Transverse impact damage and energy absorption of 3-D multi-structured knitted composite

Knitted composites have higher failure deformation and energy absorption capacity under impact than other textile structural composites because of the yarn loop structures in knitted performs. Here we report the transverse impact behavior of a new kind of 3-D multi-structured knitted composite both in experimental and finite element simulation. The knitted composite is composed of two knitted fabrics: biaxial warp knitted fabric and interlock knitted fabric. The transverse impact behaviors of the 3-D knitted composite were tested with a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus. The load–displacement curves and damage morphologies were obtained to analyze the energy absorptions and impact damage mechanisms of the composite under different impact velocities. A unit-cell model based on the microstructure of the 3-D knitted composite was established to determine the composite deformation and damage when the composite impacted by a hemisphere-ended steel rod. Incorporated with the unit-cell model, a elasto-plastic constitute equation of the 3-D knitted composite and the critical damage area (CDA) failure theory of composites have been implemented as a vectorized user defined material law (VUMAT) for ABAQUS/Explicit. The load–displacement curves, impact deformations and damages obtained from FEM are compared with those in experimental. The good agreements of the comparisons prove the validity of the unit-cell model and user-defined subroutine VUMAT. This manifests the applicability of the VUMAT to characterization and design of the 3-D multi-structured knitted composite structures under other impulsive loading conditions.     

Experimental and analytical study of flat-plate floor confinement

Currently available analytical models were developed for homogeneous concrete and are therefore inapplicable to specimens cast with concretes of different strengths. The present study examines such composite structures, and more especially normal-strength floor concrete sandwiched between columns of high-strength concrete, as well as the aspect ratio (ratio of slab thickness to column dimension) and closely spaced slab reinforcement. The effect on column–slab joint strength of confinement by rectangular hoops and slab portions extending in all directions from the joint are investigated. Three series of experiments on column specimens were carried out and the experimental results compared with the analytical ones. The experimental results conform to the predictions made by the theoretical models. The same models were used to evaluate the effects on slab concrete behavior of confinement by lateral reinforcement and by a slab surrounding the column–slab joint. A surrounding-slab confinement factor was defined and developed for use in analysis. This study represents a first attempt to evaluate confinement effects in column–slab joints in the presence of surrounding slab. Application of the types of structure investigated here could yield improved strength and ductility, enabling smarter design.     

An RVE-based micromechanical analysis of fiber-reinforced composites considering fiber size dependency

An RVE-based micromechanical elastic damage model considering fiber size dependency is presented to predict the effective elastic moduli and interfacial damage evolution in fiber-reinforced composites. To assess the validity of the present model, the predictions based on the proposed micromechanical elastic model are compared with Hashin’s theoretical bounds [Hashin Z. Analysis of properties of fiber composites with anisotropic constituents. J Appl Mech: Trans ASME 1979;46:543–50]. The proposed micromechanical elastic damage model is then exercised under uniaxial loading conditions to show the overall elastic damage behavior of the proposed micromechanical framework and to illustrate fiber size effect on the behavior of the composites. Moreover, comparisons between the present prediction and experimental data are made to further illustrate the capability of the proposed micromechanical framework for predicting the elastic damage behavior of fiber-reinforced composites.     

Mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete subjected to impact loading

Understanding the behavior of concrete and reinforced concrete at high strain rates is of critical importance in a range of application. The behavior of concrete and reinforced concrete at strain rates of the order of 10⁴/s and pressure up to 1.5 GPa are studied experimentally. The concrete analyzed has the same composition and processing conditions as the matrix phase in the reinforced concrete. The dynamic compression experiments of reinforced concrete are carried out by one-stage light gas gun apparatus which subjects the reinforced concrete to deformation at strain rates of the order of 10⁴/s with confining pressures of 1–1.5 GPa. The voltage–time signals are recorded by the manganin pressure gauges embedded in the target. The stress–strain curves of reinforced concrete with different impact velocities are obtained using Lagrangian analysis, from which the distribution regulations of other mechanical parameters such as specific internal energy and specific volume in the flow field are acquired. Experimental results indicate that the load-carrying capacities of concrete and reinforced concrete increase significantly with strain rate. The concrete and reinforced concrete are non-linear, rate-sensitive and pressure-dependent.     

Modeling the effect of mesoscale randomness on concrete fracture

The random mesostructure of concrete has an important influence on the reliability and failure properties of the material. The objective of the proposed model is to create an efficient link between the mesostructure and the mechanical and damage behavior of concrete and related strain-softening materials. Three theoretical techniques comprise the model: cohesive debonding, the moving-window generalized method of cells, and a strain-softening finite element model. The model is calibrated with direct tension experiments geared towards isolating the mechanical behavior of the aggregate–mortar interface. The model makes a good prediction for the mechanical behavior of concrete in tension, particularly when randomness in the cohesive interface properties is taken into consideration.     

