Large Strain Range Research Articles

Microstrain partitioning, transformation induced plasticity, and damage evolution of a third generation medium Mn advanced high strength steel

An experimental Medium Mn (med-Mn) steel (0.15C-5.8Mn-1.8Al-0.71Si) with a martensitic starting microstructure, intercritically annealed at 685 °C for 120s, was discovered to have a large true strain at fracture (ɛf = 0.61) while also meeting established (strength x elongation) targets (28,809 MPa%), sustained monotonic work hardening and prolonged Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) kinetics. This was found by varying the intercritical annealing (IA) temperature within a narrow temperature interval in order to isolate its impact on TRIP kinetics and damage development on such med-Mn steel. A comprehensive understanding of the microstructural damage processes leading to fracture is presented using quasi in-situ Scanning Electron Microscope tensile testing as well as X-ray Computed Microtomography. In addition, we precisely evaluated the TRIP kinetics of this steel using a combined Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and synchrotron-sourced High Energy X-ray Diffraction technique. With these methods, we demonstrate that an abundance of voids nucleate during deformation, but their growth can be suppressed by prolonging TRIP over a large strain range. Moreover, novel post-processing techniques to assess DIC acquired data at the microscopic scale have been used to gauge the severity of strain partitioning amongst phases and strain gradient evolution across dissimilar phase interfaces. By comparing it to another 3G TRIP-assisted steel and an ultrafine grained Dual Phase steel. Overall, it has been found that, in addition to carefully moderating TRIP kinetics, the introduction of polygonal ferrite, as is conventional in med-Mn steels, enhances the local forming properties and damage tolerance in 3G TRIP-assisted microstructures.

Identification of hardening and fracture behaviors of titanium alloy by a hybrid digital image correlation and finite element method

The reliable identification of deformation and fracture behaviors of titanium alloys is essential for accurate numerical simulation in sheet metal forming, cutting process and crash. In this study, an inverse method is proposed to identify both strain hardening and fracture behavior of titanium alloys by a hybrid experimental-finite element analysis. Uniaxial and notched tensile specimens are tested on the additively manufactured and cold rolled sheet Ti6Al4V alloys. The distributions of displacement and strain on the specimen surface during the loading are measured by digital image correlation method. An identification strategy, considering the stress–strain curve, surface strain evolution and variation of specimen width, is proposed to identify the strain hardening model parameters at large strain range. Finite element simulations are performed to update the model parameters by using the iterative inverse method. The parameters of fracture model are determined through experiments on tensile specimens in combination with numerical simulation. The experimental and simulation results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed identification method, that it can be further used to characterize the plastic and fracture behaviors of other metallic materials in practice.

Wearable fiber-based visual strain sensors with high sensitivity and excellent cyclic stability for health monitoring and thermal management

Visual strain sensors have attracted significant attention in the smart wearables field due to their ability to intuitively monitor human health and movement through color displays. However, their development is limited by restricted sensitivity over a large strain range and poor cyclic stability. The conductivity and electricity-induced heating performance can be enhanced by filling microcracks with conductive nanoparticles to increase the conductive paths. Inspired by this concept, nanocarbon powder/silver nanoparticles@carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polyurethane (NAMP) fiber-based visual strain sensors were developed using wet spinning, in-situ polymerization, and ultrasonic impregnation techniques. The NAMP sensors exhibit high sensitivity (GF=3528), a wide strain range (0–107 %), and excellent cyclic stability (over 5000 cycles), demonstrating high reusability, stability, and durability. Meanwhile, a wide temperature range from 27.8 °C to 75.2 °C and corresponding color display changes triggered by applied voltages from 0 to 2.5 V were achieved, indicating excellent visualization performance. In addition, the integration of NAMP fibers into temperature-adjustable electrothermal fabric can be utilized for human thermal management therapy and deicing. This work provides valuable insights into the design and potential applications of intelligent fibrous sensor, paving the way for the development of wearable textiles from fibers to fabrics.

