Showing papers in "International Journal of Fracture in 2006"

Application of Fracture Mechanics Concepts to Hierarchical Biomechanics of Bone and Bone-like Materials

Abstract: Fracture mechanics concepts are applied to gain some understanding of the hierarchical nanocomposite structures of hard biological tissues such as bone, tooth and shells. At the most elementary level of structural hierarchy, bone and bone-like materials exhibit a generic structure on the nanometer length scale consisting of hard mineral platelets arranged in a parallel staggered pattern in a soft protein matrix. The discussions in this paper are organized around the following questions: (1) The length scale question: why is nanoscale important to biological materials? (2) The stiffness question: how does nature create a stiff composite containing a high volume fraction of a soft material? (3) The toughness question: how does nature build a tough composite containing a high volume fraction of a brittle material? (4) The strength question: how does nature balance the widely different strengths of protein and mineral? (5) The optimization question: Can the generic nanostructure of bone and bone-like materials be understood from a structural optimization point of view? If so, what is being optimized? What is the objective function? (6) The buckling question: how does nature prevent the slender mineral platelets in bone from buckling under compression? (7) The hierarchy question: why does nature always design hierarchical structures? What is the role of structural hierarchy? A complete analysis of these questions taking into account the full biological complexities is far beyond the scope of this paper. The intention here is only to illustrate some of the basic mechanical design principles of bone-like materials using simple analytical and numerical models. With this objective in mind, the length scale question is addressed based on the principle of flaw tolerance which, in analogy with related concepts in fracture mechanics, indicates that the nanometer size makes the normally brittle mineral crystals insensitive to cracks-like flaws. Below a critical size on the nanometer length scale, the mineral crystals fail no longer by propagation of pre-existing cracks, but by uniform rupture near their limiting strength. The robust design of bone-like materials against brittle fracture provides an interesting analogy between Darwinian competition for survivability and engineering design for notch insensitivity. The follow-up analysis with respect to the questions on stiffness, strength, toughness, stability and optimization of the biological nanostructure provides further insights into the basic design principles of bone and bone-like materials. The staggered nanostructure is shown to be an optimized structure with the hard mineral crystals providing structural rigidity and the soft protein matrix dissipating fracture energy. Finally, the question on structural hierarchy is discussed via a model hierarchical material consisting of multiple levels of self-similar composite structures mimicking the nanostructure of bone. We show that the resulting “fractal bone”, a model hierarchical material with different properties at different length scales, can be designed to tolerate crack-like flaws of multiple length scales.

Stress intensity factor measurements from digital image correlation: post-processing and integrated approaches

Abstract: Digital image correlation is an appealing technique for studying crack propagation in brittle materials such as ceramics. A case study is discussed where the crack geometry, and the crack opening displacement are evaluated from image correlation by following two different measurement and identification routes. The displacement uncertainty can reach the nanometer range even though optical pictures are dealt with. The stress intensity factor is estimated with a 7% uncertainty in a complex loading set-up without having to resort to a numerical modelling of the experiment.

Application of Particle Methods to Static Fracture of Reinforced Concrete Structures

Abstract: Particle methods for modeling reinforced concrete are described. The reinforcements are modeled by finite elements and are coupled to the particle method by Lagrange multipliers. The method is applicable to nonlinear problems, problems with moderate to severe cracking and deformable interfaces. Applications to the static response of reinforced concrete structures where the concrete is discretized with particles and the reinforcement with elements are described. The method is also tested for several static problems where no relative displacements between the concrete and the reinforcement are allowed.

Development of the local approach to fracture over the past 25 years: Theory and applications

