Cohesive Elements Research Articles

Cohesive element-based chemo-thermo-mechanical multi-field coupled cracking simulation of early-age concrete

Due to the intense exothermic hydration process, early-age concrete undergoes restrained shrinkage deformation, which can easily lead to cracks in concrete structures during construction. In order to accurately predict the adverse effects of early-age concrete cracking behavior, a cohesive element-based chemo-thermo-mechanical multi-field coupled cracking model of early-age concrete is proposed in this study. Parametric analysis shows that by selecting appropriate gap conductance, constitutive thickness, mesh size, and viscosity coefficient for the cohesive elements, the multi-field coupled cracking model can successfully simulate the entire cracking process of early-age concrete, and it has the ability to obtain crack development behavior based on the real displacement field jumps, coordinates, and damage of cohesive elements. The validation of the numerical examples reveals the competing mechanisms between thermal expansion and autogenous shrinkage in early-age concrete and accurately predicts the cracking strain, region, time, and width (within an order of magnitude) as reported in the literature.

Incorporation of compaction effects in the automated generation of 3D woven composites representative volume elements by geometrical modelling

Advanced 3D woven composites have become an enabling technology in many industrial applications due to their proven benefits, particularly the improvement of the out-of-plane mechanical behavior with respect to other reinforcement schemes. The latter property has been shown to be strongly affected by the effects of compaction during manufacturing. The present study proposes an automated framework, based on heuristic procedures, for the generation of representative volume elements (RVEs) of 3D woven composites, allowing to include global and local geometrical features induced by transverse compaction, such as overall thickness reduction, changes in yarn cross-sections and consistent global/local fiber fractions. The methodology is illustrated for three types of reinforcement, namely a plain weave, an angular through-thickness interlock and a 3D orthogonal RVE. The resulting geometries generated by the proposed method compare favourably with typical observations from the literature in a quantitative manner. Finally, the proposed framework is integrated with a previously developed meshing strategy to allow damage studies for a selected architecture (plain weave) under torsional loading, presenting a complete computational chain by building cohesive zone finite element models from compacted RVEs. The torque-angle response curves obtained after the damage simulations show a decrease in stiffness and an increase of damage levels with compaction, which is in line with the expectations.

Fracture propagation and evolution law of indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams

Indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams has been demonstrated to be a feasible technology. In this work, the No. 5 coal seam in the Hancheng block was taken as the research object. Based on the findings of true triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments and field pilot under this technology and the cohesive element method, a 3D numerical model of indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams was established, the fracture morphology propagation and evolution law under different conditions was investigated, and analysis of main controlling factors of fracture parameters was conducted with the combination weight method, which was based on grey incidence, analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method. The results show that “士”-shaped fractures, T-shaped fractures, cross fractures, H-shaped fractures, and “干”-shaped fractures dominated by horizontal fractures were formed. Different parameter combinations can form different fracture morphologies. When the coal seam permeability is lower and the minimum horizontal principal stress difference between layers and fracturing fluid injection rate are both larger, it tends to form “士”-shaped fractures. When the coal seam permeability and minimum horizontal principal stress between layers and perforation position are moderate, cross fractures are easily generated. Different fracture parameters have different main controlling factors. Engineering factors of perforation location, fracturing fluid injection rate and viscosity are the dominant factors of hydraulic fracture shape parameters. This study can provide a reference for the design of indirect fracturing in the roof of broken soft coal seams.

Modelling micropit formation in rolling contact fatigue of bearings with a crystal plasticity damage theory coupled with cohesive finite elements

Modelling micropit formation under rolling contact fatigue (RCF) is a big challenge due to strong dependence on microstructure. A RCF damage model was developed based on combined crystal plasticity theory and cohesive zone to study the crack growth and micropit formation. The results showed the crack growth is driven by shear stress, but affected by crystal orientation. Cracks would rather propagate transgranularly in the shear stress-dominant region as the damage accumulates inside grains faster than at grain boundaries. They changes to intergranular beyond the stress-dominated region becasue there is no enough driving force. The modelling results agree well the experiment.