Efficient and rapid one-step method to generate gene deletions in Streptococcus pyogenes.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a major human pathogen, causing diseases ranging from mild and superficial infections of the skin and pharyngeal epithelium to severe systemic and invasive diseases. Since June 2022, several European countries, the US, and Australia are facing an upsurge of invasive life-threatening GAS infections. Finding a good vaccine antigen and understanding the role of virulence factors in GAS infections have been hampered, in part, by technical difficulties to transform the many different GAS strains and generate knockout mutants. Moreover, these tools must be adapted to a large range of different strains, since GAS are divided into more than 260 emm-types (M-type). We have set up a method allowing the generation of non-polar mutants of GAS in 3 days and in diverse backgrounds, which contrasts with previously published protocols.

Durable TPU/PDA/MXene Fiber‐Based Strain Sensors with High Strain Range and Sensitivity

AbstractWith the development of the ageing society, wearable strain sensors have great application prospects in the fields of health detection, artificial intelligence, and motion recognition. However, traditional forms of film‐like strain sensors suffer from low sensitivity, adhesion, and impermeability during use, which severely limit their practical applications. To overcome these problems, we propose a strategy to fabricate polyurethane/polydopamine/MXene (TPU/PDA/MXene) composite fibers by wet spinning. Furthermore, the outside is wrapped with (PDMS), giving mechanical strength and chemical resistance. Through a simple and low‐cost wet spinning process, TPU/PDA/MXene fibers are achieved in the preparation of flexible strain sensors, and they can be woven into various forms with good flexibility and comfort according to practical needs. The results indicated that the prepared flexible strain sensor exhibits a high gauge factor (GF) of 57.15 over a large strain range (300 %), which are superior to those of many fiber‐based sensors. Their application properties were also measured by attaching them to fingers, wrists and knees, showing high sensitivity, mechanical durability and chemical stability, and has great potential for wearable strain sensors and flexible strain sensors in complex environments.

Near-linear deformation behavior of quasi-Gum Metal with composition Ti-18.4 Nb-1.4Zr-0.3Ta-4.3 O

A new type of Ti-18.4 Nb-1.4Zr-0.3Ta-4.3 O exhibiting near-linear deformation behavior was created to elucidate the core principles behind its near-linear deformation behavior in quasi-Gum Metals. The in situ simultaneous X-ray diffraction study shows that a β→α″ stress-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT) persists and covers a large stress range under the near-linear deformation of Ti-18.4 Nb-1.4Zr-0.3Ta-4.3 O. Within the SIMT process, the variant 5 of α″ martensite usually forms more readily as it can output the maximum phase transformation strains compared to the other equivalent variants. The experimental results indicate that near-linear deformability of quasi-Gum Metal is due to the combined influence of its inherent deformation (including elastic and trace plastic) together with a SIMT that operates over a large strain range. These findings have helped to develop a more comprehensive view of the principle behind the near-linear deformation in quasi-Gum Metals and Gum Metal.

Optical frequency domain reflectometry-based high-performance distributed sensing empowered by a data and physics-driven neural network.

Optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) based distributed strain sensors are the preferred choice for achieving accurate strain measurements over extensive sensing ranges while maintaining exceptional spatial resolution. However, the simultaneous realization of high spatial resolution, high strain resolution, large strain range, and an extended sensing range presents an exceedingly challenging endeavor. In this study, we introduce and experimentally demonstrate a data and physics-driven neural network-empowered OFDR system designed to attain high-performance distributed sensing. In our experiments, we successfully maintained an impressive sensing resolution of sub-microstrain (0.91 μ ε) alongside a sharp spatial resolution of sub-millimeter (0.857 mm) across a 140-m sensing range. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the inaugural experimental demonstration of OFDR-based distributed sensing, combining sub-millimeter spatial resolution and sub-μ ε strain resolution across a lengthy sensing range over a hundred meters. This pioneering work unveils new pathways for the development of ultra-high-performance optical fiber sensing systems, paving the way for the next generation of intelligent systems tailored for diverse smart industrial applications.