Abstract: This review paper is devoted to the local approach to fracture (LAF) for the prediction of the fracture toughness of structural steels. The LAF has been considerably developed over the past two decades, not only to provide a better understanding of the fracture behaviour of materials, in particular the failure micromechanisms, but also to deal with loading conditions which cannot easily be handled with the conventional linear elastic fracture mechanics and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics global approaches. The bases of this relatively newly developed methodology are first presented. Both ductile rupture and brittle cleavage fracture micromechanisms are considered. The ductile-to-brittle transition observed in ferritic steels is also briefly reviewed. Two types of LAF methods are presented: (i) those assuming that the material behaviour is not affected by damage (e.g. cleavage fracture), (ii) those using a coupling effect between damage and constitutive equations (e.g. ductile fracture). The micromechanisms of brittle and ductile fracture investigated in elementary volume elements are briefly presented. The emphasis is laid on cleavage fracture in ferritic steels. The role of second phase particles (carbides or inclusions) and grain boundaries is more thoroughly discussed. The distinction between nucleation and growth controlled fracture is made. Recent developments in the theory of cleavage fracture incorporating both the effect of stress state and that of plastic strain are presented. These theoretical results are applied to the crack tip situation to predict the fracture toughness. It is shown that the ductile-to-brittle transition curve can reasonably be well predicted using the LAF approach. Additional applications of the LAF approach methods are also shown, including: (i) the effect of loading rate and prestressing; (ii) the influence of residual stresses in welds; (iii) the mismatch effects in welds; (iv) the warm-prestressing effect. An attempt is also made to delineate research areas where large improvements should be made for a better understanding of the failure behaviour of structural materials.

DCB-specimen loaded with uneven bending moments

Abstract: A double cantilever beam specimen loaded with uneven bending moments (DCB-UBM) is proposed for mixed mode fracture mechanics characterisation of adhesive joints, laminates and multilayers. A linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis gives the energy release rate and mode mixity analytically for both isotropic and orthotropic materials. By varying the ratio between the two applied moments, the crack tip stress state can be varied from pure mode I to pure mode II for the same specimen geometry. The specimen allows stable crack growth. A special test fixture is developed to create uneven bending moments. As a preliminary example, the DCB-UBM specimen was used for characterising fracture of adhesive joints between two laminates of thermoset glass fibre reinforced plastic.

A failure criterion for brittle elastic materials under mixed-mode loading

Abstract: The failure criterion of Leguillon at reentrant corners in brittle elastic materials (Leguillon 2002, Eur J Mech A/Solids 21: 61–72; Leguillon et al. (2003), Eur J Mech A—Solids 22(4): 509–524) validated in (Yosibash et al. 2004, Int J Fract 125(3–4): 307–333) for mode I loading is being extended to mixed mode loading and is being validated by experimental observations. We present an explicit derivation of all quantities involved in the computation of the failure criterion. The failure criterion is validated by predicting the critical load and crack initiation angle of specimens under mixed mode loading and comparison to experimental observations on PMMA (polymer) and Macor (ceramic) V-notched specimens.

Damage modelling of adhesively bonded joints

Abstract: A cohesive zone model (CZM) has been used in conjunction with both elastic and elasto– plastic continuum behaviour to predict the response of a mixed mode flexure and three different lap shear joints, all manufactured with the same adhesive. It was found that, for a specific dissipated CZM energy (Γ0) there was a range of CZM tripping tractions (σu) that gave a fairly constant failure load. A value of σu below this range gave rise to global damage throughout the bonded region before any crack propagation initiated. A value above this range gave rise to a discontinuous process zone, which resulted in failure loads that were strongly dependent on σu. A discontinuous process zone gives rise to mesh dependent results. The CZM parameters used in the predictions were determined from the experimental fracture mechanics specimen test data. When damage initiated, a deviation from the linear load–displacement curve was observed. The value for σ uwas determined by identifying the magnitude that gave rise to the experimentally observed deviation. The CZM energy (Γ 0) was then obtained by correlating the simulated load-crack length response with corresponding experimental data. The R-curve behaviour seen with increasing crack length was successfully simulated when adhesive plasticity was included in the constitutive model of the adhesive layer. This was also seen to enhance the prediction of the lap shear specimens. Excellent correlation was found between the experimental and predicted joint strengths.

Failure criteria for linear elastic materials with U-notches

Abstract: This paper provides a simple, albeit accurate, criterion for prediction of the rupture loads of brittle, or quasi-brittle, U-notched samples, where linear elastic fracture mechanics is not applicable because blunted notches do not exhibit stress singularities. Good agreement is found between numerical predictions and experimental results. The results of fracture tests from 18 different ceramic materials and a polymer (at − 60°C) are summarized and are used as a reference for checking the fracture criterion. Seven fracture criteria are reviewed and it is shown that all can be recast into the proposed criterion.