Study on the fracture propagation law of deep shale reservoir under the influence of different number of fracturing clusters

Deep reservoirs have a large difference in geo-stress, and compared to shallow reservoirs, multiple clusters of fracturing are usually required to effectively improve the quality of reservoir reconstruction. In this paper, considering the relevant geological parameters of a certain reservoir in the southwest, multi-cluster reservoir fracturing models under three-dimensional conditions based on the cohesive element modelling method are established. Then, the quantitative rules of fluid pressure, fracture length, fracture aperture, fracture area, tensile failure rate, and the fractal dimension of fracture morphology under different fracturing cluster numbers were revealed. The results show that compared to conventional fracturing, multi-cluster fracturing can significantly increase the number of main fractures and improve the effectiveness of reservoir reconstruction. As the number of clusters increases, the number of main fractures in the reservoir increases, but it can also lead to the increase of small opening fractures, which may be unfavourable for the pumping of proppant and subsequent mining. Meanwhile, based on the fractal dimension results of fracture morphology, it was found that under this simulation condition, the number of fracturing clusters had a significant impact on the fractal dimension of fracturing fractures before the fracturing of six clusters, while after the fracturing of six clusters, the impact of the number of fracturing clusters on the fractal dimension of fracturing fractures decreased. Therefore, when considering factors such as the complexity of fractures, multi-cluster fracturing does not necessarily result in more fracturing clusters being better but should be comprehensively considered for optimization. This study has certain reference significance for selecting the spacing between multiple fracturing clusters.

Study on multi-cluster fracturing simulation of deep reservoir based on cohesive element modeling

With the depletion of conventional reservoir development, reservoir fracturing under deep high geo-stress and high geo-stress difference conditions is receiving increasing attention. Deep reservoirs typically require multi-cluster fracturing to achieve efficient reservoir transformation and development. In this paper, considering the relevant geological parameters of a certain reservoir in the southwest, three-dimensional multi-cluster reservoir fracturing models were established based on cohesive element modeling. Then, the propagation law of artificial fractures in reservoirs under the influence of the different number of fracturing clusters, injection displacement, and Young’s modulus in different regions of the 60 m fracturing well section is analyzed, and the quantitative law of parameters such as fracture length, maximum fracture width, injection point fracture width, fracture area, and tensile failure ratio during multi-cluster fracturing construction, as well as the propagation law of fracture morphology are revealed. The simulation results show that using multi-cluster fracturing can significantly improve the effectiveness of reservoir reconstruction, but as the number of fracturing clusters increases, it is also easy to form some small opening artificial fractures. These small opening artificial fractures may not be conducive to the transportation of proppants and fluids. During single cluster fracturing, the interface stiffness and rock Young’s modulus have a significant impact on the propagation of artificial fractures in the reservoir. As the number of fracturing clusters increases, the competition between artificial main fractures expands significantly, which may reduce the impact of interface stiffness and rock Young’s modulus. The fluid injection rate has a significant impact on reservoir fracturing, and in the same area, using high displacement injection can significantly increase the volume of reservoir reconstruction. This study can provide some reference for multi-cluster fracturing construction in deep reservoirs.

Numerical Investigations for Rock-Breaking Process and Cutter Layout Optimization of a PDC Drill Bit with Dual-Cutter

PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact) drill bits are widely employed for rock-breaking in many industries like underground engineering and building constructions. The cutter layout would directly affect the overall performance of the drill bits. Field applications show that the staggered cutter layout strategy of dual-cutter can increase the drilling efficiency of the PDC bit. In order to explore the rock breaking mechanism of this type of drill bit, a numerical model of a dual-cutter and rock breaking with damage evolution based on a hybrid finite and cohesive element method (FCEM) has been established in this work. The model is verified through Brazilian disk tests. The rock breaking processes of this type of bit have been analyzed, including crack initiation, propagation, and the formation of rock debris. Moreover, the effects of horizontal and vertical offset of the back cutter on the MSE (mechanical special energy) have been investigated. Results demonstrate that the dual-cutter can prominently reduce the MSE compared to a single-cutter. The vertical offset of the back cutter has a minor effect on the MSE, while the horizontal offset is of great significance on the MSE. On this basis, the relationships between the MSE and both the vertical and horizontal offset coefficients have been built based on the response surface methodology (RSM). Finally, an optimized layout solution, with optimal vertical and horizontal offset coefficients of 0.641 and 0.497, is determined via the Gray Wolf algorithm.

