11,711 research outputs found

    Freeze-Thaw Durability and Long-Term Performance Evaluation of Shotcrete in Cold Regions

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    This study’s aim was to evaluate the freeze-thaw durability of shotcrete in cold regions and predict its long-term performance. One benchmark mix design from the WSDOT was chosen to prepare samples for performance evaluation. Shotcrete specimens were conditioned in accordance with ASTM C666. The long-term freeze-thaw performance after certain cycles was evaluated using the dynamic modulus of elasticity test (ASTM C215), fracture energy test (RILEM 50-FMC), and X-ray CT microstructure imaging analysis. Probabilistic damage analysis was conducted to establish the relation between the durability life and the damage parameter for different probabilities of reliability using the three-parameter Weibull distribution model. The fracture energy test was found to be a more sensitive test method than the dynamic modulus of elasticity for screening material deterioration over time and for capturing accumulative material damage caused by rapid freeze-thaw action, because of smaller durability factors (degradation ratios) obtained from the fracture energy test. X-ray CT imaging analysis is capable of detecting microcracks that form and pore evolution in the aggregate and interface transition zone of conditioned samples. Moreover, the continuum damage mechanic-based model shows potential in predicting long-term material degradation and the service life of shotcrete

    Fracture simulation for zirconia toughened alumina microstructure

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    Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe finite element modelling for fracture and fatigue behaviour of zirconia toughened alumina microstructures. Design/methodology/approach - A two-dimensional finite element model is developed with an actual Al2O3Al{_2}O{_3} - 10 vol% ZrO2ZrO{_2} microstructure. A bilinear, time-independent cohesive zone law is implemented for describing fracture behaviour of grain boundaries. Simulation conditions are similar to those found at contact between a head and a cup of hip prosthesis. Residual stresses arisen from the mismatch of thermal coefficient between grains are determined. Then, effects of a micro-void and contact stress magnitude are investigated with models containing residual stresses. For the purpose of simulating fatigue behaviour, cyclic loadings are applied to the models. Findings - Results show that crack density is gradually increased with increasing magnitude of contact stress or number of fatigue cycles. It is also identified that a micro-void brings about the increase of crack density rate. Social implications - This paper is the first step for predicting the lifetime of ceramic implants. The social implications would appear in the next few years about health issues. Originality/value - This proposed finite element method allows describing fracture and fatigue behaviours of alumina-zirconia microstructures for hip prosthesis, provided that a microstructure image is available

    Failure analysis based on microvoid growth for sheet metal during uniaxial and biaxial tensile tests

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    The aim of the presented investigations is to perform an analysis of fracture and instability during simple and complex load testing by addressing the influence of ductile damage evolution in necking processes. In this context, an improved experimental methodology was developed and successfully used to evaluate localization of deformation during uniaxial and biaxial tensile tests. The biaxial tensile tests are carried out using cruciform specimen loaded using a biaxial testing machine. In this experimental investigation, Stereo-Image Correlation technique has is used to produce the heterogeneous deformations map within the specimen surface. Scanning electron microscope is used to evaluate the fracture mechanism and the micro-voids growth. A finite element model of uniaxial and biaxial tensile tests are developed, where a ductile damage model Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) is used to describe material deformation involving d`amage evolution. Comparison between the experimental and the simulation results show the accuracy of the finite element model to predict the instability phenomenon. The advanced measurement techniques contribute to understand better the ductile fracture mechanism

    Experimental characterization and numerical modeling of micromechanical damage under different stress states

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    The use of HSLA steels for the manufacture of automotive components is interesting from an engineering point of view. This family of steels, while possessing high strength, also has good formability and can be used in forming manufacturing processes. In some forming processes such as blanking, shear strain localization occurs, which causes damage and results in the final fracture of the material. This paper presents an experimental study based on in situ tests to understand and identify the physical mechanisms of ductile damage under two stress states: tension and shear. Different macroscopic tests were performed to calibrate a damage model based on a micromechanical approach. This damage model is based on the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman theory and presents recent improvements proposed by Nahshon and Hutchinson and by Nielsen and Tvergaard so as to better predict fracture under a wide range of stress states, especially with low levels of stress triaxiality. These extensions have made the identification of the material parameter more complicated. In this work an identification strategy has been proposed using tests on specimens with different shapes. The identified parameter values are validated and the fracture model show good predictive capability over a wide stress state range

    Reliability Analysis By Considering Steel Physical Properties

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    Most customers today are pursuing engineering materials (e.g., steel) that not only can achieve their expected functions but also are highly reliable. As a result, reliability analysis of materials has been receiving increasing attention over the past few decades. Most existing studies in the reliability engineering field focus on developing model-based and data-driven approaches to analyze material reliability based on material failure data such as lifetime data and degradation data, without considering effects of material physical properties. Ignoring such effects may result in a biased estimation of material reliability, which in turn could incur higher operation or maintenance costs. Recently, with the advancement of sensor technology more information/data concerning various physical properties of materials are accessible to reliability researchers. In this dissertation, considering the significant impacts of steel physical properties on steel failures, we propose systematic methodologies for steel reliability analysis by integrating a set of steel physical properties. Specifically, three steel properties of various scales are considered: 1) a macro-scale property called overload retardation; 2) a local-scale property called dynamic local deformation; and 3) a micro-scale property called microstructure effect. For incorporating property 1), a novel physical-statistical model is proposed based on a modification of the current Paris law. To incorporate property 2), a novel statistical model named multivariate general path model is proposed, which is a generalization of an existing univariate general path model. For the integration of property 3), a novel statistical model named distribution-based functional linear model is proposed, which is a generalization of an existing functional linear model. Theoretical property analyses and statistical inferences of these three models are intensively developed. Various simulation studies are implemented to verify and illustrate the proposed methodologies. Multiple physical experiments are designed and conducted to demonstrate the proposed models. The results show that, through the integration of the aforementioned three steel physical properties, a significant improvement of steel reliability assessment is achieved in terms of failure prediction accuracy compared to traditional reliability studies

    Experimental Reexamination of Transverse Tensile Strength for IM7/8552 Tape-Laminate Composites

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    Due to the observed dependence of transverse-tensile strength, YT, on test geometry and specimen size, there is no consensus regarding a test method that can uniquely measure YT. This study reexamines characterization of YT by comparing results from established flexure tests with results from a new tensile test that exhibits consistent failure in the gage region. Additionally, the effects of surface preparation and direction of transverse fracture are investigated. Results show that YT is inversely proportional to specimen volume and surface roughness, and is insensitive to direction of transverse fracture. The relationship between specimen volume and YT is adequately captured by Weibull strength-scaling theory, except at the tails of the YT distributions. However, specimens exhibited microcracking prior to failure, which violates the weak-link assumptions of the Weibull theory. These findings highlight the challenges of using deterministic YT values in progressive damage analysis

    Comparison of gurson and lemaitre model in the context of blanking simulation of a high strength steel

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    The process of blanking takes place in a short band with high accumulated strain undergoing various stress triaxialities. Enhanced implementations for shear and compressive loads of Gurson’s and Lemaitre’s model are directly compared for the same blanking setup. For a dual phase steel DP600 the Lemaitre parameters are identified completely by an inverse strategy, while the parameters of the Gurson’s porous plasticity model are predominantly gained from analysis with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The models are validated by comparison of force-displacement curves, time point and location of crack initiation. Advantages and disadvantages of both approaches are discussed with respect to prediction accuracy and costs of parameter identification. Both of the models deliver an exact prediction for the location of the crack and a good prediction of the punch displacement at the onset of cracking
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