Obtaining mode mixity for a bimaterial interface crack using the virtual crack closure technique

Abstract: We review, unify and extend work pertaining to evaluating mode mixity of interfacial fracture utilizing the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). From the VCCT, components of the strain energy release rate (SERR) are obtained using the forces and displacements near the crack tip corresponding to the opening and sliding contributions. Unfortunately, these components depend on the crack extension size, Δ, used in the VCCT. It follows that a mode mixity based upon these components also will depend on the crack extension size. However, the components of the strain energy release rate can be used for determining the complex stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the associated mode mixity. In this study, we show that several—seemingly different—suggested methods presented in the literature used to obtain mode mixity based on the stress intensity factors are indeed identical. We also present an alternative, simpler quadratic equation to this end. Moreover, a Δ-independent strain energy release based mode mixity can be defined by introducing a “normalizing length parameter.” We show that when the reference length (used for the SIF-based mode mixity) and the normalizing length (used for Δ-independent SERR-based mode mixity) are equal, the two mode mixities are only shifted by a phase angle, depending on the bimaterial parameter e.

Mixed mode cohesive law

Abstract: A traction-separation relation to model the fracture process is presented. The cohesive law captures the linear elastic and softening behaviour prior to fracture. It also allows for different fracture parameters, such as fracture energy, strength and critical separation in different mode mixities. Thus, the fracture process in mode I (peel), in mode II (shear) or in mixed mode (a combination of peel and shear) can be modelled without the limitation of a common fracture energy in peel and shear. Examples are given in form of FE- implementations of the normalised cohesive law, namely for the Unsymmetrical Double Cantilever Beam (UDCB) specimen and the Mixed-mode double Cantilever Beam (MCB) specimen. Both specimens are adhesively bonded and loaded in mixed-mode.

Fibrillar level fracture in bone beyond the yield point

Abstract: The nanoscale deformation and fracture mechanisms of parallel fibered bone are investigated using a novel combination of in-situ tensile testing to failure combined with high brilliance synchrotron X-ray scattering. The technique enables the simultaneous measurement of strain at two length scales – in the mineralized collagen fibrils (~100 nm diameter) along with the macroscopic strain (~1 mm diameter). Under constant rate tensile loading, we find that fibril strain saturates beyond the macroscopic yield point of bone at ~0.5 %, providing a correlation between the failure mechanisms at the nanoscale and the bulk structural properties. When bone stretched beyond the yield point is unloaded back to zero stress, the fibrils are contracted relative to their original state. We examine the findings in the context of a fiber – matrix shearing model at the nanometer level.

On the effective constitutive properties of a thin adhesive layer loaded in peel

Abstract: An experimental method to determine the complete stress-elongation relation for a structural adhesive loaded in peel is presented. Experiments are performed on the double cantilever beam specimen, which facilitates a more stable experimental set-up as compared with conventional methods like the butt-joint test. The method is based on the concept of equilibrium of the energetic forces acting on the specimen. Two sources of energetic forces are identified: the start of the adhesive layer and the positions of the two acting loads. By use of the concept of equilibrium of energetic forces, it is possible to measure the energy release rate of the adhesive layer instantaneously during an experiment. The complete stress-elongation relation is found to be the derivative of the energy release rate with respect to the elongation of the adhesive layer at its start. By this procedure, an effective property of the adhesive layer is measured. That is, the fields are assumed to be constant through the thickness of the layer and only vary along the layer. To investigate the validity of this approach, experiments are performed on five different groups of specimens with different dimensions. This leads to large variations in the length of the damage zone at the start of the adhesive layer. Four of the experimental groups are used to determine the stress-elongation relation. This is found to be independent of the geometry. For the remaining experimental group, the adherends deform plastically and simulations are performed with the stress-elongation relation determined from the four elastic groups. It is found that the relation cannot be used to accurately predict the behaviour of the experiments where the adherends deform plastically. This indicates that the stress-elongation relation has limited applicability.

