Bai Yilong

Formulation of statistical evolution of microcracks in solids

The paper presents a principal formulation of statistical evolution of microcracks, occurring in solids, subjected to external loading. In particular, the concept of ideal microcracks is elaborated, in order to describe the fundamental features of damage resulting from nucleation and extension of microcracks. Relevant average damage functions are also discussed.

Experimental and theoretical study on numerical density evolution of short fatigue cracks

Fatigue testing was performed using a kind of triangular shaped specimen to obtain the characteristics of numerical density evolution for short cracks at the primary stage of fatigue damage. The material concerned is a structural alloy steel. The experimental results show that the numerical density of short cracks reaches the maximum value when crack length is slightly less than the average grain diameter, indicating grain boundary is the main barrier for short crack extension. Based on the experimental observations and related theory, the expressions for growth velocity and nucleation rate of short cracks have been proposed. With the solution to phase space conservation equation, the theoretical results of numerical density evolution for short cracks were obtained, which were in agreement with our experimental measurements.Fatigue testing was performed using a kind of triangular shaped specimen to obtain the characteristics of numerical density evolution for short cracks at the primary stage of fatigue damage. The material concerned is a structural alloy steel. The experimental results show that the numerical density of short cracks reaches the maximum value when crack length is slightly less than the average grain diameter, indicating grain boundary is the main barrier for short crack extension. Based on the experimental observations and related theory, the expressions for growth velocity and nucleation rate of short cracks have been proposed. With the solution to phase space conservation equation, the theoretical results of numerical density evolution for short cracks were obtained, which were in agreement with our experimental measurements.

Closed trans-scale statistical microdamage mechanics

AbstractDamage and failure due to distributed microcracks or microvoids are on the challenging frontiers of solid mechanics. This appeals strongly to tools not yet fully developed in continuum damage mechanics, in particular to irreversible statistical thermodynamics and a unified macroscopic equations of mechanics and kinetic equations of microstructural transformations. This review provides the state of the art in statistical microdamage mechanics.(1)It clarifies on what level of approximation continuum damage mechanics works. Particularly,D-level approximation with dynamic function of damage appears to be a proper closed trans-scale formulation of the problem.(2)It provides physical foundation of evolution law in damage mechanics. Essentially, the damage-dependent feature of the macroscopic evolution law is due to the movement of microdamage front, resulting from microdamage growth.(3)It is found that intrinsic Deborah numberD*, a ratio of nucleation rate over growth rate of microdamage, is a proper indication of critical damage in damage mechanics, based on the idea of damage localization.(4)It clearly distinguishes the non-equilibrium damage evolution from equilibrium phase transition, like percolation. Finally, some comments on its limitations are made.

Experimental study on the criteria and mechanism of spallation in an aluminium alloy

Summary In this paper, a damage function defined by the residual strength of spalled specimens of an aluminium alloy is given to characterize the spallation of the material. Based on this function a simple method for continuously describing the spallation may be developed. Stress wave profiles showing the signal of spallation were successfully obtained with carbon gauges. Microscopic observations of the spalled aluminium alloy specimens reveal that the nucleation of spallation initiates from cracking of the second phase particles. Spallation is a process of crack nucleation. growth and coalescence to final, complete disintegration.

A Thin Liquid Film and Its Effects in an Atomic Force Microscopy Measurement

Recently, it has been observed that a liquid film spreading on a sample surface will significantly distort atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements. In order to elaborate on the effect, we establish an equation governing the deformation of liquid film under its interaction with the AFM tip and substrate. A key issue is the critical liquid bump height y0c, at which the liquid film jumps to contact the AFM tip. It is found that there are three distinct regimes in the variation of y0c with film thickness H, depending on Hamaker constants of tip, sample and liquid. Noticeably, there is a characteristic thickness H* physically defining what a thin film is; namely, once the film thickness H is the same order as H*, the effect of film thickness should be taken into account. The value of H* is dependent on Hamaker constants and liquid surface tension as well as tip radius.

Spallation analysis with a closed trans-scale formulation of damage evolution

A closed, trans-scale formulation of damage evolution based on the statistical microdamage mechanics is summarized in this paper. The dynamic function of damage bridges the mesoscopic and macroscopic evolution of damage. The spallation in an aluminium plate is studied with this formulation. It is found that the damage evolution is governed by several dimensionless parameters, i.e., imposed Deborah numbersDe* andDe, Mach numberM and damage numberS. In particular, the most critical mode of the macroscopic damage evolution, i.e., the damage localization, is determined by Deborah numberDe*. Deborah numberDe* reflects the coupling and competition between the macroscopic loading and the microdamage growth. Therefore, our results reveal the multi-scale nature of spallation. In fact, the damage localization results from the nonlinearity of the microdamage growth. In addition, the dependence of the damage rate on imposed Deborah numbersDe* andDe, Mach numberM and damage numberS is discussed.A closed, trans-scale formulation of damage evolution based on the statistical microdamage mechanics is summarized in this paper. The dynamic function of damage bridges the mesoscopic and macroscopic evolution of damage. The spallation in an aluminium plate is studied with this formulation. It is found that the damage evolution is governed by several dimensionless parameters, i.e., imposed Deborah numbersDe * andDe, Mach numberM and damage numberS. In particular, the most critical mode of the macroscopic damage evolution, i.e., the damage localization, is determined by Deborah numberDe *. Deborah numberDe * reflects the coupling and competition between the macroscopic loading and the microdamage growth. Therefore, our results reveal the multi-scale nature of spallation. In fact, the damage localization results from the nonlinearity of the microdamage growth. In addition, the dependence of the damage rate on imposed Deborah numbersDe * andDe, Mach numberM and damage numberS is discussed.

Combined Effect of Surface Tension, Gravity and van der Waals Force Induced by a Non-Contact Probe Tip on the Shape of Liquid Surface

Aiming at understanding how a liquid film on a substrate affects the atomic force microscopic image in experiments, we present an analytical representation of the shape of liquid surface under van der Waals interaction induced by a non-contact probe tip. The analytical expression shows good consistence with the corresponding numerical results. According to the expression, we find that the vertical scale of the liquid dome is mainly governed by a combination of van der Waals force, surface tension and probe tip radius, and is weekly related to gravity. However, its horizontal extension is determined by the capillary length.

A Unified Guide to Two Opposite Size Effects in Nano Elastic Materials

The microstructural variation near surface of nano elastic materials is analyzed based on different potentials. The atomic/molecular mechanism underlying the variation and its effect on elastic modulus are such that the nature of long-range interactions (attractive or repulsive) in the atomic/molecular potentials essentially governs the variation near surface (looser or tighter) and results in two opposite size effects (decreasing or increasing modulus) with decreasing size.

Threshold and some microscopic observations of spallation of phenolic-resin based woven roving glass fiber reinforced composite material

Abstract Experimental verification of the spallation criterion proposed in Ref. [1] is reported in this paper. Agreement of the threshold stresses for incipient spallation determined by electrical measurement, calculation based on impact velocity and the proposed criterion is reasonably good. Microscopic observations of the incipient spallation reveal some special features which cast light upon the mechanism of spallation for this type of GFRP.

Study Of Mechanical Properties Of Amorphous Copper With Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The formation and mechanical properties of amorphous copper are studied using molecular dynamics simulation. The simulations of tension and shearing show that more pronounced plasticity is found under shearing, compared to tension. Apparent strain hardening and strain rate effect are observed. Interestingly, the variations of number density of atoms during deformation indicate free volume creation, especially under higher strain rate. In particular, it is found that shear induced dilatation does appear in the amorphous metal.