Effect of Damage Removal and Filling on Repair Efficiency of Patch Repaired Composite Laminates: A Numerical Study

Composite materials are used extensively in high-performance structural applications primarily due to their superior material properties. Composite materials are much more prone to various types of damage and repairing damaged components is inevitable. Adhesively bonded patch repair, i.e. adding an external patch to the damaged area to share the load that strengthens the component, is a simple and cost-effective repair technique. This paper studies how the repair properties will be affected by removing the damaged material and refilling it with epoxy or chopped fiber composite. This study considers two types of damage and three different patch configurations. The impact damage was simulated by finite element analysis using the commercial FEA package ABAQUS®. A progressive damage material model was used to simulate the in-plane behavior. The adhesive behavior at the interface was modelled using cohesive elements. The load-displacement behavior of the specimens repaired with various repair configurations was studied using FEA. It is noted that removing the damaged area and filling it with the chopped fiber composite improves the repair efficiency significantly. More conclusions were derived on whether removing and filling the damaged material with the pristine material improves repair efficiency in various configurations.

Modeling of single-lap joints with auxetic adhesive utilizing homogeneous and heterogeneous bondline microstructures

Producing lightweight structures can be effectively achieved using adhesive bonding that incorporates a high-performance adhesive, eliminating the mechanical joints (rivet, bolts). Here, the proof-of-concept of tailoring the high-performance adhesive using microstructures exhibiting a negative Poisson's ratio (auxetic) is investigated using two single lap joint (SLJ) models developed in ABAQUS/Standard. The SLJ models consist of two rigid adherends that are bonded using either homogeneous or heterogeneous adhesive that produces auxetic response. In homogeneous adhesive, a negative value of Poisson's ratio is defined in the adhesive part of the models. In heterogeneous adhesive, the negative Poisson's ratio is obtained by explicitly building orthogonally-arranged elliptical voids in the adhesive part of the models. In addition, the adherend-adhesive interface is represented by cohesive elements with bi-linear traction-separation rule. The effects of using two different adhesive models and thickness on peel and shear stresses, as well as failure mechanism and joint strength, are evaluated. We found that the effect of auxetic adhesive on SLJ response is more profound in the model using heterogeneous adhesive rather than the homogeneous one, where the joint strength enhancement could achieve 45 % in reference to the baseline model. The heterogeneous adhesive embedded between adherends is able to activate ligaments, the mechanism that could not be obtained using merely homogeneous adhesive. Our proposed modeling strategy can be a starting point to further the modeling approach of bonded joints utilizing auxetic adhesive.

The effects of using intermittent metal part reinforcement and countersink on the strength of adhesively bonded joints

This study investigates the impact of two innovative methods, namely, intermittent metal part reinforcement and countersinking, on the strength of single lap joints (SLJs). In the former method, metal inserts are strategically integrated within the adhesive layer, while the latter involves the application of countersinks on the adherends to create conical depressions for adhesive application. The metal inserts and countersink samples were fabricated using a 5-axis CNC milling machine. Subsequently, the joints were produced by subjecting the samples to 0.15 MPa pressure and 70 °C temperature for 120 min with the aid of a hot press. Tensile tests were conducted on single lap joints (SLJs) featuring five different configurations of intermittent metal part reinforcement joints (IMRJs) with varying sizes and positions of reinforcements, as well as six countersunk reinforced joints (CRJs) with different orientations of countersinks, all while keeping the width and overlap length constant. A two-dimensional finite element (FE) model of the IMRJ was constructed using ABAQUS software, incorporating cohesive zone elements to simulate the behavior of the adhesive layer (DP 460). The model's accuracy was confirmed through experimental verification. Additionally, fractographic analysis of the failure surfaces of both types of joints was carried out. The inclusion of IMRJs and CRJs in the SLJs increased their load-carrying capacity by more than 10 % and 30 %, respectively.