Anisotropic self-affine properties of experimental fracture surfaces

Abstract: The scaling properties of post-mortem fracture surfaces of brittle (silica glass), ductile (aluminum alloy) and quasi-brittle (mortar and wood) materials have been investigated. These surfaces, studied far from the initiation, were shown to be self-affine. However, the Hurst exponent measured along the crack direction is found to be different from the one measured along the propagation direction. More generally, a complete description of the scaling properties of these surfaces call for the use of the two-dimensional (2D) height–height correlation function that involves three exponents ζ ≃ 0.75, β ≃ 0.6 and z ≃1.25 independent of the material considered as well as of the crack growth velocity. These exponents are shown to correspond to the roughness, growth and dynamic exponents respectively, as introduced in interface growth models. They are conjectured to be universal.

Gradient Elasticity Theories in Statics and Dynamics - A Unification of Approaches

Abstract: Partly in response to a communication recently published in this journal on apparent inconsistencies between certain continuum and atomistic formulations of gradient elasticity (Yang and Guo 2005), we further elaborate on this issue in view of results and works not known or not cited in the aforementioned communication. In particular, we unify the concepts and motivations of two different formats of gradient elasticity. The first format was motivated for use in statics and aims at removing strain singularities. The second format was motivated for use in dynamics and aims at describing wave dispersion. We suggest here an alternative format of gradient elasticity that is dispersive, while its static version is identical to the first format mentioned above. Also, procedures are outlined by which the higher-order coefficients can be related to micro-structural properties. Finally, solution methods are described for static and dynamic analysis.

Influence of loading rate on concrete cone failure

Abstract: Three different effects control the influence of the loading rate on structural response: creep of bulk material, rate dependency of growing microcracks and structural inertia. The first effect is important only at extremely slow loading rates whereas the second and third effects dominate at higher loading rates. In the present paper, a rate sensitive model, which is based on the energy activation theory of bond rupture, and its implementation into the microplane model for concrete are discussed. It is first demonstrated that the model realistically predicts the influence of the loading rate on the uniaxial compressive behaviour of concrete. The rate sensitive microplane model is then applied in a 3D finite element analysis of the pull-out of headed stud anchors from a concrete block. In the study, the influence of the loading rate on the pull-out capacity and on the size effect is investigated. To investigate the importance of the rate of the growing microcracks and the influence of structural inertia, static and dynamic analyses were carried out. The results show that with an increase of the loading rate the pull-out resistance increases. For moderate loading rates, the rate of the microcrack growth controls the structural response and the results of static and dynamic analysis are similar. For very higher loading rates, however, the structural inertia dominates. The influence of structural inertia increases with the increase of the embedment depth. It is shown that for moderately high-loading rates the size effect becomes stronger when the loading rate increases. However, for very high-loading rate the size effect on the nominal pull-out strength vanishes and the nominal resistance increases with an increase of the embedment depth. This is due to the effect of structural inertia.

A CDM approach of ductile damage with plastic compressibility

Abstract: The paper proposes a modified formalism of continuum damage mechanics in order to describe plastic compressibility in the context of ductile damage. The model uses two damage state variables, one of them playing role of porosity in micromechanics based approaches like Gurson’s model. Various versions of the model are determined and compared with Gurson’s model, in terms of the constitutive responses for various loading conditions, as well as for simple structural examples like a free and a clamped plate under plane strain, and an axisymmetric notched bar under tension. The classical CDM is also applied and some advantages of the proposed approach are underlined.

Effects of material properties on the fragmentation of brittle materials

Abstract: We present a fundamental investigation of the influence of material and structural parameters on the mechanics of fragmentation of brittle materials. First, we conduct a theoretical analysis (similar to Drugan’s single wave problem, Drugan, W.J. (2001), Journal of Mechanical and Physics Solids 49, 1181–1208.) and obtain closed form solutions for a problem coupling stress wave propagation and single cohesive crack growth. Expressions for a characteristic fragment size s 0 and a characteristic strain-rate $${\dot\varepsilon}_0$$ are given. Next, we use a numerical approach to analyze a realistic fragmentation process that involves multiple crack interactions. The average fragment size s is calculated for a wide variety of strain-rates $${\dot \varepsilon}$$ and a broad range of material parameters. Finally, we derive an empirical function that relates the normalized fragment size s/s 0 to the normalized strain-rate $${\dot \varepsilon}/\dot{\varepsilon}_0$$ and that fits all of the numerical results with a single master curve.

