C calculate the crack-tip stress field and displacement field under the assumption of that the mainly rock mass stress field has been known. So the Problem C avoid the complex mutual interference of stress fields of discontinuities，which is called crack system problem in Fracture Mechanics. To solve Problem C, field test on stress field in the rock mass is needed. The linear Superposition of discontinuities strain energies are Scientific and Rational. The difference of Fracture Mechanics between rock mass and other materials can mostly expression as：other materials Fracture Mechanics mostly face the problem A，and can’t avoid multi-crack puzzle, while the Rock mass Fracture Mechanics answer to the Problem C. Problem C can avoid multi-discontinuities mutual interference puzzle via the ground stress test. On the basis of Problem C, Fracture Mechanics could be used conveniently in rock mass. The rock mass statistics fracture constitutive relations, which introduced in this article, are based on the Problem C and the Discontinuity Strain Energy linear superposition. This constitutive relation has several merits: first, it is physical constitutive relation rather than empirical; second, it is very fit to describe the rock mass anisotropy properties; third, it elaborates the exogenous factors such as ground stress. The rock mass statistics fracture constitutive relation is the available approach to answer to the physical, anisotropic and ground stress impacted rock mass problems. This article stand on the foundation of predecessor’s statistics fractures constitutive relation, and improved the discontinuity distributive function. This article had derived the limitation of negative exponential distribution in the course of regression analysis, and advocated to using the two parameter negative exponential distribution for instead. In order to solve the problems of two-dimension stability on engineering key cross-sectional view in rock mass, this article derived the rock mass planar flexibility tensor, and established rock mass two-dimension penetrate statistics fracture constitutive relation on the basis of penetrate fracture mechanics. Based on the crack tip plasticity research production of penetrate fracture, for example the Irwin plasticity equifinality crack, this article established the way to deal with the discontinuity stress singularity and plastic yielding problem at discontinuity tip. The research on deformation parameters is always the high light region of rock mass mechanics field. After the dam foundation excavation of XiaoWan hydroelectric power station, dam foundation rock mass upgrowthed a great deal of unload cracks, rock mass mechanical property gotten intricacy and strong anisotropy. The dam foundation rock mass mostly upgrowthed three group discontinuities： the decantation discontinuity, the steep pitch discontinuity, and the schistosity plane. Most of the discontinuities have got partial unload looseness. In accordance with ground stress field data, the dam foundation stress field greatly non-uniform, which felled under the great impaction of tectonic stress field, self-weight stress field, excavation geometric boundary condition, and excavation, unload. The discontinuity complexity and stress field heterogeneity, created the rock mass mechanical property of dam foundation intricacy and levity. The research on the rock mass mechanics, if not take every respected influencing factor into consideration as best as we can, major errors likely to be created. This article calculated the rock mass elastic modulus that after Xiao Wan hydroelectric power station dam foundation gutter excavation finished. The calculation region covered possession monolith of Xiao Wan concrete double-curvature arch dam. Different monolith were adopted the penetrate fracture statistics constitutive relation or bury fracture statistics constitutive relation selectively. Statistics fracture constitutive relation is fit for the intensity anisotropy and heterogeneity rock mass of Xiao Wan hydroelectric power station dam foundation. This article had contrastive analysis the statistics fracture constitutive relation result with the inclined plane load test actual measurement elastic modulus and RMR method estimated elastic modulus, and find that the three methods elastic modulus have got greatly comparability. So, the statistics fracture constitutive relations are qualified for trust. Generally speaking，this article had finished following works based on predecessors job: “Argumentation the C Problems of superposition principle in Fracture Mechanics, establish two-dimension penetrate statistics fracture constitutive relation of rock mass, argue the negative exponential distribution limitation and improve it, improve of the three-dimension berry statistics fracture constitutive relation of rock mass, discontinuity-tip plastic zone isoeffect calculation, calculate the rock mass elastic modulus on two-dimension cross-sectional view”. The whole research clue of this article inherited from the “statistics rock mass mechanics” of Wu Faquan（1992）.

