Robert M. McMeeking

A Test Specimen for Determining the Fracture Resistance of Bimaterial Interfaces

A finite element approach has been used to characterize trends in the stress intensities and center point displacement with specimen dimensions, elastic properties, and crack length

Ferroelectric/ferroelastic interactions and a polarization switching model

Abstract Ferroelectric and ferroelastic switching cause ferroelectric ceramics to depolarize and deform when subjected to excessive electric field or stress. Switching is the source of the classic butterfly shaped strain vs electric field curves and the corresponding electric displacement vs electric field loops [1]. It is also the source of a stress—strain curve with linear elastic behavior at low stress, non-linear switching strain at intermediate stress, and linear elastic behavior at high stress [2, 3]. In this work, ceramic lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) is polarized by loading with a strong electric field. The resulting strain and polarization hysteresis loops are recorded. The polarized sample is then loaded with compressive stress parallel to the polarization and the stress vs strain curve is recorded. The experimental results are modeled with a computer simulation of the ceramic microstructure. The polarization and strain for an individual grain are predicted from the imposed electric field and stress through a Preisach hysteresis model. The response of the bulk ceramic to applied loads is predicted by averaging the response of individual grains that are considered to be statistically random in orientation. The observed strain and electric displacement hysteresis loops and the nonlinear stress—strain curve for the polycrystalline ceramic are reproduced by the simulation.

Particle reinforcement of ductile matrices against plastic flow and creep

Abstract A theoretical investigation is made of the role of non-deforming particles in reinforcing ductile matrix materials against plastic flow and creep. The study is carried out within the framework of continuum plasticity theory using cell models to implement most of the calculations. Systematic results are given for the influence of particle volume fraction and shape on the overall behavior of composites with uniformly distributed, aligned reinforcement. The stress-strain behavior of the matrix material is characterized by elastic-perfectly plastic behavior or by power-law hardening behavior of the Ramberg-Osgood type. A relatively simple connection is noted between the asymptotic reference stress for the composite with the power-law hardening matrix and the limit flow stress of the corresponding composite with the elastic-perfectly plastic matrix. The asymptotic reference stress for the composite with the power-law matrix is applicable to steady-state creep. A limited study is reported on the overall limit flow stress for composites with randomly orientated disc-like or needle-like particles when the particles are arranged in a packet-like morphology.

On the toughness of brittle materials reinforced with a ductile phase

Abstract The toughening of brittle matrices by the dispersion of a ductile phase has provided composite materials with important property combinations. However, the characteristics of the ductile phase that generate optimum toughness have yet to be adequately established. This article presents some observations in several composite systems of toughening by a plastic stretching mechanism and describes models of the stretching process. Some of the salient aspects of toughening emerge from a comparison between theory and experiment. In particular, ductile phases having a large uniaxial work of fracture and large mean strain for hole initiation tend to most effectively augment the toughness of brittle matrices, especially in conjuction with appreciable residual compression in the matrix, induced by thermal expansion mismatch.

A constitutive model for ferroelectric polycrystals

Abstract A constitutive model is developed for the non-linear switching of ferroelectric polycrystals under a combination of mechanical stress and electric field. It is envisaged that the polycrystal consists of a set of bonded crystals and that each crystal comprises a set of distinct crystal variants. Within each crystal the switching event, which converts one crystal variant into another, gives rise to a progressive change in remanent strain and polarisation and to a change in the average linear electromechanical properties. It is further assumed that switching is resisted by the dissipative motion of domain walls. The constitutive model for the progressive switching of each crystal draws upon elastic–plastic crystal plasticity theory, and a prescription is given for the tangent moduli of the crystal, for any assumed set of potentially active transformation systems. A self-consistent analysis is used to estimate the macroscopic response of tetragonal crystals (representative of lead titanate) under a variety of loading paths. Also, the evolution of the switching surface in stress-electric field space is calculated. Many of the qualitative features of ferroelectric switching, such as butterfly hysteresis loops, are predicted by the analysis.

