A modified cohesive zone model for fatigue delamination in adhesive joints:Numerical and experimental investigations

A modified cohesive zone model (CZM) has been developed to simulate damage initiation and evolution in Fibre-Metal Laminates (FMLs) manufactured in-house but based on the Glare® material specifications. Specimens containing both splice and doubler features were analysed under high cycle fatigue loading. The model uses a novel trapezoidal traction-separation law to describe the elastic-plastic behaviour of this material under monotonic and high-cycle fatigue loading. The model is implemented in the software Abaqus/Explicit via an user-defined cohesive material subroutine. Several models of increasing complexity were investigated to validate the proposed approach. A two-stage experimental testing programme was then conducted to validate the numerical analyses. Firstly, quasi-static tests were used to determine the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of a series of specimens with and without internal features. Secondly, high-cycle fatigue tests were conducted on both laminate types with variable load amplitude so that S-N curves could be built. Tests were monitored using digital image correlation (DIC) for full-field strain mapping and acoustic emission (AE) sensing to detect the initiation and propagation of damage during quasi-static and fatigue tests. Good correlation was observed between predicted onset and growth of delaminations and the history of cumulative AE energy during the tests, which supports the validity of the cohesive modelling approach for FMLs

Biomimetic apatite formation on different polymeric microspheres modified with calcium silicate solutions

Proceedings of the 18th International Symposium on Ceramics in Medicine, The Annual Meeting of the International Society for Ceramics in Medicine (ISCM), Kyoto, Japan, 5-8 December 2005. Published in : Key Enggineering Materials, vol. 309 - 311Bioactive polymeric microspheres can be produced by pre-coating them with a calcium silicate solution and the subsequent soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF). Such combination should allow for the development of bioactive microspheres for several applications in the medical field including tissue engineering. In this work, three types of polymeric microspheres with different sizes were used: (i) ethylene-vinyl alcohol co-polymer (20-30 'm), (ii) polyamide 12 (10-30 'm) and (iii) polyamide 12 (300 'm). These microspheres were soaked in a calcium silicate solution at 36.5ºC for different periods of time under several conditions. Afterwards, they were dried in air at 100ºC for 24 hrs. Then, the samples were soaked in SBF for 1, 3 and 7 days. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, thin-film X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy showed that after the calcium silicate treatment and the subsequent soaking in SBF, the microspheres successfully formed a bonelike apatite layer on their surfaces in SBF within 7 days due to the formation of silanol (Si-OH) groups that are quite effective for apatite formation.I. B. Leonor thanks the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for providing her a PhD scholarship (SFRH/BD/9031/2002) and the European Union funded STREP Project HIPPOCRATES (NMP3-CT-2003-505758) and the European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283)

Growth of a bonelike apatite on chitosan microparticles after a calcium silicate treatment

Bioactive chitosan microparticles can be prepared successfully by treating them with a calcium silicate solution and then subsequently soaking them in simulated body fluid (SBF). Such a combination enables the development of bioactive microparticles that can be used for several applications in the medical field, including injectable biomaterial systems and tissue engineering carrier systems. Chitosan microparticles, 0.6 lm in average size, were soaked either for 12 h in fresh calcium silicate solution (condition I) or for 1 h in calcium silicate solution that had been aged for 24 h before use (condition II). Afterwards, they were dried in air at 60 !C for 24 h. The samples were then soaked in SBF for 1, 3 and 7 days. After the condition I calcium silicate treatment and the subsequent soaking in SBF, the microparticles formed a dense apatite layer after only 7 days of immersion, which is believed to be due to the formation of silanol (Si– OH) groups effective for apatite formation. For condition II, the microparticles successfully formed an apatite layer on their surfaces in SBF within only 1 day of immersion.I.B.L. thanks the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), for providing her a PhD scholarship (SFRH/BD/9031/2002), the European Union funded STREP Project HIPPOCRATES (NMP3-CT-2003-505758) and the European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283)

Surface potential change in bioactive polymer during the process of biomimetic apatite formation in a simulated body fluid

