Fracture Parameters (fracture + parameter)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Development of the DYNA3D simulation code with automated fracture procedure for brick elements

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 14 2003
Ala Tabiei
Abstract Numerical simulation of cracked structures is an important aspect in structural safety assessment. In recent years, there has been an increasing rate of development of numerical codes for modelling fracture procedure. The subject of this investigation is implementing automated fracture models in the DYNA3D non-linear explicit finite element code to simulate pseudo 3D crack growth procedure. The implemented models have the capabilities of simulating automatic crack propagation without user intervention. The implementation is carried on solid elements. The methodology of implementing fracture models is described. An element deletion-and-replacement remeshing procedure is proposed for updating the explicit geometric description of evolving cracks. Fracture parameters such as stress intensity factors, energy release rates and crack tip opening angle are evaluated. The maximum circumferential stress criterion is used to predict the direction of crack advancement. Seven crack problems are presented to verify the effectiveness of the methodology. Mesh sensitivity and loading rate effects are studied in the validation of the presented procedure. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Determining the double- K,fracture parameters for three-point bending notched concrete beams using weight function

FATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 10 2010
SHAILENDRA KUMAR
ABSTRACT Parameters of universal form of weight functions having four terms and five terms are derived for edge cracks in finite width of plate. The standard Tada Green's function is taken as the basis for the derivation. The shape of universal form of weight functions considered enables closed form expressions for cohesive toughness of three-point bending test geometry of notched concrete beams due to linear cohesive stress distribution in the fictitious fracture zone. This solution provides a viable method to determine the double- K,fracture parameters: the initiation toughness,,,and the unstable toughness,,for mode I fracture of concrete beam. A comparison with existing analytical method shows that the weight function method for determination of the double- K,fracture parameters yields results without any appreciable error. The use of weight function will not only simplify the calculation to obtain the double- K,fracture parameters,,,and,,but also it will avoid the need of skilled numerical integration technique due to singularity problem at the integral boundary. [source]


Numerical and experimental investigation of mixed-mode fracture parameters on silicon nitride using the Brazilian disc test

FATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 8 2010
G. LEVESQUE
ABSTRACT Engineering applications of ceramics can often involve mixed-mode conditions involving both tensile and shear loading. Mixed-mode fracture toughness parameters are evaluated for applicability to ceramics using the Brazilian disc test on silicon nitride. Semi-elliptical centrally located surface flaws are induced on the disc specimens using Vickers indentation and compression loaded to fracture with varying levels of mode mixity. The disc specimens are modelled via 3D finite element analysis and all three modes of stress intensity factors computed along the crack front, at failure load. We present a numerical and experimental investigation of four widely used mixed-mode fracture criteria and conclude that the critical strain energy release rate criterion is simple to implement and effective for silicon nitride under mixed-mode conditions. [source]


Cohesive-zone modelling of the deformation and fracture of spot-welded joints

FATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 10 2005
M. N. CAVALLI
ABSTRACT The deformation and failure of spot-welded joints have been successfully modelled using a cohesive-zone model for fracture. This has been accomplished by implementing a user-defined, three-dimensional, cohesive-zone element within a commercial finite-element package. The model requires two material parameters for each mode of deformation. Results show that the material parameters from this type of approach are transferable for identical spot welds in different geometries where a single parameter (such as maximum stress) is not. The approach has been demonstrated using a model system consisting of spot-welded joints made from 5754 aluminium sheets. The techniques for determining the cohesive fracture parameters for both nugget fracture and nugget pullout are described in this paper. It has been demonstrated that once the appropriate cohesive parameters for a weld are determined, quantitative predictions can be developed for the strengths, deformations and failure mechanisms of different geometries with nominally identical welds. [source]


A shear-dilation-based model for evaluation of hydraulically stimulated naturally fractured reservoirs