Irregular lattice models of fracture of multiphase particulate materials

Abstract: Irregular lattice models are developed to simulate fracture of multiphase particulate materials, such as concrete. The models are composed of rigid-body-spring elements that break according to simple rules. A salient feature of the models is the use of Voronoi diagrams to define the lattice structure and assign the elastic and fracture properties of the elements. The material is discretized as a three-phase composite consisting of a matrix phase, coarse inclusions, and the matrix–inclusion interfacial zones. Aggregates are randomly positioned in the domain according to a target granulometric distribution. A procedure is outlined for the explicit representation of the surfaces of such heterogeneous features, including control over the thickness of the matrix–aggregate interfacial zones. Fracture simulations are conducted for notched, three-point bend specimens of concrete, where each phase is assigned locally brittle fracture properties. The simulation results show both pre- and post-peak behavior that agrees with experimental findings, at least in a qualitative sense. In particular, toughening mechanisms form through interaction of developing cracks with the evolving material structure. However, the post-peak toughness is largely underestimated due, in part, to the coarse discretization of the material and the lack of frictional effects in the model. For comparison, the same specimen is analyzed using a homogeneous material model and a cohesive crack approach, which lumps the various energy dissipation mechanisms active at finer scales into a cohesive traction versus separation law.

Stress Intensity Controlled Kinetic Crack Growth and Stress History Dependent Life Prediction with Statistical Variability

Abstract: Consistent with viscoelastic behavior, a power law form in terms of the stress intensity factor is used to specify crack kinetics (growth rate) in the central crack problem under Mode I conditions. The crack growth rate is integrated to obtain the crack size and thereby the stress intensity factor as a function of time. The crack is allowed to grow in a controlled, load dependent manner until it reaches the size at which it becomes unstable. The corresponding time at which this occurs is taken as the lifetime of the material under the specified load history. The special cases of constant load (creep rupture) and constant strain rate to failure are found to have a very simple relationship with each other. This lifetime relationship is verified through the comparison with corresponding data upon a polymeric composite. Finally the creep rupture case is generalized to a probabilistic formalism. The theoretically predicted lifetime distribution functions are verified with data, also upon a polymeric composite. Possible extension of the entire formalism to cyclic fatigue in metals is discussed.

On the calculation of energy release rates for cracked laminates with residual stresses

Abstract: Prior methods for calculating energy release rate in cracked laminates were extended to account for heterogeneous laminates and residual stresses. The method is to partition the crack tip stresses into local bending moments and normal forces. A general equation is then given for the total energy release rate in terms of the crack-tip moments and forces and the temperature difference experienced by the laminate. The analysis method is illustrated by several example test geometries. The examples were verified by comparison to numerical calculations. The residual stress term in the total energy release rate equation was found to be essentially exact in all example calculations.

Rupture by damage accumulation in rocks

Abstract: The deformation of rocks is associated with microcracks nucleation and propagation, i.e. damage. The accumulation of damage and its spatial localization lead to the creation of a macroscale discontinuity, a so-called “fault” in geological terms, and to the failure of the material, i.e., a dramatic decrease of the mechanical properties as strength and modulus. The damage process can be studied both statically by direct observation of thin sections and dynamically by recording acoustic waves emitted by crack propagation (acoustic emission). Here we first review such observations concerning geological objects over scales ranging from the laboratory sample scale (dm) to seismically active faults (km), including cliffs and rock masses (Dm, hm). These observations reveal complex patterns in both space (fractal properties of damage structures as roughness and gouge), time (clustering, particular trends when the failure approaches) and energy domains (power-law distributions of energy release bursts). We use a numerical model based on progressive damage within an elastic interaction framework which allows us to simulate these observations. This study shows that the failure in rocks can be the result of damage accumulation.

A computational damage micromodel of laminated composites

Abstract: A new computational damage micromodel for laminates, which takes into account classical experimental micro- and macro-observations for various stacking sequences, is described. The first computational examples are shown.

