Fractured Specimens Research Articles

Does double pre-notches have a greater impact than single pre-notch on the mechanical and fracture behavior of rock? Insights from three-point bending tests using the numerical approach of grain-based model

The mechanical performance of rock masses is significantly impacted by the existence of cracks. Distribution of the cracks may result in different mechanical or fracture behaviors of rock. To gain a preliminary understanding of such problems, a series of numerical tests of three-point bending (TPB) are designed and carried out with the consideration of single pre-notch and double pre-notches. The numerical method of grain-based model (GBM) approach is employed in this paper, with a validation implemented by comparing the results with previous experiments to demonstrate the reliability of this model. Afterward, a comprehensive investigation, including the mechanical behavior, strength characteristics, crack evolution and progressive failure mechanism of the above mentioned TPB tests are conducted. The conclusions are as follows: (1) During TPB tests, as the offset distance increases, the fracture mode of the single pre-notched specimens gradually transitions from Mode I to Mode II, with the peak fracture toughness occurring at a mixed Mode I-II fracture condition (2p/s = 0.4). Moreover, the failure angle, notch open degree and expansion area all tend to rise regardless of specimens of single or double pre-notches. (2) A thorough exploration of crack evolution shows that the specimens primarily fracture during the crack propagation and failure stages. Shear failure predominates among these stages, with microcracks mostly occurring inside the rock mineral grains. (3) When offset distance increases to a certain degree (2p/s = 0.8), the fracture of specimen ceases to be governed by the pre-notch; instead, it occurs directly from the middle of the beam specimen. This phenomenon can be attributed to the reduction of stress concentration at the notch tip, as inferred from analysis of the contact force chain. (4) In double pre-notched specimen, microcracks initiate at both pre-notches, but the final failure results from crack propagation at one notch tip. Compared to single pre-notched specimen, the presence of double pre-notches exhibits superior fracture resistance performance.

Parallel-beams magnetic actuator for in-situ transmission electron microscope observation of mechanical testing

Abstract Understanding the microscopic mechanisms behind mechanical fractures is essential for enhancing material properties and increasing reliability through fatigue suppression. Conventional mechanical testing methods, such as indentation tests that press a sharp needle into a specimen or tensile tests using hydraulic pumps, are unable to capture nanoscale deformations under applied forces. As a result, the microscopic mechanisms that influence mechanical properties are often inferred indirectly, and material design largely depends on the engineer’s intuition and occasional serendipity. To overcome these challenges, in-situ observation techniques utilizing transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) have been developed to enable the observation of sample deformations at the nanoscale. However, despite their high resolution, conventional TEMs are limited by a small available space -often just a few millimeters- that restricts the application of sufficient force to fracture specimens. Traditional actuation methods, such as thermal expansion, electrostatic force, and piezoelectric actuators, fail to generate significant forces within such confined spaces. In response to these limitations, our research involved the development of a micromachine with multiple parallel beams. This device leverages the Laplace force generated by an electric current passing through the beams and the magnetic field of the TEM. We demonstrated the capability to produce significant force using the magnetic field from the microscope’s magnetic lens. The actuator developed in our study successfully generated forces exceeding 50 µN, marking a significant advancement in the in-situ observation capabilities for mechanical testing.

Enhancing the performance of honeycomb core sandwich panels through friction stir spot welding strategies and fracture of lap shear specimen

The manufacturing of honeycomb core sandwich structures using friction stir spot welding (FSSW) methods as alternatives for adhesive bonded (AB) structures is examined. AB, FSSW with disk insert (FSSW_D), FSSW_D with AB (FSSW_D_AB) are adopted for the purpose. The performance during the lap shear test and the cohesive zone modeling (CZM) in the finite element (FE) simulation served as the foundation for the comparison. A homogenized core and equivalent cohesive layer were used during the numerical simulations of lap-shearing of all joints. Maximum load-carrying capacity improved significantly when the FSSW_D and FSSW_D_AB were used; the improvement ranged from 592% to 878% over AB joints. Peak load was shown to be around 24% higher in FSSW_D_AB in comparison to FSSW_D joints. The peak load-to-weight ratio of the FSSW_D_AB joints was remarkable (542% to 747%). Stiffness measurements were approximately 0.43 kN/mm for FSSW_D and 0.63 kN/mm for FSSW_D_AB joints. Microstructural analysis revealed finer grains with increased rotation speed and distinct fracture modes, with SEM showing improved ductility. The good agreement between the numerical predictions and the experimental results for all types of joints showed the usefulness of the proposed numerical model. Moreover, FE simulations-based stress analyses of the three joints provided crucial results on normal and shear stress distributions enabling the sandwich structures to be tailor-made for their intended applications.

