On the Mechanical Response in a Thermal Barrier System Due to Martensitic Phase Transformation in the Bond Coat

Recentstudies have shown that Pt-aluminide—a common bond coat material inthermal barrier coatings—undergoes martensitic transformations during thermal cycling. The transformationsare associated with both large transformation strain and a strainhysteresis, leading to accumulation of a mismatch strain. Thermal barriersystems based on Pt-aluminide bond coats are susceptible to interfacialmorphological instabilities. In this study, we investigate how the cyclicmartensitic transformation influences the morphology. Two key results are: (i)the morphological instabilities are highly sensitive to the thermo-mechanical propertiesof the substrate due to the martensitic transformation; (ii) thehysteresis associated with cyclic martensitic transformation cannot drive the morphologicalinstabilities; the strains associated with the formation of the thermallygrown oxide d

The Effects of Patch Properties on the Debonding Behavior of Patched Beam-Plates

The debonding characteristics of patched structures are investigated in this study by means of an analytical model. In particular, the effects the lay-up sequence and edge tapering of a carbon-reinforced epoxy patch, as well as the beveling of an aluminum patch, have on the initiation, stability, and extent of the debonding are considered. The results presented show that both the degree of edge-tapering and the patch properties must be carefully selected in order to optimize the patched structure. It is also shown that when designing a patched system, it is important to model the correct boundary and load conditions to correctly simulate the debonding behavior

High Strength and Light-weight Materials Inspired by the Exoskeleton of Arthropods

This work investigates the multiscaled structure and the constitutive behavior of the exoskeleton of arthropods (Japanese beetle) along with the response of biomimicked structures. Image analysis (SEM and TEM) revealed three load-bearing regions comprised of chitin-protein fiber layers orientated parallel to the cuticle surface. The chitin fibers in the exocuticle and mesocuticle are organized in a helicoidal structure (layers stacked with a small rotational angle relative to their adjacent layers). The endocuticle has a distinct pseudo-orthogonal pattern, characterized by a thin transitional helicoidal region inserted between two orthogonal layers. Idealized mechanics based models showed that the pseudo-orthogonal structure redistributes the stresses, and reduces the maximum tensile stress and transverse shear stress in the cross-section, thus making the structure able to tolerate larger external loads. Furthermore, the interfacial strain energy release rate is lower in the pseudo-orthogonal structure compared to the cross-ply laminate, suggesting that the pseudo-orthogonal structure may be more resistant to fracture. The bio-inspired laminated composite structures, designed and manufactured, showed improved mechanical properties over the conventional industry standard structure, primarily the residual strength under static load. In all, these observations may be used to produce durable man-made materials and structures

Modeling Failures of Thermal Barrier Coatings

Thermal barrier coatings are commonly used in high temperature parts of gas turbines, to protect the underlying metal substrate from deterioration during high temperature exposure. Unfortunately, the coatings fail prematurely, preventing the design engineers to fully utilize their implementation. Due to the complexity of the coatings, there are many challenges involved with developing failure hypotheses for the failures. This paper reviews some aspects of the current stateof- the-art on modeling failures of thermal barrier coatings, focusing on mechanics based models (such as finite element simulations) where the material physics is incorporated (such as oxidation and diffusion)

On the Microstructural Development in Platinum-Modified Nickel-Aluminide Bond Coats

A numerical procedure for simulating the distortions exhibited by a thermally grown oxide (TGO) upon temperature cycling has been adapted to incorporate the microstructure of the bond coat. The focus is on the dual phase β/γ′ microstructure that develops upon oxidation of a system with a Pt-aluminide bond coat. The results reveal that the presence of the γ′-phase next to the TGO reduces its distortion locally, because of the superior high-temperature strength of γ′, relative to β. Conversely, in regions where the β-phase exists adjacent to the TGO, it distorts and the TGO propagates downward, while simultaneously lengthening. These results from the simulations are in direct correspondence with experimental observations

On the Reference Length and Mode Mixity for a Bimaterial Interface

We investigate properties that govern interfacial fracture within the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics, including interfacial fracture toughness, mode mixity,and the associated reference length. The reference length describes the arbitrary location where the mode mixity is evaluated, ahead ofthe crack tip, in a bimaterial system. A method for establishing a reference length that is fixed for a given bimaterial system is proposed. This is referred to as the“characteristic reference length,” with the associated “characteristic mode mixity.” The proposed method is illustrated with an experimental investigation, utilizing a four-point bend test of a bimaterial system

Assessing Plastically Dissipated Energy as a Condition for Fatigue Crack Growth

The suitability of using a proposed condition for simulating cyclic crack propagation in a numerical scheme is qualitatively investigated, employing the finite element method. The propagation criterion is based on a condition that relates the plastically dissipated energy to a critical value. In the finite element simulation scheme, the crack is allowed to propagate when the criterion is satisfied, and the crack propagates until the condition is no longer fulfilled. Experimentally, it is well established that a negative load ratio increases the crack propagation rate, whereas a tensile overload tends to decrease the crack propagation rate. By simulating these load conditions, we show that the proposed propagation criterion closely captures these rate changes

Obtaining Mode Mixity for a Bimaterial Interface Crack Using the Virtual Crack Closure Technique

We review, unify and extend work pertaining to evaluating mode mixity of interfacial fracture utilizing the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). From the VCCT, components of the strain energy release rate (SERR) are obtained using the forces and displacements near the crack tip corresponding to the opening and sliding contributions. Unfortunately, these components depend on the crack extension size, Δ, used in the VCCT. It follows that a mode mixity based upon these components also will depend on the crack extension size. However, the components of the strain energy release rate can be used for determining the complex stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the associated mode mixity. In this study, we show that several—seemingly different—suggested methods presented in the literature used to obtain mode mixity based on the stress intensity factors are indeed identical. We also present an alternative, simpler quadratic equation to this end. Moreover, a Δ-independent strain energy release based mode mixity can be defined by introducing a “normalizing length parameter.” We show that when the reference length (used for the SIF-based mode mixity) and the normalizing length (used for Δ-independent SERR-based mode mixity) are equal, the two mode mixities are only shifted by a phase angle, depending on the bimaterial parameter ε

A Simple Numerical Method of Cycle Jumps for Cyclically Loaded Structures

A method for accelerated numerical simulations of structures subjected to cyclic loading is investigated. Of particular interest is a class of structures where the structural properties evolve with time. The proposed method is based on conducting detailed finite element analysis for a set of cycles to establish a trend line, extrapolating the trend line spanning many cycles, and use the extrapolated state as initial state for additional FEA simulations. This includes a control function that automatically monitors the length of the cycle jump to ensure a realistic solution. We compare the proposed method to a reference calculation, where all incremental cycles are conducted, and find that the cycle jump solution replicates the true solution