Bending modified J – Q theory and crack-tip constraint quantification

Abstract: It is well known that the J–Q theory can characterize the crack-tip fields and quantify constraint levels for various geometry and loading configurations in elastic–plastic materials, but it fails at bending-dominant large deformation. This drawback seriously restricts its applications to fracture constraint analysis. A modification of J–Q theory is developed as a three-term solution with an additional term to address the global bending stress to offset this restriction. The nonlinear bending stress is approximately linearized in the region of interest under large-scale yielding (LSY), with the linearization factor determined using a two-point matching method at each loading for a specific cracked geometry in bending. To validate the proposed solution, detailed elastic–plastic finite element analysis (FEA) is conducted under plane strain conditions for three conventional bending specimens with different crack lengths for X80 pipeline steel. These include single edge notched bend (SENB), single edge notched tension (SENT) and compact tension (CT) specimens from small-scale yielding (SSY) to LSY. Results show that the bending modified J–Q solution can well match FEA results of crack-tip stress fields for all bending specimens at all deformation levels from SSY to LSY, with the modified Q being a load- and distance-independent constraint parameter under LSY. Therefore, the modified parameter Q can be effectively used to quantify crack-tip constraint for bending geometries. Its application to fracture constraint analysis is demonstrated by determining constraint corrected J–R curves.

Orientation dependence of fracture toughness measured by indentation methods and its relation to surface energy in single crystal silicon

Abstract: Fracture toughness of silicon crystals has been investigated using indentation methods, and their surface energies have been calculated by molecular dynamics (MD). In order to determine the most preferential fracture plane at room temperature among the crystallographic planes containing the 〈001〉, 〈110〉 and 〈111〉 directions, a conical indenter was forced into (001), (110) and (111) silicon wafers at room temperature. Dominant {110}, {111} and {110} cracks were introduced from the indents on (001), (011) and (111) wafers, respectively. Fracture occurs most easily along {110}, {111} and {110} planes among the crystallographic planes containing the 〈001〉, 〈011〉 and 〈111〉 directions, respectively. A series of surface energies of those planes were calculated by MD to confirm the orientation dependence of fracture toughness. The surface energy of the {110} plane is the minimum of 1.50 Jm−2 among planes containing the 〈001〉 and 〈111〉 directions, respectively, and that of the {111} plane is the minimum of 1.19 Jm−2 among the planes containing the 〈011〉 direction. Fracture toughness of those planes was also derived from the calculated surface energies. It was shown that the K IC value of the {110} crack plane was the minimum among those for the planes containing the 〈001〉 and 〈111〉 directions, respectively, and that K IC value of the {111} crack plane was the minimum among those for the planes containing the 〈011〉 direction. These results are in good agreement with that obtained conical indentation.

Dynamic quantized fracture mechanics

Abstract: A new quantum action-based theory, dynamic quantized fracture mechanics (DQFM), is presented that modifies continuum-based dynamic fracture mechanics (DFM). The crack propagation is assumed as quantized in both space and time. The static limit case corresponds to quantized fracture mechanics (QFM), that we have recently developed to predict the strength of nanostructures. DQFM predicts the well-known forbidden strength and crack speed bands – observed in atomistic simulations – which are unexplained by continuum-based approaches. In contrast to DFM and linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), that are shown to be limiting cases of DQFM and which can treat only large (with respect to the “fracture quantum”) and sharp cracks under moderate loading speed, DQFM has no restrictions on treating defect size and shape, or loading rate. Simple examples are discussed (i) strengths predicted by DQFM for static loads are compared with experimental and numerical results on carbon nanotubes containing nanoscale defects; (ii) the dynamic fracture initiation toughness predicted by DQFM is compared with experimental results on microsecond range impact failures of 2024-T3 aircraft aluminum alloy. Since LEFM has been successfully applied also at the geophysics size-scale, it is conceivable that DQFM theory can treat objects that span at least 15 orders of magnitude in size.