The hydraulic fracture propagation pattern induced by multi-stage temporary plugging and diverting fracturing in reservoirs with various lithologies: An experimental investigation

Multi-stage temporary plugging and diverting fracturing (TPDF) is an effective method for generating hydraulic fracture (HF) networks. This study investigates various lithological reservoirs in the Xinjiang region, obtaining downhole full-diameter cores for experimental analysis using true triaxial TPDF. The characteristics of HF morphology are quantitatively assessed by employing computed tomography (CT) scanning. The findings are summarized as follows: (1) Initial hydraulic fracturing of specimens with different lithologies results in σH-direction double-wing HF, while the first TPDF generates a single-wing HF along the σh direction, and the second TPDF produces a single-wing HF along the σH direction. (2) The volume and area of HFs in the first TPDF of volcanic rock increased by over 30%. The first TPDF effect is more pronounced in conglomerate rock, with HF volume over 25% and surface area increasing by more than 35%. (3) During multi-stage TPDF, volcanic rock transitions from initial HF to the formation of new HF, sandstone diverts from the wellbore to create new HF, and conglomerate generates new HF through multi-point initiation in the wellbore and HF. Each TPDF process involves the propagation of existing HFs and the generation of new ones. (4) The breakdown pressure in multi-stage TPDF increased by 46.5% and 51.6% in volcanic rock, while in sandstone, the first TPDF increased by 90.6%. In conglomerate rock, multi-stage TPDF saw increases of 51.2% and 41.9%, respectively. These findings offer theoretical insights for optimizing TPDF design in diverse lithological reservoirs.

Investigation on mechanical properties of bronze infill PLA composite fabricated by fused deposition modelling

This study is on the mechanical properties of bronze infill poly lactic acid composites fabricated by fused deposition modelling. By changing the nozzle temperature, printing speed, layer thickness and infill density the mechanical properties of the composites were studied. Tensile, flexural and impact strength tests were conducted on the composite specimen. Mathematical models were developed using response surface methodology and the significance of the models was tested using analysis of variance. Increase in infill density and nozzle temperature increased the strengths of the composites. Increase in layer thickness and printing speed decreased the strengths of the composite specimen. Tensile strength is primarily influenced by infill density (38.82%), flexural strength is primarily influenced by Nozzle Temperature contributes (44.02%) while Infill density (58.12%) plays the major role in contributing the impact strength followed by other parameters. The highest tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength values obtained in this study are 19.3 (N/mm2), 36.08 (N/mm2) and 0.26 (kJ/m2) respectively. The mechanism of the fractured specimen was investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Fracture mechanisms such as cracks, infill gaps, voids, interface, delamination, hillocks, particle pull out, delamination had an effect on the fracture of composite specimens.

Experimental analysis of failure behaviour of PA12 specimens manufactured by SLS as a function of wall thickness and build direction