Nano-carbon/PIL modified cellulose wearable sensors by computer aided patterning

The conductive modification of cellulose substrates can be achieved through the attachment of nanocarbons (NCs), enabling the production of a wide range of wearable eco-friendly sensors. However, the economical fabrication of durable wearable devices on cellulose, without disrupting the conjugated structure of NCs, poses an enduring challenge. In this work, we report a stable dispersion system of NCs by using an imidazole type poly (ionic liquid) (PIL-Cl). Various kinds of cellulose substrates only require simple immersion in the dispersion liquid to attain conductivity. The paper and cotton fabric conductors fabricated in this manner exhibited exceptional flexibility, bendability, and electrical stability. We designed joint motion detectors with a large strain range (GF = 1.3) by origami, in which the electrical performance remained stable after undergoing 5000 cycles of maximum deformation (−50 %–150 %). Additionally, by utilizing computer aided technology, NCs-(PIL-Cl) system can create conductive patterns in any form. Based on this, we have manufactured a range of wearable electronic sensors, including masks for monitoring respiration, touch-sensitive circuits and information transmission devices on cotton clothing. This system provides a low-cost option for the fabrication of cellulose wearable sensors, suitable for large-scale production and applications.

On the Design and Mechanical Properties of a Novel Tubular Auxetic Anti-Tri-Missing Rib Structure

In a previous work, the authors proposed a novel planar isotropic anti-tri-missing rib structure exhibiting excellent negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) performance within extremely large strain range. Building upon this foundation, a novel tubular auxetic anti-tri-missing rib structure is further proposed in this work. By utilizing the Castigliano’s theorem, the theoretical formulae of the effective mechanical properties of the proposed auxetic tubular structure were then established to facilitate the understanding of the underlying microstructural mechanisms. Discussions of the analytical solutions were presented to elucidate different roles of the microstructural geometry on the effective mechanical properties of the proposed design. Results indicate that desired mechanical properties will be obtained by adjusting the geometrical parameters. The analytical solutions were also validated by systematic finite element (FE) analyses, which align well with theoretical values, confirming the feasibility of the developed theoretical formulae. The research findings presented herein provide theoretical foundations and design insights for the practical application of the auxetic tubular meta-structures.

Cyclic behavior and constitutive relations of HRB400E steel under large strain range

To study the differences in material performance between HRB400E steel and conventional strength steel, this paper performed monotonic and cyclic loading tests on HRB400E and Q355B steels under a series of loading protocols. Additionally, the self-designed fixtures were used to achieve large strain rate loading. The ductility, monotonic behavior and hysteretic characteristics of HRB400E and Q355B steels were assessed, along with the energy dissipation capacity evaluated through the energy dissipation coefficients. The cyclic skeleton curves of both steels were fitted using the Ramberg-Osgood model, with further investigation into the influence of kinematic hardening parameters on hysteretic curves. The combined hardening parameters of the Voce-Chaboche model were calibrated based on the experimental results, and the hysteretic curves were simulated under different loading protocols via ANSYS. The analysis results reveal that the energy dissipation coefficients of HRB400E steel are larger than that of Q355B steel, yet smaller than those of Q460D, LYP100, LY100, LY160, and LY225 steels. Both HRB400E and Q355B steels demonstrate significantly improved material strength under cyclic loading. Excellent agreement between simulated and experimental curves is achieved when using four pairs of kinematic hardening parameters. Additionally, the hysteretic performance of HRB400E and Q355B steels under different cyclic loading protocols can be precisely simulated by employing calibrated combined hardening parameters. Through this paper, the cyclic behavior and constitutive relations of HRB400E steel are comprehensively understood, which provides a reliable theoretical basis for engineering design and structural analysis. Furthermore, this research provides a scientific basis for material applications of HRB400E steel.

The large strain snap-through effect in free torsion of highly elastic soft thin-walled tubes with exact closed-form solutions