Plasticity models for concrete material based on different criteria including Bresler–Pister

The purpose of this study is to investigate nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) structures with the plasticity modeling. For this aim, a nonlinear finite element analysis program is coded in MATLAB. This program contains several yield criteria and stress–strain relationship for compression and tension behavior of concrete. In this paper, the well-known criteria, Drucker–Prager, von Mises, and Mohr Coulomb, and a new criterion-Bresler–Pister are taken into account. The elastic–perfectly plastic and Saenz stress–strain relationships in compression and tension stiffening in tension behavior of concrete are used with four different yield criteria mentioned above. The proposed models are in good agreement with the experimental and analytical results taken from the literature. It is concluded that the coded program, the proposed models, and Bresler–Pister criterion can be effectively used in nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete beams.     

FEM Implementation of a Three-Dimensional Viscoelastic Constitutive Model for Particulate Composites with Damage Growth

In order to analyze viscoelastic behavior of particulatecomposites with growing damage, an existing three dimensionalviscoelastic continuum damage model developed originally for solidpropellant is generalized for wider use in a Finite Element model(FEM). This equation allows for damage induced anisotropy (localtransverse isotropy). The constitutive equation is modified hereto account for the change of the material continuously froma compressible, undamaged isotropic state into the damagedanisotropic state. A fully viscoelastic time-dependentimplementation of the constitutive equation in a FEM is achievedthat allows for future extension of the FEM to simultaneously takeviscoplasticity into account. The computational results arecompared to experimental results for uniaxial and multiaxialstress states in displacement-driven experiments for solidpropellant. The multiaxial stress experiments used wide stripswith a center hole. The model predicts the experimental load andlocal strain response up to, and slightly beyond, the peak load,very well. The algorithm is shown by example to be stable far pastthe peak load.     

A Variant of the Strain-Hardening Theory Allowing for the Stress and Temperature Dependence of Parameters in Constitutive Equations

A procedure is put forward for concrete definition of constitutive relationships of the strain-hardening theory allowing for the level of damage in a material. The parameters of the equation of creep and the damage evolution relationship are assumed to be functions of stress and temperature. Efficiency of this approach is illustrated by describing creep curves for 20Kh13 and EP44 steels over a fairly wide range of stress variation.__________Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 2, pp. 19 – 27, March – April, 2005.     

Stress in particulate reinforcements and overall stress response on aluminum alloy matrix composites during straining by analytical and numerical modeling

SiC and Al₂O₃ (10–20v%) particle-reinforced Al-2618 matrix composites subjected to tensile loading were selected to simulate stress–strain curves and average stress in particles, and to examine mechanical properties experimentally in comparison. A particle-compounded mechanical model was established based on Eshelby equivalent inclusion approach to simulate stress–strain curves by introducing secant modulus and tangent modulus techniques, and to calculate stress in particles and in matrices. The same modeling work was carried out by FEM analysis based on the unit cell model using a commercial ANSYS code. The modeling and experiment were also applied to compare the mechanical behaviors between hard matrix and soft matrix, which were produced under different heat treatments. Through the comparison of the results between simulations and experiment, it is shown that Eshelby particle-compounded mechanical model can predict the stress–strain curve of the composites with both hard matrix and soft matrix, while the FEM model can match the experimental data with only hard matrix. The modeling was also carried out to study the influence of different volume fractions and aspect ratios on elastic modulus and yield strength of the composites with different reinforcing particles to get a better understanding of strengthening mechanisms of the composites.     

Probabilistic approach to corrosion risk due to carbonation via an adaptive response surface method

A study about a probabilistic approach to corrosion risk of reinforcements embedded in concrete due to carbonation is presented. The carbonation model is based on a single non-linear diffusion equation of the carbon dioxide. A global balance relationship between the carbon dioxide partial pressure and the solid calcium content in the hydrates of concrete is used in order to express the sink term of the equation and to render the solving easily tractable in a classical finite element analysis. The performance function invoked in the probabilistic approach is the deviation between the carbonation depth, i.e. the output of the carbonation model, and the concrete cover. The Hasofer–Lind reliability index is determined by the Rackwitz–Fiessler algorithm in which the performance function is replaced by a quadratic response surface in order to reduce computational cost and gain accuracy. An adaptive building of the numerical experimental design is proposed: points efficiently positioned with respect to the design point are re-used in the new iteration of the experimental design. In the case of explicit performance functions frequently reported in the literature comparisons with surface response techniques previously developed reveal the interest of the proposed technique. A practical application to a concrete girder shows that the reliability index decreases significantly with time.     

Interatomic potential for copper–antimony in dilute solid–solution alloys and application to single crystal dislocation nucleation

A new interatomic potential for copper–antimony (Cu–Sb) in low Sb concentration solid–solution alloys is proposed based upon the Lennard-Jones (LJ) pair formulation. Parameters for this new potential, σ and ε, are motivated by calculations of the Cu–Sb heat of solution (heat of mixing) and the strain field generated by a single substitutional impurity in single crystal copper, which is analyzed for impurity (dopant) atoms with various atomic radii. A well established embedded-atom method (EAM) potential is used to model the host copper. The ε parameter is derived for a range of values of σ by matching to the experimental value of the heat of solution. Then, the strain field around a single dopant atom is computed for each set of the calculated LJ parameters. Ultimately, the final parameters for the Cu–Sb interaction are selected to match the strain field corresponding to the atomic radius mismatch between Sb and Cu and are compared with the Eshelby solutions which are based on classical theory of elasticity. As an application of this new potential, it is shown using molecular dynamics simulations that the plastic deformation behavior of single crystal copper is affected by the characteristics of the strain field around the dopant atoms.     