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate and explain the dual fracture behaviour of PA12 specimens sintered by selective laser sintering (SLS) as a function of wall thickness and build direction with a powder mixture 30:70. To achieve this objective, research related to chemical, thermal and structural behaviours as a function of the input variables was carried out to describe and explain why ductile-fragile behaviour occurs during fractures under uniaxial tension manufactured via a methodology of material analysis and manufacturing processes.Design/methodology/approachThe factorial design 32 relates the fracture of PA12 tensile specimens to the horizontal, transverse and vertical build directions at 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mm thicknesses, respectively. Fractographic images revealed the fracture surfaces and their dual ductile-fragile behaviour related to the specimens’ measured crystalline, thermal, surface and chemical properties.FindingsThe study showed that thermal property variables differ depending on the input variables. The wall thickness variable affected this morphology the most, showing the highest percentage of the ductile area, followed by the transverse and vertical directions. It was determined that the failure in the vertical direction is due to crystalline gradients associated with the layer-by-layer construction process. The pore density may be closely related to generating ductile and brittle areas.Originality/valueIn this paper, fracture characterisation is performed based on the mechanical, chemical, structural, thermal and morphological properties of PA12 manufactured by SLS. In addition, a heatmap of porosities in cross-sections is constructed using a machine learning model (k-means) related to dual fracture behaviour. This research revealed significant differences in the fracture type according to the build direction. In addition, thin-section fractography provides a more detailed explanation of the fragile behaviour of the vertical direction associated with crystalline changes due to the direction of the sintering layers.

Mechanical, Thermal and Morphological Characterization of Graphene/Al2O3‐Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Nanocomposites

AbstractThis work investigates the hybrid nanocomposites manufactured by direct mixing by dispersing varying weight percentages (wt.%) of graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) and Al2O3 NPs in epoxy resin. Their properties are then obtained using various mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness) and thermal (thermogravimetric) analyses. Furthermore, their microstructure and functional groups are studied by SEM and FTIR, respectively. The hybrid nanocomposite, which contains 1.5 wt.% GNPs and 8.5 wt.% Al2O3 NPs, has excellent mechanical properties. Compared to a composite without GNPs, the tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and shore D hardness improve by 95.12, 90.01, 171.43, and 19.75%, respectively. It is also found that hybrid nanocomposite exhibits enhanced thermal stability as GNPs increase, particularly at lower wt.% of Al2O3. The SEM of tensile fractured specimens of GNPs/Al2O3 epoxy hybrid nanocomposites reveals prominent failure mechanisms, including agglomeration of GNPs and debonding between the GNPs/Al2O3 and epoxy. The FTIR spectroscopy analysis reveals distinctive spectral peaks indicating successful incorporation of Al2O3 and GNPs into the epoxy‐based composite, with observed peaks corresponding to functional groups and bonds characteristic of each component. These findings suggest that the manufactured nanocomposite holds promise as a component in structural applications, particularly in automobiles, aerospace components, and sports equipment.

Fracture resistance of ultratranslucent multilayered zirconia veneers with different facial thicknesses.

To assess the fracture resistance of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) ultratranslucent multilayered zirconia (5Y-YZP) veneers with varying facial thickness. Sixty translucent zirconia veneers were designed and milled using a chairside CAD/CAM system for maxillary central incisors. The butt joint incisal veneer tooth preparations consisted of 1.00 mm incisal reduction, 0.40 mm chamfer margin, and three different facial reductions; 0.50, 0.75, and 1 mm, respectively. The ceramic veneers were cemented to printed resin dies and subjected to thermal cycling. Subsequently, the restorations were loaded with compressive loading force, and fracture occurrences were recorded. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the fractured specimens were captured. The fracture resistance varied among the veneers with different facial thicknesses. Ultratranslucent zirconia veneers with a facial thickness of 1.00 mm exhibited the highest fracture resistance values (742.15 N), followed by those with 0.75 mm facial thickness (673 N). Minimally invasive veneers with 0.50 mm thickness displayed similar fracture resistance as thicker veneers with 0.75 mm. However, veneers with 1.00 mm thickness displayed the highest values. SEM fracture patterns for 0.50 and 0.75 mm display similar and fewer crack lines than 1.00 mm veneers. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Minimally invasive zirconia veneers exhibit similar fracture resistance to thicker veneers.

