{"title":"Investigating the impact of thermal treatment on fracture toughness and sub-critical crack growth parameters under mode II loading","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studying subcritical crack growth is crucial to investigating the long-term behavior of rocks under applied loads and evaluating the long-term stability of underground and surface structures in rock masses. While considerable research has been done to determine subcritical crack growth parameters in mode I, Studies on subcritical crack growth under mode II loading are limited despite its important applications in rock engineering problems. The purpose of the study is to understand the thermal effect on the fracture behavior of hornfels rock, which were heated at 25 °C (without thermal treatment), 250 °C, 500 °C, and 750 °C, respectively. The subcritical crack growth parameters were determined using the constant stress rate test and one of the available fracture mechanics tests for mode II loading, namely, the four-point bending test. Experiments were conducted at three fixed displacement rates of 0.06 mm/min, 0.6 mm/min, and 6 mm/min, and three experiments were performed in each case to ensure repeatability. The results showed that the fracture toughness of hornfels samples increased with increasing temperature up to 250 °C and then decreased with increasing heat treatment temperature. The fracture toughness decreased drastically due to the thermal breakdown of the quartz crystal structure and the creation of wider intergranular fractures. The study indicated that for the hornfels samples, the subcritical parameter <em>A</em> decreased and beyond this temperature, parameter <em>A</em> began to increase while parameter <em>n</em> remained relatively constant as the temperature rose to 750 °C. The subcritical crack growth rate was calculated using the subcritical crack growth parameters and the stress intensity factor under mode II loading. For a certain value of the stress intensity factor K<sub>II</sub>, the highest subcritical crack velocity occurred at the temperature of 750 °C (5.76×10<sup>−7</sup>–2.47×10<sup>−1</sup> m/s), and the lowest velocity of the subcritical crack occurred at the temperature of 250 °C (3.30×10<sup>−11</sup>–6.84×10<sup>−5</sup> m/s). The impact of inert strength, calculated at the highest loading rate, on subcritical parameters across various temperatures was examined. The findings indicate that the subcritical crack growth parameter A is reliant on inert strength.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Calibrated the direct current potential drop method for fatigue crack propagation testing of nickel-based superalloy with film cooling hole","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104706","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104706","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Turbine blades in aviation engines commonly feature a nickel-based superalloy structure integrated with film cooling holes to enhance inlet gas temperature. However, the presence of these film cooling holes often results in frequent occurrences of fracture failures nearby. The direct current potential drop (DCPD) method, renowned for its exceptional crack sensitivity, is frequently utilized for crack length monitoring. This study establishes a FEM model of the film cooling hole plate specimen to determine the optimal probe point location. Subsequently, a mapping relationship is derived to calibrate Johnson’s formula, accounting for the unequal crack lengths at the edges of film cooling holes. It is confirmed that the crack length measured by the DCPD method represents the cumulative crack lengths on both sides of the hole. Fatigue crack propagation experiments are then conducted, with crack length monitored using a microscope. The results affirm the successful application of the calibrated formula to the film cooling hole plate specimen, exhibiting an average error within 0.1 mm.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Adaptive scaled boundary finite element method for hydrogen assisted cracking with phase field model","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104690","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104690","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study introduces a numerical framework for analysing hydrogen assisted cracking, employing the scaled boundary finite element method. This is the first instance where the scaled boundary finite element method is employed to model hydrogen embrittlement. The phase field model is utilized to simulate defects, complemented by adaptive meshing using polytree mesh. The ability of the scaled boundary finite element method to treat polygonal elements assists in mitigating the problem of hanging nodes that arises from polytree decomposition. The adaptive framework is developed to predict crack propagation using an initial unstructured quadrilateral mesh generated from any commercial software. The hydrogen atom concentration depends on the hydrostatic stress gradient, which is calculated by interpolating nodal hydrostatic stress with scaled boundary shape functions and taking the gradient. A staggered solution approach is adopted to concurrently tackle hydrogen transport, elasticity, and phase field equations. The methodology is validated using Mode-I edge notch specimens and analysing crack propagation from corrosion pits, with results demonstrating close agreement with existing data. Subsequently, the framework is extended to address more intricate scenarios, such as crack propagation in X-shaped plates and hydrogen transmission in tanks. As the last example, more advanced image based fracture analysis of weld structure is investigated. This example studies the possibility of analysing the hydrogen diffusion directly from TEM imagery. Moreover, we investigate how hydrogen concentration influences structural failure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluating fracture performance of stone mastic asphalt with SBS and SEBS modifications","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the effects of styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) on the fracture properties of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) at