It is found for the first time that, as the applied torque attains a critical value, a freely twisted highly elastic tube may jump from one to another state over large strain range. Unlike usual approximate buckling analyses of thin shell structures with Hooke’s law for small strain, such large strain snap-through effect needs to be studied with a large strain model that can accurately simulate nonlinear elastic behaviors of soft materials. As such, nonlinear coupling issues have to be treated both in large strain kinematics and in hyper-elastic constitutive formulation.It appears that exact results would be rare even for buckling analyses with small strain but large deflections. Here, the above coupling issues are treated with a novel and decoupled approach. To this end, explicit and decoupled forms of the dual potentials for hyper-elastic stress–strain and strain–stress relationships are constructed with well-designed invariants of the Hencky strain and the deviatoric Cauchy stress and, hence, multiple data sets from benchmark tests are accurately matched with these forms in a decoupled sense. It is then shown that the nonlinear coupling equations for large torsion of elastic thin tubes can be worked out to produce exact closed-form solutions for the average radius ratio, the axial length ratio and the thickness ratio as well as the applied torque. With these solutions, the large strain snap-through effect is disclosed with an explicit criterion. Furthermore, numerical examples are provided with comparison to test data and, in particular, the large torsion response features with the snap-through effect are discussed with reference to possible correlations to certain symptoms in vascular abnormalities of blood vessels, etc.

Investigation of Shape Memory Polyurethane Properties in Cold Programming Process Towards Its Applications.

Thermoresponsive shape memory polymers (SMPs) with the remarkable ability to remember a temporary shape and recover their original one using temperature have been gaining more and more attention in a wide range of applications. Traditionally, SMPs are investigated using a method named often "hot-programming", since they are heated above their glass transition temperature (Tg) and after that, reshaped and cooled below Tg to achieve and fix the desired configuration. Upon reheating, these materials return to their original shape. However, the heating of SMPs above their Tg during a thermomechanical cycle to trigger a change in their shape creates a temperature gradient within the material structure and causes significant thermal expansion of the polymer sample resulting in a reduction in its shape recovery property. These phenomena, in turn, limit the application fields of SMPs, in which fast actuation, dimensional stability and low thermal expansion coefficient are crucial. This paper aims at a comprehensive experimental investigation of thermoplastic polyurethane shape memory polymer (PU-SMP) using the cold programming approach, in which the deformation of the SMP into the programmed shape is conducted at temperatures below Tg. The PU-SMP glass transition temperature equals approximately 65 °C. Structural, mechanical and thermomechanical characterization was performed, and the results on the identification of functional properties of PU-SMPs in quite a large strain range beyond yield limit were obtained. The average shape fixity ratio of the PU-SMP at room temperature programming was found to be approximately 90%, while the average shape fixity ratio at 45 °C (Tg - 20 °C) was approximately 97%. Whereas, the average shape recovery ratio was 93% at room temperature programming and it was equal to approximately 90% at 45 °C. However, the results obtained using the traditional method, the so-called hot programming at 65 °C, indicate a higher shape fixity value of 98%, but a lower shape recovery of 90%. Thus, the obtained results confirmed good shape memory properties of the PU-SMPs at a large strain range at various temperatures. Furthermore, the experiments conducted at both temperatures below Tg demonstrated that cold programming can be successfully applied to PU-SMPs with a relatively high Tg. Knowledge of the PU-SMP shape memory and shape fixity properties, estimated without risk of material degradation, caused by heating above Tg, makes them attractive for various applications, e.g., in electronic components, aircraft or aerospace structures.

Highly Sensitive and Wide Detection Range Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Graphene Nanoplatelets Multifunctional Strain Sensor with a Porous and Crimped Network Structure.

High-performance flexible strain sensors have tremendous potential applications in wearable devices and health monitoring. However, developing a flexible strain sensor with high sensitivity over a wide strain range remains a significant challenge. In this study, a fibrous membrane with a porous and crimped structure was designed as the substrate material for TPU/GNPs flexible strain sensors. This structural design effectively balances sensitivity with the strain range. The TPU-PEO fibrous membrane prepared using electrospinning with water washing, resulted in a porous fibrous membrane with a TPU framework. Subsequently, the fibrous membrane was subjected to anhydrous ethanol stimulation to obtain a porous and crimped network structure. GNPs were modified on the TPU fibrous membrane through ultrasonic treatment. The produced flexible strain sensor exhibited high sensitivity (GF = 4047.5) within a large strain range (350%) and demonstrated excellent sensing performance, stability, and durability (>10,000 cycles). It not only captured basic movements but also efficiently recognized and measured bending angles, enabling a more sophisticated human-machine interaction experience. This advancement opens up possibilities for future intelligent wearable technology and human-machine interaction, contributing to the evolution of these fields.

