Per Ståhle

Crack growth across a strength mismatched bimaterial interface

Crack growth across an interface between materials with different strength is examined by a cohesive zone model. The two materials have identical elastic properties but different fracture process properties, or different yield stresses, which is modeled by different cohesive stresses. The fracture criteria is a critical crack opening displacement. Load is represented by a stress intensity factor defining a remote square root singular stress field. The results show that the ratio between the cohesive stresses of the two materials primarily determines the behavior of the critical stress intensity factor. When the crack approaches a material with a higher cohesive stress the crack tip is shielded, but if the crack approaches a material with smaller critical crack opening displacement the maximum level of shielding is determined by the ratio between the critical crack opening displacements. When a crack approaches a material with a lower cohesive stress it is exposed to an amplified load.

A model for hydride-induced embrittlement in zirconium-based alloys

The critical stress intensity factor for hydrided zirconium-alloys is calculated using a Dugdale type model for a finite crack. The hydride platelets are assumed to surround the ends of the crack. They are located in the process region of the crack tip. The model is used to calculate the temperature dependence of the critical stress intensity factor and the results are compared with measurements performed on Zr-2.5Nb and Zircaloy. The model in general describes the experimental data satisfactorily, nevertheless, it gives implausible results for a certain range of temperatures. The deficiency is attributed to the lack of appropriate constitutive relations for the hydrided zirconium-based alloys.

Stress state in front of a crack perpendicular to bimaterial interface

Using a dislocation simulation approach, the basic equation for a crack perpendicular to a bimaterial interface is formulated in this paper. A novel expansion method is proposed for solving the problem. The complete solution for the problem, including the T stress ahead of the crack tip and the stress intensity factors are presented. The stress field characteristics are analyzed in detail. It is found that ahead of the crack tip and near the interface the normal stress, perpendicular to the crack plane, sigma(x), is characterized by the K fields and the normal stress sigma(y) is dominated by the K field plus T stress in the region of 0 < r/b < 0.4 for b/a(0) less than or equal to 0.1, where b is the distance from the crack tip to the interface.

Strain-driven corrosion crack growth: A pilot study of intergranular stress corrosion cracking

This work proposes a model for corrosion driven crack growth. The model poses a moving boundary problem, where a chemical attack removes material from the body. The rate of the chemical attack is a function of the strain along the body surface. No crack growth criterion is needed for the analysis. A finite strain formulation is used and the material model is assumed hyperelastic. The problem is stated for a large body, containing a large crack. A low frequency cyclic loading is considered. Thus, corrosion is assumed to dissolve material with a rate approximately proportional to the strain rate. The problem is solved using finite element method based program, enhanced with a procedure handling the moving boundary. Parametric studies are performed for a series of different initial shapes of the near-tip region. Presented results show that the crack growth rate is largely dependent on the initial crack geometry. For a set of initial shapes and load levels steady-state conditions of growth are achieved, while for the others the cracks show tendency to branch.

Mode II crack paths under compression in brittle solids – a theory and experimental comparison

A study of crack propagation paths in the situation where the crack is suppressed to open during growth due to high compressive forces has been performed. This problem was analyzed theoretically very recently by the authors and is here extended to involve a limited number of illustrative experimental results reported elsewhere in the literature. By analyzing the experimental crack growth patterns, the conclusion is that the model cannot describe the more realistic microscopic failure in detail. Since shear crack growth on the microscale strongly depend on inhomogenities in the material, like cavities, grains or inclusions; the closed crack growth patterns observed are not smooth or free of kinks. Nevertheless, the model show good agreement with the reported experimental observations of the paths of closed macroscopic mode II cracks on samples in brittle materials, induced under overall compression. Failure patterns experimentally observed supports the theory that the growth of mode II cracks under compression in brittle materials follow a propagation path described by a function y ¼ kx b , where b ¼ 3=2. This is strongly supported by the measured values obtained from various experiments. In all the studied experiments, the exponent b was found in the interval [1.43–1.58]. Further, an investigation of the curvature parameter k has been performed and the conclusion is that k does also agree with the simplified model, even though not as good as the exponent b. However, k differs in general <15% from the theoretical value predicted by the model. The process of crack growth is in the simplified model assumed to be controlled by the mode II stress intensity factor KII of the main crack and the difference between the compressive remote normal stress parallel with the crack plane (r 1) and the compressive remote normal stress perpendicular to the crack plane (r 1). � 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

A crack perpendicular to and terminating at a bimaterial interface

Using dislocation simulation approach, the basic equation for a finite crack perpendicular to and terminating at a bimaterial interface is formulated. A novel expansion method is proposed for solving the problem. The complete solution to the problem, including the explicit formulae for theT stresses ahead of the crack tip and the stress intensity factors are presented. The stress field characteristics are analysed in detail. It is found that normal stresses {ie27-1} and {ie27-2} ahead of the crack tip, are characterised byQ fields if the crack is within a stiff material and the parameters |pT| and |qT| are very small, whereQ is a generalised stress intensity factor for a crack normal to and terminating at the interface. If the crack is within a weak material, the normal stresses {ie27-3} and {ie27-4} are dominated by theQ field plusT stress.