Numerical analysis of hydrogen transport near a blunting crack tip

Abstract T he hydrogen transport problem is studied in conjunction with large deformation elastic—plastic behavior of a material. Orianis equilibrium theory is used to relate the hydrogen in traps (micro-structural defects) to concentration in normal interstitial lattice sites (NILS). The resulting non-linear transient hydrogen diffusion equations are integrated using a modified backward Euler method. Coupled diffusion and plastic straining is analysed with this numerical procedure in the area around a blunting crack tip. A uniform NILS concentration as dictated by Sieverts law at the pressure and temperature of interest is used as initial condition throughout the body. The crack is initially blunted by plane strain mode I (tensile) loading. The finite element results show that hydrogen residing at NILS is generally very small in comparison with the population that develops in trapping sites near the crack surface. That is, lattice diffusion delivers the hydrogen but it is predominantly the trapping that determines its distribution at temperatures of interest. The predominance of trapped hydrogen over lattice concentration prevails even in the case when hydrogen migrates under steady state conditions. Hence, the hydrostatic stress effect is less important than traps created by plastic straining as far as the creation of high total hydrogen concentration is concerned. The trapping site locations and the temperature determine the amounts and locations of high hydrogen concentrations. Consequently, ahead of a blunting crack tip, the total hydrogen concentration and plastic strain diminish with distance from the crack tip whereas the hydrostatic stress rises. This would seem to have significant consequences for fractures induced by the presence of hydrogen.

On the toughening of ceramics by strong reinforcements

Abstract Some effects of intact particles in the crack wake on the fracture toughness of ceramics have been analyzed. The results have been applied to interpretation of the toughening of ceramics by strong well-bonded metal particles and by whiskers. Trends in toughness with microstructure have been predicted for various reinforced ceramic systems.

Electrostatic forces and stored energy for deformable dielectric materials

An isothermal energy balance is formulated for a system consisting of deformable dielectric bodies, electrodes, and the surrounding space. The formulation in this paper is obtained in the electrostatic limit but with the possibility of arbitrarily large deformations of polarizable material. The energy balance recognizes that charges may be driven onto or off of the electrodes, a process accompanied by external electrical work; mechanical loads may be applied to the bodies, thereby doing work through displacements; energy is stored in the material by such features as elasticity of the lattice, piezoelectricity, and dielectric and electrostatic interactions; and nonlinear reversible material behavior such as electrostriction may occur. Thus the external work is balanced by (I) internal energy consisting of stress doing work on strain increments, (2) the energy associated with permeating free space with an electric field, and (3) by the electric field doing work on increments of electric displacement or, equivalently, polarization. For a conservative system, the internal work is stored reversibly in the body and in the underlying and surrounding space. The resulting work statement for a conservative system is considered in the special cases of isotropic deformable dielectrics and piezoelectric materials. We identify the electrostatic stress, which provides measurable information quantifying the electrostatic effects within the system, and find that it is intimately tied to the constitutive formulation for the material and the associated stored energy and cannot be independent of them. The Maxwell stress, which is related to the force exerted by the electric field on charges in the system, cannot be automatically identified with the electrostatic stress and is difficult to measure. Two well-known and one novel formula for the electrostatic stress are identified and related to specific but differing constitutive assumptions for isotropic materials. The electrostatic stress is then obtained for a specific set of assumptions in regard to a piezoelectric material. An exploration of the behavior of an actuator composed of a deformable, electroactive polymer is presented based on the formulation of the paper.

Yielding of metal powder bonded by isolated contacts

Abstract A macroscopic constitutive law is developed for the plastic yielding of a random aggregate of perfectly plastic spherical metal particles. The particles are bonded perfectly by isolated contacts and deformation occurs by plastic yielding of material at and near these contacts. The configuration is treated as isotropic and homogeneous as far as particle size and properties are concerned. The results are considered valid for aggregates with densities ranging from about 60% to around 90% of the theoretical fully dense level. The yield surface is obtained from the plastic dissipation at necks between particles given an imposed macroscopically uniform strain rate. The contact yield surface resulting from this analysis is sensitive to pressure as well as to deviatoric stress. The plastic strain rate direction is outwardly normal to the yield surface. Densification takes place when pressure is present, but a notable feature is a vertex on the yield surface at the points of pure positive and negative pressure. Consequently, plastic flow in the presence of pure pressure is nonunique, and deviatoric components may be superposed on densification.

A bio-chemo-mechanical model for cell contractility

A general model for the contractility of cells is presented that accounts for the dynamic reorganization of the cytoskeleton. The model is motivated by three key biochemical processes: (i) an activation signal that triggers actin polymerization and myosin phosphorylation, (ii) the tension-dependent assembly of the actin and myosin into stress fibers, and (iii) the cross-bridge cycling between the actin and myosin filaments that generates the tension. Simple relations are proposed to model these coupled phenomena and a continuum model developed for simulating cell contractility. The model is capable of predicting key experimentally established characteristics including: (i) the decrease in the forces generated by the cell with increasing substrate compliance, (ii) the influence of cell shape and boundary conditions on the development of structural anisotropy, and (iii) the high concentration of the stress fibers at the focal adhesions. We present numerical examples of a square cell on four supports to demonstrate these capabilities.