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 5 2002
M. K. Rahman
Abstract The role of shear dilation as a mechanism of enhancing fluid flow permeability in naturally fractured reservoirs was mainly recognized in the context of hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal reservoir stimulation. Simplified models based on shear slippage only were developed and their applications to evaluate HDR geothermal reservoir stimulation were reported. Research attention is recently focused to adjust this stimulation mechanism for naturally fractured oil and gas reservoirs which reserve vast resources worldwide. This paper develops the overall framework and basic formulations of this stimulation model for oil and gas reservoirs. Major computational modules include: natural fracture simulation, response analysis of stimulated fractures, average permeability estimation for the stimulated reservoir and prediction of an average flow direction. Natural fractures are simulated stochastically by implementing ,fractal dimension' concept. Natural fracture propagation and shear displacements are formulated by following computationally efficient approximate approaches interrelating in situ stresses, natural fracture parameters and stimulation pressure developed by fluid injection inside fractures. The average permeability of the stimulated reservoir is formulated as a function of discretized gridblock permeabilities by applying cubic law of fluid flow. The average reservoir elongation, or the flow direction, is expressed as a function of reservoir aspect ratio induced by directional permeability contributions. The natural fracture simulation module is verified by comparing its results with observed microseismic clouds in actual naturally fractured reservoirs. Permeability enhancement and reservoir growth are characterized with respect to stimulation pressure, in situ stresses and natural fracture density applying the model to two example reservoirs. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Analysis of micro fracture in human Haversian cortical bone under transverse tension using extended physical imaging

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 8 2010
É. Budyn
Abstract We propose a procedure to investigate local stress intensity factors at the scale of the osteons in human Haversian cortical bone. The method combines a specific experimental setting for a three-point bending millimetric specimen and a numerical method using the eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM). The interface between the experimental setting and the numerical method is ensured through an imaging technique that analyses the light microscopy observations to import the geometrical heterogeneity of the Haversian microstructures, the boundary conditions and appearing crack discontinuities into the numerical model. The local mechanical elastic Young's moduli are measured by nano-indentation, and the Poisson ratios are determined by an imaging technique of the stress,strain fields. The model is able to access three scales of measurement: the macro scale of the material level (mm), the micro scale inside the Haversian material for stress,strain fields (10,100µm), and the sub-micro scale for the crack opening profiles (1,10µm ) and fracture parameters (stress intensity factors). The model is applied to several patients at different aging stages. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Influence of processing conditions and physicochemical interactions on morphology and fracture behavior of a clay/thermoplastic/thermosetting ternary blend

JOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010
M. Hernandez
Abstract This study provides information on the mechanical behavior of epoxy-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-clay ternary composites, which have been prepared using the phase separation phenomenon of PMMA and the introduction of organophilic-modified montmorillonites (MMTs), the continuous matrix being the epoxy network. Two dispersion processing methods are used: a melt processing without any solvent and an ultrasonic technique with solvent and a high-speed stirrer. TEM analysis shows that phase separation between PMMA and the epoxy network was obtained in the shape of spherical nodules in the presence of the clay in both process methods used. Nanoclay particles were finely dispersed inside thermosetting matrix predominantly delaminated when ultrasonic blending was used; whereas micrometer-sized aggregates were formed when melt blending was used. The mechanical behavior of the ternary nanocomposites was characterized using three-point bending test, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and linear elastic fracture mechanics. The corresponding fracture surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy to identify the relevant fracture mechanisms involved. It was evidenced that the better dispersion does not give the highest toughness because ternary nanocomposites obtained by melt blending present the highest fracture parameters (KIc). Some remaining disordered clay tactoids seem necessary to promote some specific toughening mechanisms. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source]


Combined effect of temperature and thickness on work of fracture parameters of unplasticized PVC film

POLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 3 2002
A. Arkhireyeva
The combined effect of temperature and thickness on the essential work of fracture (EWF) parameters for an unplasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (uPVC) film was investigated using double edge notched tension specimens. It was found that for the range of temperatures (23°C to 60°C) and thicknesses (0.15 mm to 0.40 mm) studied here, specific essential work of fracture (we) was independent of temperature at each thickness but increased with thickness at each temperature. It was found that at each temperature, we and its yielding (we,y) and necking/tearing components (we,nt), all increased linearly with increasing thickness. However, whilet we showed no significant variation with respect to temperature, its yielding component (we,y) decreased and its necking/tearing component increased (we,nt) with increasing temperature. It was found that estimated values of we and its components we,y and we,nt via crack opening displacement values were by and large unsatisfactory, being either much higher or lower than the directly measured values. [source]