Relative permeabilities for two-phase flow through wellbore cement fractures

Multiple fluids are likely to exist in fractures and flow paths associated with leaky wellbores, including liquids (e.g., crude oil) and gases (e.g., gas exsolved from liquid). These fluids occupy and move through different portions of the pore spaces within the fractures depending on many factors, including fluid properties, fracture size, and the amount of the different fluids. Upward leakage of any phase, through the fracture, can contaminate water-bearing formations, create hazardous surface conditions, and compromise the functionality of the wellbore. Early signs of wellbore leaks may be expressed by anomalous pressure behavior at surface monitoring points on cavern storage wells. These pressure anomalies are difficult to interpret, necessitating knowledge of the factors that affect the multiphase flow in fractures and porous media. These parameters are critical to modeling multiphase flow in fractures. This insight can guide further diagnosis and maximize leak remediation. Our study focuses on the relationship of the liquid–gas relative permeabilities for representative variable-aperture wellbore cement fracture. To obtain the relative permeability of each phase, two-phase flow tests were conducted where both fluids were flowing simultaneously through a fractured wellbore cement specimen under a range of factors, namely (1) aperture size, (2) capillary numbers, and (3) viscosity ratio. The flow experiments were conducted under a range of confining stresses and flow velocities, using nitrogen gas and silicone oils (of different viscosities) in a specially designed pressure vessel. The sum of gas and oil relative permeabilities were found to be less than one under all conditions, which indicates that the presence of one phase affects the permeability of the other phase, and vice versa. Since the gas phase flow conditions include a significant inertial flow component in addition to viscous flow, the inertial flow coefficients at different saturation states are presented. The factors affecting the relationship between the relative permeabilities are discussed in detail. A new mathematical model for estimating the relative permeability of wellbore cement fracture is presented and experimentally validated.

Ultrasonic activation of adhesive systems increases bond strength and intratubular penetration of resin cement in root dentin subjected to radiation therapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasonic activation of etch-and-rinse and self-etch adhesive systems on the bond strength of resin cement to irradiated root dentin. Eighty human maxillary anterior teeth were distributed into 8 groups (n = 10), according to the type of adhesive system used (etch-and-rinse and self-etch), the ultrasonic activation of the adhesive systems, and the dentin condition (irradiated or non-irradiated - 70Gy). Endodontic treatment was performed followed by fiberglass post-space preparation. After fiberglass posts' luting, the roots were transversely sectioned on dentin discs and submitted to the push-out bond strength test (0.5mm/min). The fractured specimens were analyzed under a stereomicroscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for failure mode classification. One of the dentin discs was analyzed under SEM to evaluate the characteristics of the adhesive interface. Irradiated specimens had lower bond strength than non-irradiated specimens (P < 0.0001). Ultrasonic activation of both adhesive systems increased the bond strength of the resin cement to irradiated dentin (P < 0.0001). Radiotherapy significantly affected the failure mode in the middle (P = 0.024) and apical thirds (P = 0.032) (adhesive failure). Non-irradiated specimens had a more homogeneous adhesive interface. When ultrasonically activated, both adhesive systems showed a greater number of resinous tags, regardless of the dentin condition. Ultrasonic activation of adhesive systems is a feasible strategy to enhance fiberglass posts retention in oncological patients.

Comparative study on mechanism of hydrogen embrittlement of Fe–18Mn-0.6C twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel subjected to friction-stir welding (FSW) and tungsten inert-gas (TIG) welding

In present study, we investigated the effect of welding technique on resistance of hydrogen (H) embrittlement in Fe–18Mn-0.6C (wt.%) twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) steel by using an electrochemical H-charging, thermal desorption spectroscope, and electron microscope. The friction-stir welding (FSW) specimen was less sensitive to H embrittlement relative to base metal and tungsten inert-gas (TIG) welding specimens by differences in microstructure and deformation mechanism. During H-charging of the FSW specimen, numerous dislocations/Σ3 boundaries reduced H diffusion into specimen interior, causing shallowest depth of brittle fracture. In contrast, the depth of brittle fracture in the H-charged TIG specimen was much larger due to rapid H diffusion by decreased grain boundaries including Σ3 annealing twin boundaries. During tensile deformation, the H-charged FSW specimen underwent the reduction in stress concentration by inactive TWIP as well as strong resistance of boundary decohesion. It was because of alleviation of H-enhanced localized plasticity (HELP) mechanism, leading to suppression of H-induced crack growth. Conversely, the H-charged base metal and TIG specimens revealed large stress concentration by active TWIP and weak boundaries owing to strong effects of HELP + H-enhanced decohesion (HEDE) mechanisms, exhibiting rapid H-induced crack propagation.

