Glaucio H. Paulino

Isoparametric Graded Finite Elements for Nonhomogeneous Isotropic and Orthotropic Materials

Graded finite elements are presented within the framework of a generalized isoparametric formulation. Such elements possess a spatially varying material property field, e.g. Youngs modulus (E) and Poissons ratio () for isotropic materials; and principal Youngs moduli (E11,E22), in-plane shear modulus (G12), and Poissons ratio (12) for orthotropic materials. To investigate the influence of material property variation, both exponentially and linearly graded materials are considered and compared. Several boundary value problems involving continuously nonhomogeneous isotropic and orthotropic materials are solved, and the performance of graded elements is compared to that of conventional homogeneous elements with reference to analytical solutions. Such solutions are obtained for an orthotropic plate of infinite length and finite width subjected to various loading conditions. The corresponding solutions for an isotropic plate are obtained from those for the orthotropic plate. In general, graded finite elements provide more accurate local stress than conventional homogeneous elements, however, such may not be the case for four-node quadrilateral (Q4) elements. The framework described here can serve as the basis for further investigations such as thermal and dynamic problems in functionally graded materials. ©2002 ASME

Cohesive Zone Models: A Critical Review of Traction-Separation Relationships Across Fracture Surfaces

One of the fundamental aspects in cohesive zone modeling is the definition of the traction-separation relationship across fracture surfaces, which approximates the nonlinear fracture process. Cohesive traction-separation relationships may be classified as either nonpotential-based models or potential-based models. Potential-based models are of special interest in the present review article. Several potential-based models display limitations, especially for mixed-mode problems, because of the boundary conditions associated with cohesive fracture. In addition, this paper shows that most effective displacement-based models can be formulated under a single framework. These models lead to positive stiffness under certain separation paths, contrary to general cohesive fracture phenomena wherein the increase of separation generally results in the decrease of failure resistance across the fracture surface (i.e., negative stiffness). To this end, the constitutive relationship of mixed-mode cohesive fracture should be selected with great caution.

Transient heat conduction in homogeneous and non-homogeneous materials by the Laplace transform Galerkin boundary element method

The Greens function for three-dimensional transient heat conduction (diffusion equation) for functionally graded materials (FGMs) is derived. The thermal conductivity and heat capacitance both vary exponentially in one coordinate. In the process of solving this diffusion problem numerically, a Laplace transform (LT) approach is used to eliminate the dependence on time. The fundamental solution in Laplace space is derived and the boundary integral equation formulation for the Laplace Transform boundary element method (LTBEM) is obtained. The numerical implementation is performed using a Galerkin approximation, and the time-dependence is restored by numerical inversion of the LT. Two numerical inversion techniques have been investigated: a Fourier series method and Stehfests algorithm, the latter being preferred. A number of test problems have been examined, and the results are in excellent agreement with available analytical solutions.

Disk-shaped compact tension test for asphalt concrete fracture

A disk-shaped compact tension (DC(T)) test has been developed as a practical method for obtaining the fracture energy of asphalt concrete. The main purpose of the development of this specimen geometry is the ability to test cylindrical cores obtained from in-place asphalt concrete pavements or gyratory-compacted specimens fabricated during the mixture design process. A suitable specimen geometry was developed using the ASTM E399 standard for compact tension testing of metals as a starting point. After finalizing the specimen geometry, a typical asphalt concrete surface mixture was tested at various temperatures and loading rates to evaluate the proposed DC(T) configuration. The variability of the fracture energy obtained from the DC(T) geometry was found to be comparable with the variability associated with other fracture tests for asphalt concrete. The ability of the test to detect changes in the fracture energy with the various testing conditions (temperature and loading rate) was the benchmark for determining the potential of using the DC(T) geometry. The test has the capability to capture the transition of asphalt concrete from a brittle material at low temperatures to a more ductile material at higher temperatures. Because testing was conducted on ungrooved specimens, special care was taken to quantify deviations of the crack path from the pure mode I crack path. An analysis of variance of test data revealed that the prototype DC(T) can detect statistical differences in fracture energy resulting for tests conducted across a useful range of test temperatures and loading rates. This specific analysis also indicated that fracture energy is not correlated to crack deviation angle. This paper also provides an overview of ongoing work integrating experimental results and observations with numerical analysis by means of a cohesive zone model tailored for asphalt concrete fracture behavior.

Transient thermal stress analysis of an edge crack in a functionally graded material

An edge crack in a strip of a functionally graded material (FGM) is studied under transient thermal loading conditions. The FGM is assumed having constant Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio, but the thermal properties of the material vary along the thickness direction of the strip. Thus the material is elastically homogeneous but thermally nonhomogeneous. This kind of FGMs include some ceramic/ceramic FGMs such as TiC/SiC, MoSi2/Al2O3 and MoSi2/SiC, and also some ceramic/metal FGMs such as zirconia/nickel and zirconia/steel. A multi-layered material model is used to solve the temperature field. By using the Laplace transform and an asymptotic analysis, an analytical first order temperature solution for short times is obtained. Thermal stress intensity factors (TSIFs) are calculated for a TiC/SiC FGM with various volume fraction profiles of the constituent materials. It is found that the TSIF could be reduced if the thermally shocked cracked edge of the FGM strip is pure TiC, whereas the TSIF is increased if the thermally shocked edge is pure SiC.