Método DIC aplicado na calibração de um modelo MEF de interface coesiva rocha-argamassa

Abstract In civil engineering, the stability of many structures depends on the physical properties of the contact between the concrete seated on the rocky foundation surface. Usually, they are critical structures of great importance to society, such as: bridges, tunnels and dams. Thus, the shear behavior of rock-concrete joints is a key factor of the structural stability. The method of cohesive zones (CZM) allows to simulate the beginning of the formation of a crack and its propagation, without knowing the crack location or when it will start. Thus, in this work, a numerical model was developed capable of simulating the failure due to interfacial delamination of the contact between a structure formed by mortar seated on a rocky granite leaning surface. The calibration of the numerical model was performed using the experimental test results of simple compression on a block of rock in contact with the mortar by an inclined interface. The test was monitored using a high-resolution digital camera. The data were processed using the digital image correlation method (DIC) to obtain displacement data of the laboratory test. The DIC results were used to calibrate the nonlinear numerical model of the test using the bilinear method of cohesive zone in the rock-mortar interfacial contact elements. By a parametric analysis varying the maximum shear stress parameter of the contact cohesive elements, the bilinear law was adjusted (Maximum tensile stress and critical displacement and damage rate). Indirectly, the rate of release of energy of critical deformation from the rupture of the contact was also estimated.

Efficient modelling of progressive damage due to quasi-static indentation on multidirectional laminates by a mesh orientation independent kinematically enriched continuum damage model

This work proposes a computationally efficient high-fidelity modelling framework for analysis of damage in composites subjected to quasi-static indentation. A ply-by-ply modelling approach is adopted, and a new semi-discrete continuum damage model is used for intra-ply cracking that allows for cracks to grow independent of the ply mesh pattern. This feature greatly simplifies the meshing effort since the requirement of a ply-oriented mesh and imposition of tie constraints at mesh-mismatched ply interfaces is eliminated. The model is further enhanced to realise kinematic interactions between the cracked and uncracked material domains at the constitutive level. Inter-ply delamination is simulated using cohesive elements. Through a challenging problem of static indentation on a quasi-isotropic laminate, it is shown that the model can capture solution-dependent multiple discrete ply cracks and detailed crack-delamination interaction, but with reduced computational time and complexity, compared to a reference model with ply-oriented mesh and pre-seeded cracks at known locations.

Exploring the Role of Religious Moderation in Islamic Education: A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Unifying Potential and Practical Applications

This study aims to explore the role of religious moderation within Islamic Education as a unifying force in diverse societies. Employing a qualitative library research approach, this investigation delves into the concept and implementation of religious moderation, seeking to understand how it can foster moderate religious attitudes and mitigate tensions within pluralistic communities. The article encompasses an analysis of various sources, including perspectives from the Qur'an and Hadith, as well as a wide range of related literature. These sources, including books, journals, and other relevant materials, were collected and analyzed to produce a scholarly article. The findings suggest that religious moderation holds significant potential to bridge differences and cultivate unity in multicultural societies. The study highlights the necessity for a more comprehensive approach to Islamic education that incorporates the principles of religious moderation into the curriculum. Additionally, an understanding of religious moderation is also crucial at the family, community, and higher education levels to develop attitudes of tolerance and a balanced approach to religious life. This research aims to contribute additional insights into the concept and implementation of religious moderation within the context of Islamic Education and its potential to act as a cohesive and unifying element in diverse communities.Education and how it can contribute as an adhesive and unifier in a diverse society.