Non-linear site response analysis with accurate strength respresentation in the large strain range

Non-linear site response analysis with accurate strength respresentation in the large strain range

Microstructure Evolution and Constitutive Modelling of Deformation Behavior for Al-Mg-Si-Cu-Sc-Zr Alloy Processed with Isothermal Multidirectional Forging

This research is devoted to the microstructure evolution and deformation behavior of the Al-1.2Mg-0.7Si-1.0Cu-0.1Sc-0.2Zr alloy during the isothermal multidirectional forging (MDF) in a large cumulative strain and temperature range. The structure investigation of the studied alloy revealed several phases precipitated during solidification, among which θ(Al2Cu), Q(Al5Cu2Mg8Si6), Mg2Si, Sc-bearing W(AlScCu) and V(AlSi2Sc2) phases were observed. The MDF at 150–350 °C and a maximum cumulative strain of 14.4 significantly refined grain structure providing a mean grain size of 1.2–2.1 µm. The L12 structured Al3(Sc,Zr) dispersoids with a mean size of 10 ± 1 nm were formed during two-step homogenization annealing. Due to Zener pinning of the nanoscale dispersoids and fine-grained structure, the alloy exhibited near-superplastic behavior in a temperature range of 460–500 °C and strain rate range of 2 × 10−3–1 × 10−2 s−1 with the maximum elongation to failure of ~300%. After a strengthening heat treatment, the forged alloy exhibited the yield strength of 326 ± 5 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 366 ± 5 MPa, and elongation of 10 ± 3%. The hot deformation behavior was described using the Arrhenius type model. The developed model demonstrated high predictability accuracy with a maximum average absolute relative error of 6.6%.

Silicone/ broadleaf wood fiber /MWCNTS composite stretchable strain sensor for smart object identification

Stretchable strain sensors have been rapidly developing in recent years. Fabricating strain sensors with both large workable strain range and high sensitivity via a low-cost and straightforward process is still challenging. Here, this work created a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) / broadleaf wood fiber (BWF) film, the highly micro-porous network of which allows a slow infiltration of liquid silicone in a vacuum environment to form an elastic composite, serving as a stretchable strain sensor. The sensor showed an ultra-wide strain of up to 440% and high sensitivity of GF (gage factor) of 3.3 at 0∼200% strain and of 7.8 at 200∼440% strain. In addition, the sensor is able to endure 5500 cyclic loading/unload at 100% strain with no damage in its mechanical structure and small variation in electrical resistance. To demonstrate its practicality, the sensor was incorporated into a soft pneumatic griper and utilized as a bending sensor to detect the griper deformation. The system demonstrated a high accuracy of 99.33% in the classification of lab beakers using a data-driven framework built with a trained Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm.

Analysis of phase transformation thermodynamics and kinetics and its relationship to structure-mechanical properties in a medium-Mn high strength steel

The difference in transformation mechanisms between the normal and reverse phase transformation in medium Mn steel was revealed using thermodynamic and kinetic analysis. The results indicate that the austenite formation during the reverse phase transformation is a fast reaction, significant amount of 46.9 vol% retained austenite is obtained after subjected partial reversion at 650 °C × 1 h. At the nucleation stage, the lath-like structure, dislocations, martensitic packet boundaries, and grain boundaries provide high-density nucleation sites for austenite formation. The critical temperature of austenite formation is reduced by the enrichment of Mn and C. However, no ferrite transformation occurred during the normal phase transformation (650 °C × 6 h isothermal treatment and subsequent furnace-cooling process). At the nucleation stage, the undersaturated Mn and C in the prior austenite grain interior provide insufficient concentration fluctuation, leading to a low nucleation rate. At the phase growth stage, the atomic mobility of Mn and C in the parent austenite (control the ferrite growth) is 1/69 and 1/282 than that in ferrite (control the austenite growth) at 650 °C. The differences in nucleation site density, driving force, and element diffusion rate lead to significant variations in phase transformation behaviors. The excellent mechanical property with the product of strength and elongation (PSE) exceeding 20 GPa % is achieved via the sustained transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect by metastable retained austenite over a large strain range.