A bioactive polyethylene substrate can be produced by incorporation of sulfonic functional groups (-SO3H) on its surface and by soaking in a calcium hydroxide saturated solution. Variation of the surface potential of the polyethylene modified with -SO3H groups with soaking in a simulated body fluid (SBF) was investigated using a laser electrophoresis zeta-potential analyzer. To complement the study using laser electrophoresis, the surface was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thin film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive electron X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Comparing the zeta potential of sulfonated and Ca(OH)2-treated polyethylene with its surface structure at each interval of these soaking times in SBF, it is apparent that the polymer has a negative surface potential when it forms -SO3H groups on its surface. The surface potential of the polymer increases when it forms amorphous calcium sulfate. The potential decreases when it forms amorphous calcium phosphate, revealing a constant negative value after forming apatite. The XPS and zeta potential analysis demonstrated that the surface potential of the polyethylene was highly negatively charged after soaking in SBF for 0.5 h, increased for higher soaking times (up to 48 h), and then decreased. The negative charge of the polymer at a soaking time of 0.5 h is attributed to the presence of -SO3H groups on the surface. The initial increase in the surface potential was attributed to the incorporation of positively charged calcium ions to form calcium sulfate, and then the subsequent decrease was assigned to the incorporation of negatively charged phosphate ions to form amorphous calcium phosphate, which eventually transformed into apatite. These results indicate that the formation of apatite on bioactive polyethylene in SBF is due to electrostatic interaction of the polymer surface and ions in the fluid

Lu-Hf em zircão por LA-MC-ICP-MS: aplicação em gabro do Ofiolito Aburrá, Colômbia

The Lu-Hf methodology in zircon by LA-MC-ICP-MS established at the Laboratory of Isotope Geology, Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, and applied in igneous zircons from a gabbroic body of the Aburrá Ophiolite, Colombia, is described. The interest in the application of this methodology when it is available a system of in situ zircon analysis by LA-ICP-MS, should be consigned to relative simplicity, sensitivity and speed of analysis. The high concentration of Hf in zircon, which can reach thousands of ppm, provides highly accurate isotopic ratios and model ages that can support not only important inferences about the age of mantle extraction, but also as to its possible evolutionary history, and provenance related studies. The accuracy in order of 20 ppm in standard error of the 176Hf/177Hf ratios and about 10% in 176Lu/177Hf ratios provided by the Neptune (Thermo Finnigan) should be consigned to the modern technology of simultaneous measurements of the isotopes involved in the methodology. The Nd: YAG (213 nm) laser from New Wave used proved to be very appropriate using the following parameters: energy density of 5-6 J/cm2 , frequency of 10 Hz, 50 s of ablation and diameter of 55 µm. A flow of approximately 4 mL/min of nitrogen added to the carrier gas to inhibit the oxide formation in plasma proved to be effective in stabilizing the sign and brought a remarkable increase in ionization efficiency estimated at up to 100% in the signs, seen in GJ-1 and Mud Tank standards. These standards are slightly different in isotopic compositions for the176Hf/177Hf ratio and provided values of 0.282004 ± 0.000004 and 0.282466 ± 0.000022, respectively. The analytical procedure adopted followed a protocol in which three zircons were interspersed with the international standard GJ-1. In situ analyses of Hf in 12 grains separated from the gabbroic body, previously dated by U-Pb, revealed εHf(t) between +2.01 and +5.35, while the TDM model age values resulted in a range between 1.15 and 1.44 Ga.A metodologia Lu-Hf em zircão por LA-MC-ICP-MS implantada no Laboratório de Geologia Isotópica da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e aplicada em zircões ígneos de um corpo gabróico do Ofiolito Aburrá, Colômbia, é detalhadamente descrita e constitui o objetivo deste trabalho. O interesse na aplicação desta metodologia, quando se dispõe de um sistema de análise de zircões in situ por LA-MC-ICP-MS, deve ser consignado à relativa simplicidade, sensibilidade e rapidez de análise. A alta concentração de Hf em zircão, que pode alcançar milhares de ppm, propicia razões isotópicas e idades modelos, que possibilitam subsidiar importantes inferências não só quanto à idade de extração mantélica, mas também quanto à sua possível história evolutiva, proveniência e estudos afins. A precisão da ordem de 20 ppm no erro do padrão nas razões 176Hf/177Hf e de cerca de 10% nas razões 176Lu/177Hf propiciada pelo Neptune (ThermoFinnigan) deve ser consignada à moderna tecnologia de medidas simultâneas dos isótopos envolvidos na metodologia. O laser de Nd:YAG(213 nm) da New Wave utilizado revelou-se muito apropriado ao usar os seguintes parâmetros: densidade de energia entre 5 a 6 J/cm2, frequência de 10 Hz, 50 s de ablação e diâmetro de 55 μm. Um fluxo de aproximadamente 4 mL/min de nitrogênio adicionado ao gás de arraste para inibir a formação de óxidos junto ao plasma mostrou se eficaz na estabilização do sinal, resultando em um notável aumento na eficiência de ionização estimado até em 100% nos sinais, verificado nos padrões GJ-1 e Mud Tank. Estes padrões são de composições isotópicas ligeiramente diferentes para a razão 176Hf/177Hf e forneceram valores de 0,282004 ± 0,000004 e 0,282466 ±0,000022, respectivamente. O procedimento analítico adotado seguiu um protocolo em que três zircões foram intercalados com o padrão internacional GJ-1. Análises in situ de Hf em 12 grãos separados do corpo gabróico, previamente datados por U-Pb, revelaram εHf(t) entre +2,01 e +5,35, enquanto as idades modelo TDM resultaram valores em um intervalo entre 1,15 e 1,44 Ga