δ-Hydride Habit Plane Determination in α-Zirconium at 298 K by Strain Energy Minimization Technique

Hydrogen in excess of solid solubility precipitates as hydride phase of plate shaped morphology in hcp α-Zr with the broad face of the hydride plate coinciding with certain crystallographic plane of α-Zr crystal called habit plane. The objective of the present investigation is to predict the habit plane of δ-hydride precipitating in α-Zr at 298 K using strain energy minimization technique. The δ-hydride phase is modeled to undergo isotropic elasto-plastic deformation. The α-Zr phase was modeled to undergo transverse isotropic elastic deformation but isotropic plastic deformation. Accommodation strain energy of δ-hydride forming in α-Zr crystal was computed using initial strain method as a function of hydride nuclei orientation. Hydride was modeled as disk with round edge. Contrary to several habit planes reported in literature for δ- hydrides precipitating in α-Zr crystal, the total accommodation energy minima at 298 K suggests only basal plane i.e. (0001) as the habit plane.

A directional crack path criterion for crack growth in ductile materials subjected to shear and compressive loading under plane strain conditions

Abstract A directional crack growth criterion in a compressed elastic perfectly plastic material is considered. The conditions at the crack-tip are evaluated for a straight stationary crack with a small incipient kink. Remote load is a combined hydrostatic pressure and pure shear applied via a boundary layer. Crack surfaces in contact are assumed to develop homogenous Coulomb friction. The crack opening displacement of an extended kink is examined in a finite element analysis to judge the risk of opening mode failure. It has been found that the direction that maximizes the crack opening displacement of an extended kink tip coincides very well with a prediction of the crack growth direction obtained by using a criterion for continued crack growth direction discussed by the authors elsewhere [Int. J. Fract. 108 (2001) 351]. Moreover, the by the model predicted incipient crack growth directions are qualitatively comparable with reported crack paths obtained in ductile materials in a limited number of experiments performed under a combined load of in-plane shear and compression.

Fracture Toughness of a Laminated Composite

The fracture toughness of a polymer-metal laminate composite is obtained by mechanical testing of a specimen containing a pre-crack. The laminate is a material used for packaging. It consists of a thin aluminium foil and a polymer coating. A centre cracked panel test geometry is used. Each of the layers forming the laminate is also tested separately. The result is compared with the measured fracture strength of the individual layers. It is observed that the load carrying capacity increases dramatically for the laminate. At the strain when peak load is reached for the laminate only aluminium is expected to carry any substantial load because of the low stiffness of the LDPE. However, the strength of the laminate is almost twice the strength of the aluminium foil. The reason seems to be that the aluminium forces the polymer to absorb large quantities of energy at small nominal strain. The toughness compares well with the accumulated toughness of all involved layers. Possible fracture of the interface between the layers is discussed.

Strain Driven Transport for Bone Modeling at the Periosteal Surface

Bone modeling and remodeling has been the subject of extensive experimental studies. There have been several mathematical models proposed to explain the observed behavior, as well. A different approach is taken here in which the bone is treated from a macroscopic view point. In this investigation, a one-dimensional analytical model is used to shed light on the factors which play the greatest role in modeling or growth of cortical bone at the periosteal surface. It is presumed that bone growth is promoted when increased amounts of bone nutrients, such as nitric oxide synthase (NOS) or messenger molecules, such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), seep out to the periosteal surface of cortical bone and are absorbed by osteoblasts. The transport of the bone nutrients is assumed to be a strain controlled process. Equations for the flux of these nutrients are written for a one-dimensional model of a long bone. The obtained partial differential equation is linearized and solved analytically. Based upon the seepage of nutrients out of the bone, the effect of loading frequency, number of cycles and strain level is examined for several experiments that were found in the literature. It is seen that bone nutrient seepage is greatest on the tensile side of the bone; this location coincides with the greatest amount of bone modeling.