Stimuli‐responsive properties of double network hydrogels derived from κ‐carrageenan and poly (acrylamide)

AbstractThe utilization of stretchable, antifreezing hydrogels is imperative when using them as electrolyte membranes and ionic conductors for flexible energy storage devices or electronic skin. However, a problem still persists in the formation of a functional hydrogel with comprehensive performance including antifreezing, temperature‐sensitive, favorable reusability, and self‐healing properties. Herein, through anionic κ‐carrageenan (κ‐CG) as the physical noncovalent crosslinking network of the hydrogel, and acrylamide (AM) as monomers forming the second network through chemical crosslinking, κ‐CG‐Li+/PAM double‐network (DM) hydrogels were obtained by one‐pot thermally initiated polymerization. The DM structure showed excellent fracture strain and strong breaking stress, and lithium ions ensure its good electrical conductivity. The transparency of the hydrogel could reach above 91.0%, and the freezing point of the resultant gel was −34.9°C, which was measured by differential scanning calorimetry at low temperature. The as‐synthesized DM gel exhibited robust tensile properties with tensile elongation of 1840% and fracture energy of 967.3 kJ/m3. The response sensitivity of the hydrogel as a wearable sensor in different environments was explored. κ‐CG‐Li+/PAM could not only respond in the large strain range of 100%–400% but also capture the change in 0.1% strain. The deformation sensitivity was GF = 1.83 at 200% compressive strain range, and the hydrogel had a pressure sensitivity of 2.71 kPa−1 over the pressure range of 0–5 kPa. In addition to the properties of ionic conductive hydrogels, the hydrogel demonstrated outstanding temperature sensitivity in the human body temperature range of 35°C–40°C or in the range of 20°C–60°C (TCR = 1.628/°C).

High throughput construction for the deformation mechanism diagram and dynamic recrystallization of a bimodal‐sized particle‐reinforced Ti‐2.5Zr‐2Al‐1(Si,C) titanium alloy

AbstractAn in situ autogenous particle‐reinforced Ti‐2.5Zr‐2Al‐1(Si,C) titanium alloy is prepared by vacuum induction melting. The wide range of an effective strain between 0.2 and 1.2 and the corresponding microstructure are obtained by the double‐cone high‐throughput compression test and finite element simulation. The deformation mechanism diagram with strains of 0.2–1.2 and strain rates of 0.7–1.5 s−1 at 900°C is constructed. When the strain rate is 1.3 s−1, dynamic recovery occurs in the small strain range (<0.377), dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurs in the medium strain range (0.377–1.182), and deformation instability occurs in the large strain range (>1.182), resulting in the deformation bands. High‐angle annular dark field and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy are used to determine the existence of bimodal particle distribution, namely micron‐scale TiC particles and nano‐scale Ti5Si3 and (Zr, Si) particles. The average radius of the (Zr, Si) nanoparticles measured by small angle neutron scattering is 19.3 nm, and the volume fraction is 0.35%. DRX grains with an average size of 0.49 μm are obtained at 900°C, strain rate of 1.3 s−1, and strain of about 0.6. Micron‐scale particles stimulated DRX nucleation, while nanoscale particles hindered the growth of new grains, resulting in grain refinement.

High-performance amorphous carbon/PDMS flexible strain sensors by introducing low interfacial mismatch

It is important and challenging to develop environment-tolerant stretchable strain sensors under some harsh environments. Here, amorphous carbon (a-C)/Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sensors were fabricated with the direct-current magnetron sputtering technology, their sensing performances were optimized by adjusting the elastic mismatch between the top a-C film and used PDMS substrate, and their application under a simulated marine atmospheric environment was evaluated. The results showed that the combination of low stress a-C and low elastic modulus PDMS was favorable to improve the sensing performance, the optimal sensor exhibited the maximum gauge factor (GF) of 3026.9, large tensile strain range to 50 %, rapid response (loading delay time 92.3 ms and unloading delay time 24.6 ms), as well as high durability (>5000 cycles). After 120 h salt spray test, the sensor was quite stable and can detect various human movements with both high sensitivity and stability, such as wrist pulse, wrist bending, and finger bending. This work pioneers the elastic mismatch strategy for high-performance a-C/PDMS sensors and confirms their great potential in the practical applications under harsh environments.