Splitting Mode-I fracture toughness of carbon fibers using nanoindentation

In this study, we conducted a thorough experimental and computational investigation to extend the pillar-splitting technique, developed initially for ceramics, to brittle fibers in reinforced composites. In pillar-splitting methodology, micropillars with circular cross-sections are tested to evaluate the load required to cause instability. The instability load is then correlated with the fracture toughness using the parameter γ which is evaluated using the cohesive zone finite element method (CZ-FEM). In reinforced composites, a unique opportunity arises due to the existence of already present micropillars (reinforcing fibers) for fracture toughness evaluation. In this work, the authors successfully applied the pillar-splitting technique to carbon fibers by investigating the effects of fiber/matrix assembly and the shape of the fiber upon the error in instability load. The minimum height required to avoid matrix effects is found to be equal to the diameter of the fiber reinforcements for a fiber–matrix system with a perfect interface. By contrast, the required protruding height is reduced to zero for a weak fiber–matrix interface. A new parameter, β, is introduced to quantify the deviation of the cross-sectional shape from circularity. An effective γ is then evaluated and used in the pillar-splitting experiments to correlate the instability load to Mode I fracture toughness. Finally, the results are validated experimentally, and the Mode I fracture toughness is evaluated for a range of Toray PAN carbon fibers. Fracture toughness is found to decrease as the modulus of the carbon fibers increases.

Comprehensive Understanding of the Effect of TGO Growth Modes on Thermal Barrier Coating Failure Based on a Simulation.

The growth stress induced by thermally grown oxide (TGO) is one of the main reasons for the failure of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). In this study, the failure behavior of TBCs was examined based on different growth modes of TGO. A TBC thermo-mechanical model with a simplified sinusoidal interface morphology was established by the secondary development of a numerical simulation. The plasticity and creep behavior of materials were considered. Based on the subroutine development, the non-uniform growth of the TGO layer was realized. Cohesive elements were also applied to the TC/TGO interface. The stress distribution and evolution at the TC/TGO interface were investigated. Then, the cracking behavior near the interface was studied. The results show that lateral growth causes the off-valley site to replace the previous off-peak site as a vulnerable site. The non-uniform growth accelerates damage in the off-valley site, which leads to a change in the failure behavior. These results will provide significant guidance for understanding the TBC failure and the development of advanced TBCs.

Adaptive Multi-Fidelity (AMF) modelling of damage in composites under Low-Velocity impact and compression after impact

In this paper, the recently developed adaptive multi-fidelity (AMF) approach is extended for progressive damage analysis of composite laminate subjected to low-velocity impact (LVI) and compression after impact (CAI). This approach is more computationally efficient by utilizing a combination of low-fidelity shell elements and high-fidelity brick elements in a single concurrent model. A general set of criteria has been proposed to govern the transition of shell and brick elements from one to the other and vice versa, as dictated by the mechanics of damage evolution. When matrix cracks or interfacial delamination initiates, shell elements transit to brick elements and cohesive elements are inserted to capture the damage growth. The brick elements partitioned by non-critical cracks are reverted to smeared shell elements when the numerical crack density becomes saturated in a laminate. Geometrical non-linearity is adopted here to predict large deformation in the composite laminate for both implicit quasi-static and dynamic analyses. The performance of AMF models is benchmarked with high-fidelity models and experimental data reported in literature. The predicted results show reasonable agreement with experimental observation and high-fidelity models, and up to 51% improvement in computational efficiency is achievable.

A socio-ecological evaluation of the conservation efforts in the Nevado de Toluca protected area, Mexico: Governmental performance and local community perception from a rural context

Abstract Protected Areas (PA) are the main conservation instrument in Latin America, but rural communities are rarely integrated into the decision-making. In Mexico, many conflicts related to PAs stem from guaranteeing equitable access to resources for local communities against private economic interests. The aim of this manuscript is to present a strategy to evaluate the functioning of the PA from a socio-ecological perspective, including: diagnosis, evaluation of the conservation instrument, and intervention proposal. The results show that the Nevado de Toluca PA was recategorized without adequate characterization of the problems facing its conservation. The impact has been biased towards the development of large-scale activities while local communities have been excluded. This scenario has resulted in a migration of local men to cities in search of work, while women and children face unequal management of natural resources. In terms of aquatic ecological quality, indicators show signs of degradation that have not been improved through the management plan. The activities proposed in the annual operational plans are unrealistic since they include no support and training. We propose participatory monitoring as a strategy for community empowerment in the use of water resources, as well as a cohesive element that reconciles government policies and local needs.