Mixed-mode fracture of orthotropic functionally graded materials using finite elements and the modified crack closure method

Abstract A finite element methodology is developed for fracture analysis of orthotropic functionally graded materials (FGMs) where cracks are arbitrarily oriented with respect to the principal axes of material orthotropy. The graded and orthotropic material properties are smooth functions of spatial coordinates, which are integrated into the element stiffness matrix using the isoparametric concept and special graded finite elements. Stress intensity factors (SIFs) for mode I and mixed-mode two-dimensional problems are evaluated and compared by means of the modified crack closure (MCC) and the displacement correlation technique (DCT) especially tailored for orthotropic FGMs. An accurate technique to evaluate SIFs by means of the MCC is presented using a simple two-step (predictor–corrector) process in which the SIFs are first predicted (e.g. by the DCT) and then corrected by Newton iterations. The effects of boundary conditions, crack tip mesh discretization and material properties on fracture behavior are investigated in detail. Many numerical examples are given to validate the proposed methodology. The accuracy of results is discussed by comparison with available (semi-) analytical or numerical solutions.

On the Virtual Element Method for three-dimensional linear elasticity problems on arbitrary polyhedral meshes

Abstract We explore the recently-proposed Virtual Element Method (VEM) for the numerical solution of boundary value problems on arbitrary polyhedral meshes. More specifically, we focus on the linear elasticity equations in three-dimensions and elaborate upon the key concepts underlying the first-order VEM. While the point of departure is a conforming Galerkin framework, the distinguishing feature of VEM is that it does not require an explicit computation of the trial and test spaces, thereby circumventing a barrier to standard finite element discretizations on arbitrary grids. At the heart of the method is a particular kinematic decomposition of element deformation states which, in turn, leads to a corresponding decomposition of strain energy. By capturing the energy of linear deformations exactly, one can guarantee satisfaction of the patch test and optimal convergence of numerical solutions. The decomposition itself is enabled by local projection maps that appropriately extract the rigid body motion and constant strain components of the deformation. As we show, computing these projection maps and subsequently the local stiffness matrices, in practice, reduces to the computation of purely geometric quantities. In addition to discussing aspects of implementation of the method, we present several numerical studies in order to verify convergence of the VEM and evaluate its performance for various types of meshes.

The interaction integral for fracture of orthotropic functionally graded materials: evaluation of stress intensity factors

Abstract The interaction integral is an accurate and robust scheme for evaluating mixed-mode stress intensity factors. This paper extends the concept to orthotropic functionally graded materials and addresses fracture mechanics problems with arbitrarily oriented straight and/or curved cracks. The gradation of orthotropic material properties are smooth functions of spatial coordinates, which are integrated into the element stiffness matrix using the so-called “generalized isoparametric formulation”. The types of orthotropic material gradation considered include exponential, radial, and hyperbolic-tangent functions. Stress intensity factors for mode I and mixed-mode two-dimensional problems are evaluated by means of the interaction integral and the finite element method. Extensive computational experiments have been performed to validate the proposed formulation. The accuracy of numerical results is discussed by comparison with available analytical, semi-analytical, or numerical solutions.

Cohesive fracture modeling of elastic–plastic crack growth in functionally graded materials

Abstract This work investigates elastic–plastic crack growth in ceramic/metal functionally graded materials (FGMs). The study employs a phenomenological, cohesive zone model proposed by the authors and simulates crack growth by the gradual degradation of cohesive surfaces ahead of the crack front. The cohesive zone model uses six material-dependent parameters (the cohesive energy densities and the peak cohesive tractions of the ceramic and metal phases, respectively, and two cohesive gradation parameters) to describe the constitutive response of the material in the cohesive zone. A volume fraction based, elastic–plastic model (extension of the original Tamura–Tomota–Ozawa model) describes the elastic–plastic response of the bulk background material. The numerical analyses are performed using WARP3D, a fracture mechanics research finite element code, which incorporates solid elements with graded elastic and plastic properties and interface-cohesive elements coupled with the functionally graded cohesive zone model. Numerical values of volume fractions for the constituents specified at nodes of the finite element model set the spatial gradation of material properties with isoparametric interpolations inside interface elements and background solid elements to define pointwise material property values. The paper describes applications of the cohesive zone model and the computational scheme to analyze crack growth in a single-edge notch bend, SE(B), specimen made of a TiB/Ti FGM. Cohesive parameters are calibrated using the experimentally measured load versus average crack extension (across the thickness) responses of both Ti metal and TiB/Ti FGM SE(B) specimens. The numerical results show that with the calibrated cohesive gradation parameters for the TiB/Ti system, the load to cause crack extension in the FGM is much smaller than that for the metal. However, the crack initiation load for the TiB/Ti FGM with reduced cohesive gradation parameters (which may be achieved under different manufacturing conditions) could compare to that for the metal. Crack growth responses vary strongly with values of the exponent describing the volume fraction profile for the metal. The investigation also shows significant crack tunneling in the Ti metal SE(B) specimen. For the TiB/Ti FGM system, however, crack tunneling is pronounced only for a metal-rich specimen with relatively smaller cohesive gradation parameter for the metal.

Development of a Single-Edge Notched Beam Test for Asphalt Concrete Mixtures

This paper describes the development of a fracture test for determining the fracture energy of asphalt concrete. The test will be used in combination with numerical analysis and field studies to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms of reflective cracking in asphalt concrete overlays. A review of the literature revealed that a single-edge notched beam (SE(B)) test specimen was the most promising fracture test for the objectives of the reflective cracking study. Existing servohydraulic testing equipment was modified to perform the SE(B) test along with new loading fixtures, sensors, data collection, and analysis procedures. Preliminary tests were conducted to develop test procedures, to obtain a better understanding of crack-front characteristics, to investigate test repeatability, to examine variations of fracture energy with temperature, and to investigate mixed-mode fracture. The results from the tests follow expected trends and test variability appears to be within a range typical for asphalt concrete fracture testing.