Investigation of the mechanical behavior of rock-like material with two flaws subjected to biaxial compression

The biaxial compression experiments of rock-like materials with two flaws are carried out under different flaw inclination angle, rock bridge ligament angle, lateral stress. The experimental studies show that crack propagation modes of rock-like material are as follows: wing crack through mode (Y mode), shear crack through mode (J mode), mixed crack through mode (wing shear JY mode), longitudinal extension of crack and transverse shear splitting. prefabricated fractured rock specimens have experienced the closing stage of prefabricated fractures, the elastic deformation stage, the generation and expansion of cracks (or plastic strengthening), and the residual loading stage. The peak strength of the specimen is increases with the increase of flaw inclination angle and lateral stress. With the increase of the rock bridge ligament angle, the failure of the rock bridge region changes from the shear crack failure to composite failure of shear crack and the wing type tensile crack failure, and then to the wing crack failure. With the increase of the lateral pressure, the failure of the specimen changes from the wing type tensile crack failure to the wing type and shear crack failure, and then to shear crack failure. The flaw inclination angle mainly changes the form of crack growth but does not effect on the failure modes. The counting number of acoustic emission events at the center of the sample is relative large, indicating that the cacks appear in the part of the rock bridge firstly. With the increasing of loads, the cracks of the rock bridge expanding constantly and connecting finally. The changes of acoustic emission event counts is consistent with the macroscopic damage form obtained from the experiments.

Vibration fatigue assessment and crack propagation mechanism of directionally solidified superalloy with film cooling holes

Film cooling represents a critical protective measure for turbine blades, yet the presence of film cooling holes (FCHs) under vibrational loads can significantly impact structural strength and integrity. This study conducts random fatigue tests on DZ125L directionally solidified superalloy specimens with FCHs. It investigates how various FCH types and vibration signal intensities influence the vibration fatigue behavior of DZ125L alloy. Characterization of vibration fatigue fracture and surface cracks of FCH specimens utilizes ultra depth of field microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the crack propagation mechanism for FCH specimens under random processes is proposed based on finite element stress distribution and fracture morphology. Results reveal the generation of two types of cracks, namely hole cracks and edge cracks, under vibration load in FCH specimens. The crack propagation process produces water wave-like fatigue striations. Notably, a low stress zone exists between the two dangerous holes in the multi-hole specimen, mitigating the expansion trend of hole cracks between the FCHs compared to cracks expanding towards the edges. Furthermore, two novel models, New1 and New2, are introduced to enhance the applicability of the frequency domain method for predicting the fatigue life of FCH specimens under random processes. Accuracy and error analyses of the models suggest that New2, incorporating the FCH stress concentration coefficient KT and intensity function f(ξ), exhibits superior accuracy and stability.

Study on ultra-low cycle fatigue of steel slit dampers

Steel slit dampers are typically made by cutting a number of slits in a steel plate. With the existence of the slits, the steel strips between them would yield under earthquake action and dissipate seismic energy through plastic deformation. Ultra-low cycle fatigue (ULCF) fracture of the steel strips will significantly reduce the energy dissipation capacity of the slit damper. In this research, ULCF tests were conducted on uniform, taped and hourglass-shaped steel strip (USS, TSS and HSS) specimens, which are fundamental elements of steel slit dampers. During the ULCF tests, symmetric cyclic loadings with constant amplitude were applied on the steel strip specimens. All USS, TSS and HSS specimens fractured due to ULCF but at different sections. The ULCF life and energy dissipation capacity of these specimens increase significantly in that order. Finite element (FE) analysis was carried out to simulate the ULCF tests on the steel strip specimens, based on which the ULCF fracture of these specimens was predicted with the cyclic void growth model (CVGM). The simulated hysteretic curves and the predicted ULCF lives agree well with the test results, validating the applicability of the FE model and the CVGM for the ULCF analysis of steel slit dampers. ULCF analysis was then conducted on USS, TSS and HSS specimens subjected to symmetric cyclic loadings with variable amplitudes and asymmetric cyclic loadings with constant amplitude to confirm the superior ULCF performance of the HSS specimen. Beneficial effects of additional axial compression and deviation of cyclic loadings from the damper plane on the ULCF of steel slit dampers were also investigated through numerical analysis.