Numerical simulation method and deterioration analysis of load-bearing performance of tunnel linings containing cold joints in plain concrete

Cracking in tunnel linings is a common issue in tunnel engineering, with the main cause being construction-induced defects. As a construction-induced defect in a lining, a cold joint affects the bearing capacity of the lining, and the effect of cold joints on the bearing performance deterioration of linings remains unclear. In this study, 180 high-speed railroad tunnels built in Grade III surrounding rock areas were investigated to determine their degradation states, and the distribution of lining cracks in these tunnels was explored on the basis of different factors. Subsequently, three-point bending experiments were conducted on concrete components with different pouring interval cold joint. Based on the experimental results, a computational unit applicable to cold joint simulation was proposed, and the unit parameters were inverted. Finally, the unit was applied to establish a tunnel model with cold joints and to analyze the deterioration effect of cold joints on the bearing performance of the lining. The cracks caused by cold joints in the lining of a structure were found to extend perpendicular to the lining surface, and this can greatly affect the overall strength of the structure. It's important to consider the impact of cold joints on the lining. In order to simulate these cold joints, cohesive elements were used to calculate the maximum stress and stiffness degradation of the lining with and without cold joint elements. The results showed that there were only small differences, indicating that cohesive elements are effective for simulating cold joints. Two cracking patterns were identified, the dorsal tension misalignment model and the medial tension misalignment model, which are related to the stress state of the cold joints. It's necessary to pay attention to cold joints in the inner tensioned area of the lining and those that exceed the final setting time of concrete during pouring.

Fracture Simulation of Concrete Beams to assess softening behavior by varying different fractions of Aggregates

Simulating the concrete fracture unlike other elastic and brittle materials quite different due to its quasibrittleness. The present research focussed on assess softening behavior by varying different fractions of aggregates and cement matrix in micro details. Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) for crack modeling implemented for simulating and visualizing crack propagation through Cement matrix, Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) and Aggregates . This approach permits the initializing crack by from enrichment zone and propagation of crack through element by traction separation law .The crack formation initiates when the maximum principal tensile stress reaches the tensile strength. The work involves creating python script for iterative process of random distribution of aggregates with in the matrix using Monte Carlo method and creating Cohesive zone element for zero thickness ITZ. introduces a finite element modeling technique for investigating multiscale fracture characteristics. This approach encompasses multiple levels of analysis, including the generation of aggregate particles using a Monte Carlo method implemented via a Python script. Additionally, we replicate the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) between aggregate and mortar in the model. The load-deflection curves can be used to assess the softening behavior of concrete and suggest the realistic fraction of coarse aggregate in mix proportion to impart more ductility to beams.

A numerical model for predicting the drying shrinkage behavior of concrete under ultra-low relative humidity

The drying shrinkage caused by rapid water loss will pose a great threat to the safety of concrete structures, especially for those serviced in an extremely dry environment. However, the majority of reported research primarily focuses on drying shrinkage behavior of concrete under relative humidity (RH) ranging from 50% to 100%, and the corresponding drying shrinkage prediction models have poor applicability, leading to an unclear understanding of it under ultra-low RH (RH<40%). In this study, a numerical model, finite element model with cohesive elements, was proposed to better predict the drying shrinkage behavior of concrete, even under the RH of 20%. Initially, geometric models of concrete with varying coarse aggregate size ranges and volume fractions were established. Subsequently, based on the relationship between RH and humidity diffusion coefficient of concrete with different water-cement ratio (w/c), a drying shrinkage model was proposed to examine the corresponding shrinkage strain of concrete even under ultra-low RH conditions, and its validity was verified through comparison with reported experimental research. Utilizing the developed model, the effects of size range and volume fraction of coarse aggregate, and the w/c, on the drying shrinkage of concrete across a wide range of RH levels were systematically investigated. The results indicated that increasing the aggregate size range can only slightly inhibit drying shrinkage, while there is a marked inhibition effect on it (decrease by about 45% at most) for increasing the aggregate vol% or reducing w/c, even under ultra-low RH of 20%. Finally, grey relation analysis was employed to assess the inhibition weight of each parameter on the drying shrinkage, following this sequence in order: RH > w/c > coarse aggregate vol% > coarse aggregate range size. We also envision that the proposed model could provide feasible guidelines for the inhibition of concrete in ultra-dry regions.