Inverse Analyses in Fracture Mechanics

Abstract: The present purpose is a survey of some engineering-oriented research results which may be representative of the main issues in the title subject. Some recent or current developments are pointed out in the growing area of fracture mechanics centered on the calibration of cohesive fracture models for quasi-brittle materials, by approaches which combine experimentation, experiment simulation and minimisation of the discrepancy between measured and computed quantities. Specifically, reference is made herein to the following topics in calibration of fracture constitutive models: (a) deterministic characterisation of concrete-like materials by traditional three-point-bending tests (TPBTs), supplemented by optical measurements; (b) wedge-splitting tests (WST) and extended Kalman filter (EKF) for the stochastic estimation of fracture parameters; (c) in situ parameter identification for the local diagnosis of possibly deteriorated concrete dams on the basis of flat-jack tests; (d) fracture properties of ceramic materials and coating-substrate interfaces identified through indentation tests, imprint mapping and inverse analysis in micro-technologies.

Nanoscale damage during fracture in silica glass

Abstract: We report here atomic force microscopy experiments designed to uncover the nature of failure mechanisms occuring within the process zone at the tip of a crack propagating into a silica glass specimen under stress corrosion. The crack propagates through the growth and coalescence of nanoscale damage spots. This cavitation process is shown to be the key mechanism responsible for damage spreading within the process zone. The possible origin of the nucleation of cavities, as well as the implications on the selection of both the cavity size at coalescence and the process zone extension are finally discussed.

Scaling Phenomena in Fatigue and Fracture

Abstract: The general classification of scaling laws will be presented and the basic concepts of modern similarity analysis - intermediate asymptotics, complete and incomplete similarity - will be introduced and discussed. The examples of scaling laws corresponding to complete similarity will be given. The Paris scaling law in fatigue will be discussed as an instructive example of incomplete similarity. It will be emphasized that in the Paris law the powers are not the material constants. Therefore, the evaluation of the life-time of structures using the data obtained from standard fatigue tests requires some precautions.

Modeling of crack growth through particulate clusters in brittle matrix by symmetric-Galerkin boundary element method.

Abstract: The interaction of a crack with perfectly bonded rigid isolated inclusions and clusters of inclusions in a brittle matrix is investigated using numerical simulations. Of particular interest is the role inclusions play on crack paths, stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the energy release rates with potential implications to the fracture behavior of particulate composites. The effects of particle size and eccentricity relative to the initial crack orientation are examined first as a precursor to the study of particle clusters. Simulations are accomplished using a new quasi-static crack-growth prediction tool based on the symmetric-Galerkin boundary element method, a modified quarter-point crack-tip element, the displacement correlation technique for evaluating SIFs, and the maximum principal stress criterion for crack-growth direction prediction. The numerical simulations demonstrate a complex interplay of crack-tip shielding and amplification mechanisms leading to significant toughening of the material.

Modelling of nucleation and void growth in dynamic pressure loading, application to spall test on tantalum

Abstract: Dynamic ductile fracture is a three stages process controlled by nucleation, growth and finally coalescence of voids. In the present work, a theoretical model, dedicated to nucleation and growth of voids during dynamic pressure loading, is developed. Initially, the material is free of voids but has potential sites for nucleation. A void nucleates from an existing site when the cavitation pressure p c is reached. A Weibull probability law is used to describe the distribution of the cavitation pressure among potential nucleation sites. During the initial growth, the effect of material properties is essentially appearing through the magnitude of p c. In the later stages, the matrix softening due to the increase of porosity has to be taken into account. In a first step, the response of a sphere made of dense matrix but containing a unique potential site, is investigated. When the applied loading is a pressure ramp, a closed form solution is derived for the evolution of the void that has nucleated from the existing site. The solution appears to be valid up to a porosity of 0.5. In a second part, the dynamic ductile fracture of a high-purity grade tantalum is simulated using the proposed model. Spall stresses for this tantalum are calculated and are in close agreement with experimental levels measured by Roy (2003, Ph.D. Thesis, Ecole Nationale Superieure de Mecanique et d’Aeronautique, Universite de Poitiers, France). Finally, a parametric study is performed to capture the influence of different parameters (mass density of the material, mean spacing between neighboring sites, distribution of nucleation sites...) on the evolution of damage.