Abstract
Presented paper contains results of fracture analysis of brittle composite materials with a random distribution of grains. The composite structure has been modelled as an isotropic matrix that surrounds circular grains with random diameters and space position. Analyses were preformed for the rectangular “numerical sample” by finite element method. FE mesh for the examples were generated using the authors’ computer program RandomGrain. Fracture analyses were accomplished with the authors’ computer program CrackPath3 executing the “fine mesh window” technique. Calculations were preformed in 2D space assuming the plane stress state. Current efforts focus on brittle materials such as rocks or concrete.
Highlights
The problem of crack propagation in engineering materials assuming arbitrary stress state, is still a topic of current research
The proposed simple, local criterion for composites with brittle matrix makes it easy to predict the direction of crack propagation
Criterion has been repeatedly used by the author and colleagues in numerical analyzes of crack rocks and concrete, where the predominant failure modes corresponding to the open crack—mode I
Summary
The problem of crack propagation in engineering materials assuming arbitrary stress state, is still a topic of current research. In the case of brittle materials, which are often considered as the linearelastic medium until failure, convenient approach is to apply linear-elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) In this case, the adoption of Westergaard solution for the stress fiepldffiffi around a crack tip gives the singularity of type 1= r in the stress distribution, where r is the distance from the crack tip. In the case of adoption of elasto-plastic material model disappear singularity of the stress field around the crack tip, which is surrounded by the plastic zone This state is described by the elasto-plastic fracture mechanics (EPFM). Presented computer simulation using finite element analysis, which shows the propagation of crack running between the grains of the composite Because at such a complex structure it is not possible to directly apply the classical condition of crack propagation own criterion, based on condition of the material destruction, was applied. Presented computer simulation gave promising results but it certainly should be confirmed by laboratory experiments, which the author is planning in the near future
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