Fracture Resistance in Fibre-Reinforced Resin Composite Restorations in Deciduous and Permanent Molars: An Ex Vivo Study

AimThe aim of this study was to compare the fracture resistance levels of restored deciduous teeth and permanent molars restored with different materials, including ultra-polyethylene fibre tape (Ribbond-Ultra), fibre-reinforced resin composite EverX posterior, fibre-reinforced flowable resin composite EverX Flow and bulk-fill flow restorative material (Tetric N-flow) in the posterior region. MethodsWe tested sixty-four caries-free human mandibular molars (32 deciduous molars and 32 permanent molars). Deep and wide Class I cavities were prepared in each tooth. The teeth were embedded in poly(methyl methacrylate) resin up to the cementoenamel junction, leaving the crown completely exposed. Oral temperature fluctuations were then simulated using two thousand thermocycling cycles, each lasting 30 seconds in the hot phase (approximately 35 °C). The loading rate for our force-fracture tests was set at 0.5 mm/min. Direct restorations were made using a spherical tip and applying the force perpendicular to the sample surface. Visual inspection of the fractured specimens, in combination with adhesive scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and finite element analysis (FEA), provided detailed insights into the failure modes and stress distribution at the restoration–tooth interface. ResultsTeeth restored with fibre-reinforced composite (EverX Posterior) had the highest fracture resistance, followed by fibre-reinforced flowable resin composite (EverX Flow). Teeth restored with the ultra- polyethylene fibre tape (Ribbond-Ultra), followed by the flowable bulk-fill composite (Tetric N-flow) had the lowest resistance. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the groups, except for EverX Posterior and EverX Flow. A predictive algorithm was also proposed for the likelihood of restoration failure. ConclusionModern fibre-reinforced resin composites, such as EverX Posterior, effectively reinforce teeth against fractures, with success in both restored deciduous and permanent molars. Meanwhile, the use of polyethylene fibre tapes is less effective, and they involve a time-consuming application.

Dual-scale reinforcement of co-cure single lap joints through graphene nanoparticles and CFRP Z-pin

This study presents the report of the dual scale strengthening process to the co-cure (CC) single lap joint (SLJ) reinforced by Graphene nanoparticles (GNP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) Z-Pin. The shear test indicated that inner and outer reinforcing with GNP in adhesive and Z-pin in SLJ improved shear properties. The combined reinforcement of GNP and 90°/Z-pin enhances shear strength under static loading with 99.89% compared to plain epoxy CC SLJ. After testing, microscopic images of the fractured specimen surface were used to investigate failures. The fractography studies reveal that adding GNP to the adhesive and Z pin in SLJ roughens the surfaces, strengthening adhesive-adherend contact.

Investigating the impact of the quantity of wet and dry cycles on the mechanical characteristics and fracture variations of sandstones

The sandstone is in a state of dry–wet cycle under the repeated action of rainfall, and its mechanical properties are deteriorated to varying degrees, which causes cracks in the sandstone. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the mechanical properties and fracture propagation of sandstone under the action of dry–wet cycles. Currently, there are limited studies using numerical simulation methods to study the fracture extension of rocks under various dry and wet cycling conditions.Therefore, in this paper, the effects of different amounts of dry and wet cycling on the mechanical properties and fracture behavior of sandstone are investigated through uniaxial compression tests and numerical simulations of fracture extension. The findings indicate that the deformation stage of sandstone remains unchanged by the dry–wet cycle. The uniaxial compressive potency and coefficient of restitution gradually diminish as the quantity of cycles rises, while the Poisson's ratio exhibits the opposite trend, and the impact on the mechanical performance of sandstone wanes with cycle increments, and the correlation coefficient surpasses 0.93, signifying a substantial influence of the dry–wet cycle on sandstone's mechanical performances. The discrepancy between the numerical simulation and experimental results is minimal, with a maximum error of only 3.1%, demonstrating the congruence of the simulation and experimental outcomes.The mesoscopic examination of the simulations indicates that the quantity of fractures in the sandstone specimens rises with the escalation of dry–wet cycles, and the steps of analysis linked to crack inception and fracture propagation are accelerated, and the analysis steps from fracture initiation to penetration are also reduced.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the influence of post-curing on mixed mode fracture properties of 3d-printed polymer samples