various loading rates. Semi-circular bending (SCB) tests were performed at 25 °C with notch angles of 0° and 45° at loading rates of 0.5, 1, and 5 mm/min. Key parameters such as maximum load, ductility, and fracture energy were derived from force-displacement curves. The results showed that SEBS-modified samples consistently exhibited higher fracture energy than SBS-modified samples, particularly at lower loading rates. Specifically, at a 45° notch angle, the fracture energy of SEBS was 43 % and 68 % higher than SBS at loading rates of 0.5 and 1 mm/min, respectively, attributed to the higher tensile strength and modulus of SEBS, allowing greater energy absorption before failure. However, at the highest loading rate (5 mm/min), SBS outperformed SEBS by 25 %, attributed to its superior viscoelastic properties and hardness, which improve energy absorption and distribution at higher speeds. While SBS specimens exhibited lower ductility compared to SEBS, SEBS propagated cracks earlier due to limited time for plastic deformation, whereas SBS, with its higher elongation at break and greater viscosity, slowed crack propagation by accommodating larger deformations before failure. The fracture energy-CMOD index effectively evaluated the impact of polymer additives on the fracture behavior of SMA, with higher values indicating improved performance under load. SEBS outperformed SBS at a 0° notch angle due to its higher tensile strength, While SBS excelled at a 45° notch angle, this advantage was not solely due to its greater hardness but also attributed to its higher viscosity, greater elongation at break, and viscoelastic behavior, which allowed it to better resist crack propagation under combined tensile and shear forces.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Experimental investigations on the failure characteristics of the slit-contained circular opening under biaxial compression: Insights into the rockburst prevention","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The slit-cut method for the rockburst prevention and control is believed effective with its easiness in operation, adjustment and compatibility. However, there is limited advance knowledge of the physics of the slit-cut method, which is vital for the engineering designs. In this study, the biaxial compression tests with a synchronous AE (acoustic emission)-DIC (digital image correlation) monitoring are creatively carried out on the slit-contained circular opening specimens with different slit configurations to demonstrate the academic thoughts and mechanisms of the slit-cut method. The experiments document the two typical failure types namely the internal crack propagation and the dynamic rockburst, which occupy different AE hit rate characteristics and different entropy properties. With the occurrence of rockburst, the AE hit rate presents a bouncing ascend-descend trend, and a higher disorder and chaos is faithfully exhibited. Depending on the slit parameters, the slit-cut method can efficiently mitigate rockburst in terms of the occurrence frequency and magnitude. The underlying mechanism lies in the enhancement of the shear mechanism and the development of the internal cracks through which the stored energy can be greatly dissipated. However, due to the unrestricted shear failure in the slit-contained opening specimens, the opening-scale inward instability can be triggered by the internal crack coalescence, thus posing a threat to the safety of the opening. Implementing the slit-cut method with a consideration of the in-situ stress conditions is evidently essential for the safe excavation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of specimen size on mixed mode I and II fracture behavior of asphalt mixture using MMTS criterion","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates how the diameter of specimens impacts the cracking behavior of asphalt mixtures. Testing was conducted on SCB specimens with diameters of 64, 86, and 150 mm under different fracture modes and temperatures. Fracture toughness and fracture energy, crucial fracture parameters, were determined for the tested specimens. The findings revealed that an increase in <em>M</em><sup>e</sup> (mode mixity) values led to a decrease in fracture toughness but an increase in fracture energy. By considering all specimen sizes and test temperatures, the fracture toughness for mixed mode I/II and pure mode II was, on average, 13 % and 29 % lower than that for pure mode I loading, respectively. Conversely, the fracture energy for mixed mode I/II and pure mode II was, on average, 19 % and 38 % higher than that for pure mode I loading, respectively. Larger specimens exhibited enhancements in both fracture toughness and fracture energy. Considering all loading modes and test temperatures, the fracture toughness for specimen diameters of 86 mm and 150 mm was, on average, 9 % and 26 % higher than that for a diameter of 64 mm, respectively. The corresponding improvements in fracture energy were 8 % and 14 %, respectively. Additionally, it was observed that fracture toughness increased with decreasing temperature until −20 °C, after which it declined. On the other hand, fracture energy rose with increasing test temperature for all specimen sizes and mode mixities, with a notable increase at 10 °C due to the brittle nature of asphalt concrete. Moreover, the size of the fracture zone (<em>r</em><sub>c</sub>) was influenced by temperature and specimen size (<em>R</em>), with larger <em>R</em> resulting in an increase in <em>r</em><sub>c</sub>. However, a decrease in temperature initially caused a slight decrease in <em>r</em><sub>c</sub> followed by an increase. The study concluded that the MMTS (modified maximum tangential stress) criterion effectively predicted the fracture behavior of SCB specimens across various sizes and loading modes, providing accurate estimations for asphalt mixture fracture behavior. By considering all loading modes and test temperatures, the average error values were 5.9 %, 6.2 %, and 6.5 % for specimen diameters of 64 mm, 86 mm, and 150 mm, respectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mechanism based four-linear cohesive zone model for mode I fracture of different stacking sequence CFRP