Formation of bone-like apatite on polymeric surfaces modified with -SO3H groups

Sulfonic groups (-SO3H) were covalently attached on different polymeric surfaces enabling them to induce apatite nucleation, for developing bioactive apatite-polymer composites with a bonelike 3-dimensional structure. High molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE) and ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol co-polymer (EVOH) were used. The polymers were soaked in two types of sulphate-containing solutions with different concentrations, sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and chlorosulfonic acid (ClSO3H). To incorporate calcium ions into to the sulfonated polymers, the samples were soaked in a saturated Ca(OH)2 solution for 24 hours. After soaking of the samples in a simulated body fluid (SBF), formation of an apatite layer on both surfaces was observed. The results obtained prove the validity of the proposed concept and show that the -SO3H groups are effective on inducing apatite nucleation on the surface of these polymers.(undefined

An integrated numerical model for investigating guided waves in impact-damaged composite laminates

This paper presents a novel numerical technique that combines predictions of impact-induced damage and subsequent ultrasonic guided-wave propagation in composite laminates, with emphasis on the development and verification of the modelling framework. Delamination and matrix cracking are considered in the modelling technique, which is validated by experimental measurements on a carbon-fibre/epoxy plate using a drop-weight impact tower and a scanning laser vibrometer. Good agreement has been found between simulations and experiments regarding the impact response and global-local wavefields. Effects of these two damage modes, damage extent and multiple impacts on guided waves are studied using the modelling tool. Matrix cracking leads to lower wavefield scattering compared with delamination, particularly in un-damaged regions. The modelling strategy can provide valuable guidelines for optimising health-monitoring arrangements on composite structures that are susceptible to impacts, and the guided-wave model can also be integrated with other numerical models for predicting internal flaws in composite laminates

Delamination characteristics of glare laminates containing doubler and splice features under high cycle fatigue loading

A modified cohesive zone model (CZM) has been developed to simulate damage initiation and evolution inGlare™ Fibre-Metal Laminate (FML) specimens containing both splice and doubler features under high-cycle fatigue loading. The model computes the cohesive stiffness degradation under mixed-mode loading based on user-defined crack growth rate data and is implemented in a VUMAT subroutine for the FEA software Abaqus/Explicit. To validate the model experimental data has been obtained for a number of Glare 4B specimens containing splice and doubler features monitored using digital image correlation (DIC) to provide full-field displacement and strain data and Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring to detect damage initiation and propagation. The model was used to predict the initiation and growth of damage in splice joints under quasi-static loading. The results were verified against the cohesive zone model available in Abaqus and then validated against experimental data on Glare specimens. The codes are currently being extended to incorporate a mixed-mode fatigue damage evolution model based on input Paris laws, which have been extracted from high cycle fatigue experiments on Glare specimens containing both splice and doubler joints