This study explores the mechanical properties and fracture characteristics of additively manufactured acrylonitrile butadiene styrene specimens, focusing on the impact of raster angle and post-process heat treatment. To this end, a large number of tensile and semi-circular bending samples with three distinct raster angles of 0/90°, 22/ − 68°, and 45/ − 45° were prepared and exposed to four types of heat treatments with different temperature and pressure conditions. Simultaneously, theoretical models of maximum tangential stress (MTS) and generalized MTS (GMTS) were developed to estimate the onset of specimen fracture under mixed-mode in-plane loading conditions. Recognizing the non-linear behavior within the stress–strain curve of tensile test samples, particularly in the annealed samples, an effort was undertaken to transform the original ductile material into a virtual brittle material through the application of the equivalent material concept (EMC). This approach serves the dual purpose of bypassing intricate and tedious elastoplastic analysis, while concurrently enhancing the precision of the GMTS criterion. The experimental findings have revealed that while the annealing process has a minimal effect on the yield strength, it considerably enhances energy absorption capacity, increases fracture toughness, and reduces the anisotropy. Additionally, the combined EMC-GMTS criterion has demonstrated its capability to predict the failure of the additively manufactured parts with an acceptable level of accuracy.

A rate-dependent damage mechanics model for predicting plasticity and ductile fracture behavior of sheet metals at high strain rates

Uniaxial tensile tests were performed on H340 steel sheets at different strain rates (10-4 to 103s-1) and temperatures (–30 °C and 280 °C). Oscillation-free forces were measured during high-speed tests at strain rates of up to 1000 s-1 using specimens with different stress states. Material hardening curve, strain rate sensitivity, temperature effects, and Taylor-Quinney coefficient for adiabatic temperature calculations were determined in experiments. Digital image correlation (DIC) technique was employed to measure displacement, deformation, and local strain fields. Meanwhile, the temperature fields of specimen gauge section were measured with a high–speed thermal camera in the uniaxial tensile tests at various strain rates. Damage and fracture-related parameters were calibrated and validated using porosity measurements on SEM micrographs and in combination with finite element (FE) simulations. A rate– and temperature–dependent plasticity and damage mechanics model (e2MBW) was proposed and calibrated to predict the plasticity and fracture behavior of H340 under different loading speeds. The study demonstrated good agreement in the overall experimental and simulated force–displacement responses and local strain evolution across all fracture specimens at loading speeds from 0.005 mm/s to 10000 mm/s.

Investigation of Variability of Flaw Strength Distributions on Brittle SiC Ceramic

The present paper investigates flaw strength distributions established using various flexural tests on batches of SiC bar test specimens, namely four-point bending as well as three-point bending tests with different span lengths. Flaw strength is provided by the elemental stress operating on the critical flaw at the fracture of a test specimen. Fracture-inducing flaws and their locations are identified using fractography. A single population of pores was found to dominate the fracture. The construction of diagrams of p-quantile vs. elemental strengths was aimed at assessing the Gaussian nature of flaw strengths. Then, empirical cumulative distributions of strengths were constructed using the normal distribution function. The Weibull distributions of strengths are then compared to the normal reference distributions. The parameters of the Weibull cumulative probability distributions are estimated using maximum likelihood and moment methods. The cumulative distributions of flexural strengths for the different bending tests are predicted from the flaw strength density function using the elemental strength model, and from the cumulative distribution of flexural strength using the Weibull function. Flaw strength distributions that include the weaker flaws that are potentially present in larger test pieces are extrapolated using the p-quantile diagrams. Implications are discussed regarding the pertinence of an intrinsically representative flaw strength distribution, considering failure predictions. Finally, the influence of the characteristics of fracture-inducing flaw populations expressed in terms of flaw strength interval, size, dispersion, heterogeneity, and reproducibility with volume change is examined.