laminates","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Delamination, a prevalent failure mode observed in laminated composites, exerts a significant impact on structural integrity and performance. The occurrence of fiber bridging during the fracture process adds complexity and elevates the research challenges associated with this phenomenon. Existing models exhibit limitations in accurately capturing bridging behavior and discerning its underlying mechanical mechanisms. This study addresses these limitations by analyzing experimental results, employing the <span><math><mi>J</mi></math></span>-integral, and analyzing <span><math><mi>R</mi></math></span>-curve behavior, proposing a mechanism-based four-linear cohesive zone model along with a new finite element implementation method. Comprising three overlapping bi-linear CZMs, this model effectively simulates mode I fracture behavior in laminates with different stacking sequences. Moreover, it intuitively illustrates the mechanical mechanisms during crack propagation and offers simplicity in implementation. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of composite fracture mechanics and provides a practical model for predicting delamination behavior in laminated structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mixed-mode fracture assessment of largely deformable hyperelastic materials highlighting crack removal phenomenon","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to the special mechanical characteristics, rubbers are nowadays utilized in various industries. In this research, the effect of an existing crack on the behavior of Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) filled with Carbon Black (CB), which has shown high deformability, is investigated experimentally, numerically and analytically under mixed-mode (I/II) loading. It is observed experimentally that in the cracked largely deformable rubbers, after the initial crack blunting, the crack is nearly removed and the specimen is deformed in such a way that almost no sign of stress concentration factor exists in the sample. Thus, the rupture of these rubbers is divided into two separate phases; named here as the crack removal phase and the final rupture phase, and for each separate phase, a distinct criterion is developed to assess the fracture of cracked rubbers. The good agreement between the theoretical predictions based on each criterion and the corresponding experimental data confirms the very good accuracy of the presented criteria. The independence of critical J-integral value (<span><math><mrow><msub><mi>J</mi><mi>c</mi></msub></mrow></math></span>) from the mode mixity is also investigated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of compact tension specimens with deflected cracks for orthotropic materials","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anisotropic materials, such as alloy, wood and fiber-reinforced composites, are widely used in load-bearing components. Accurately obtaining its fracture performance is crucial for safety assessment. However, existing testing methods based on compact tension (CT) specimen have not taken into account material anisotropic characteristics and crack deflection. In this work, the systematic finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted for CT specimens with deflected cracks made of orthotropic materials. A wide range of geometric (crack deflection angle, <em>β</em>, and ratio of crack length to width, <em>a</em><sub>p</sub>/<em>W</em>) and orthotropic material (<em>λ</em> and <em>ρ</em>) parameters were discussed. Complete solutions of the stress intensity factor (<em>K</em><sub>I</sub> and <em>K</em><sub>II</sub>) and load-line compliance (<em>C</em>) were determined for the first time. The results showed that the geometric dimensions and material parameters have a significant coupling influence on the fracture parameters. The influence of the <em>λ</em> is generally greater than that of the <em>ρ.</em> Changes of material parameters can make fracture parameters’ dependence on <em>β</em> vary. The variation of <em>β</em> and <em>a</em><sub>p</sub>/<em>W</em> could enlarge or minish even dismiss the impact of <em>λ</em> and <em>ρ</em>. In addition, to further verify the importance of the obtained fracture parameters, the CT fracture tests of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy resin under various orientations were conducted. The solutions will promote the optimization of the fracture toughness testing standards for CT specimens made of anisotropy materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142418850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fracture analysis of seawater sea-sand recycled aggregate concrete beams: Experimental study and analytical model","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104698","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tafmec.2024.104698","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seawater sea-sand recycled aggregate concrete (SSRAC) has garnered significant attention from engineers involved in various coastal engineering projects. Fracture constitutes one of the primary failure modes of SSRAC, and the accurate analysis of its fracture behavior is crucial for application. In this present study, SSRAC with 50% aggregate replacement was subjected to three-point bending tests to evaluate its fracture performance. Specific methodologies for calculating SSRAC fracture toughness were introduced, taking into account the effects of material microstructures and specimen boundaries. By comparing the fracture properties of SSRAC specimens with varying initial notch lengths, the size effect was addressed by using established methods, resulting in a constant fracture toughness value. Furthermore, the methods for analyzing the fracture of un-notched specimens were developed, considering fracture path analysis and the influence of internal defects. Notably, this research demonstrated that small specimens and established methodologies efficiently predict the fracture behavior of larger specimens, providing practical insights for engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22879,"journal":{"name":"Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142359510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}