Fracture mechanics analysis of cracks in solder joint intermetallic compounds

The trend towards miniaturization of electronic products leads to the need for very small sized solder joints. Therefore, there is a higher reliability risk that too large a fraction of solder joints will transform into Intermetallic Compounds (IMCs) at the solder interface. In this paper, fracture mechanics study of the IMC layer for SnPb and Pb-free solder joints was carried out using finite element numerical computer modelling method. It is assumed that only one crack is present in the IMC layer. Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) approach is used for parametric study of the Stress Intensity Factors (SIF, KI and KII), at the predefined crack in the IMC layer of solder butt joint tensile sample. Contrary to intuition, it is revealed that a thicker IMC layer in fact increases the reliability of solder joint for a cracked IMC. Value of KI and KII are found to decrease with the location of the crack further away from the solder interfaces while other parameters are constant. Solder thickness and strain rate were also found to have a significant influence on the SIF values. It has been found that soft solder matrix generates non-uniform plastic deformation across the solder-IMC interface near the crack tip that is responsible to obtain higher KI and KII.

Mitigation of Fatigue Damage in Self-Healing Vascular Materials

The fatigue response of an epoxy matrix containing vasculature for the delivery of liquid healing agents is investigated. The release of a rapidly curing, two-part epoxy healing chemistry into the wake of a propagating crack reduces the rate of crack extension by shielding the crack tip from the full range of applied stress intensity factor. Crack propagation is studied for a variety of loading conditions, with the maximum applied stress intensity factor ranging from 62 to 84% of the quasi-static fracture toughness of the material. At the highest level of applied load, the rate of mechanical damage is so fast that the healing agents do not fully mix and polymerize, and the effect of healing is minimal. The self-healing response is most effective at impeding the slower propagating cracks, with complete crack arrest occurring at the lowest level of applied load, and reductions of 79–84% in the rate of crack extension at intermediate loads.

Intralaminar toughness characterisation of unbalanced hybrid plain weave laminates

A numerical and experimental investigation on the mode-I intralaminar toughness of a hybrid plain weave composite laminate manufactured using resin infusion under flexible tooling (RIFT) process is presented in this paper. The pre-cracked geometries consisted of overheight compact tension (OCT), double edge notch (DEN) and centrally cracked four-point-bending (4PBT) test specimens. The position as well as the strain field ahead of the crack tip during the loading stage was determined using a digital speckle photogrammetry system. The limitation on the applicability of the standard data reduction schemes for the determination of intralaminar toughness of composite materials is presented and discussed. A methodology based on the numerical evaluation of the strain energy release rate using the J-integral method is proposed to derive new geometric correction functions for the determination of the stress intensity factor for composites. The method accounts for material anisotropy and finite specimen dimension effects regardless of the geometry. The approach has been validated for alternative non-standard specimen geometries. A comparison between different methods currently available for computing the intralaminar fracture toughness in composite laminates is presented and a good agreement between numerical and experimental results using the proposed methodology was obtained. 

Micro-mechanical analysis of bonding failure in a particle-filled composite

Composites with a weak interface between the filler and matrix which are susceptible to interfacial crack formation are studied. A finite-element model is developed to predict the stres/strain behavior of particulate composites with an interfacial crack. This condition can be distinguished as a partially bonded inclusion. Another case arises when there is no bonding between the inclusion and the matrix. In this latter case the slip boundary condition is imposed on the section of the interface which remains closed. The states of stress and displacement fields are obtained for both cases. The location of any further deformation through crazing or shear band formation is identified as the crack tip. A completely unbonded inclusion with partial slip at a section of the interface reduces the concentration of the stress at the crack tip. Whereas this might lead to slightly higher strength, it decreases the load-transfer efficiency and stiffness of this type of composite. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.