复合材料3钉单搭连接有限元模拟与钉载分布

进行了复合材料一铝合金三钉单搭连接单向拉伸试验,测量了层合板面内位移、应变和离面位移随载荷的变化关系,建立了复合材料多钉单搭连接的三维累积损伤有限元模型,计算与试验对比结果表明,该模型可模拟大范围损伤发生之前的承载特性。采用试验和数值模拟相结合的方法研究了复合材料一金属三钉单搭连接钉载分布情况,结果表明：试验用复合材料-铝合金三钉单搭连接,螺栓1承载比例最高,螺栓3次之,中间螺栓的承载比例最低,并且螺栓承载比例在加载过程中基本保持不变;随着金属连接板刚度的增加,螺栓1的承载比例增加,螺栓3承载比例降低,中间螺栓2的承载比例变化较小,层合板离面位移减小;金属板配合间隙变化对钉载分布影响很小,但层合板的离面位移随配合间隙的增大而增大。     

Single-fibre Broutman test: fibre–matrix interface transverse debonding

The single-fibre Broutman test was used to study the fibre–matrix interface debonding behaviour when subjected to a transverse tensile stress. During testing, damage was detected using both visual observation under polarized light and acoustic emission (AE) monitoring. Separation of failure mechanisms, based on AE events, was performed using time domain parameters (amplitude and event width) and fast Fourier transform (FFT) frequency spectra of the AE waveforms. The latter can be considered as a fingerprint allowing to discriminate fibre failure, matrix cracking, fibre–matrix interface debonding, friction and ‘parasite noise’. Stresses in the specimens were evaluated using a two-dimensional finite element model (FEM) and monochromatic photoelasticity was used to verify the simulated stress distribution.Two failure mechanisms appeared to be in competition in the Broutman test: fibre failure under compressive stresses and fibre–matrix interface debonding under transverse tensile stresses. For systems in which the interfacial adhesion is not so ‘good’, like glass fibre–polyester systems for instance, fibre–matrix debonding was observed, and the progression of the debonding front with the interfacial transverse stress was recorded. Thermal stresses are also discussed, and a FEM simulation shows that they encourage fibre failure under compressive stresses.     

FRP-confined concrete under axial cyclic compression

One important application of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in construction is as FRP jackets to confine concrete in the seismic retrofit of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, as FRP confinement can enhance both the compressive strength and ultimate strain of concrete. For the safe and economic design of FRP jackets, the stress–strain behavior of FRP-confined concrete under cyclic compression needs to be properly understood and modeled. This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the behavior of FRP-confined concrete under cyclic compression. Test results obtained from CFRP-wrapped concrete cylinders are presented and examined, which allows a number of significant conclusions to be drawn, including the existence of an envelope curve and the cumulative effect of loading cycles. The results are also compared with two existing stress–strain models for FRP-confined concrete, one for monotonic loading and another one for cyclic loading. The monotonic stress–strain model of Lam and Teng is shown to be able to provide accurate predictions of the envelope curve, but the only existing cyclic stress–strain model is shown to require improvement.     

Prediction of the dynamic thermal behaviour of walls for refrigerated rooms using lumped and distributed parameter models

Physically realistic lumped and distributed parameter models were used to represent one-dimensional heat conduction through the layers of solid conducting walls in low temperature applications. A range of feasible models with differing complexity for representing the thermal resistance of thermal capacitance each of concrete, concrete–insulation–concrete and concrete–insulation–metal type walls was investigated by comparison of simulated dynamic behaviour to predictions by a finite element model programme, which was itself validated by comparison to experimental data for wall systems. Model evaluation measures to aid engineering judgement in selecting appropriate wall models for particular applications are presented. Only resistance needs to be considered for accurate prediction of mean heat flux entering a room, regardless of the wall modelled. It is recommended that metal layers be represented by capacity only models, thin insulation layers by resistance only models, thicker insulation layers by lumped or fully distributed models, and concrete layers by lumped or fully distributed models. The recommended number of zones for a lumped model is twice the number used in a distributed model. An eyen distribution, of thermal resistance and capacity between zones in lumped parameter models is recommended.     

New fatigue life calculation method for quenched and tempered steel SAE 4140

In stress-controlled constant amplitude and service loading tests at ambient temperature mechanical stress-strain hysteresis, temperature and electrical resistance measurements were performed to characterize the fatigue behavior of the quenched and tempered steel SAE 4140. The applied measurement methods use deformation-induced changes of the microstructure in the bulk material and represent the actual fatigue state. A new test procedure combines any kind of load spectra with periodically inserted constant amplitude sequences to measure the plastic strain amplitude, the change in temperature and the change in electrical resistance at the same time. The average values of the measuring sequences are plotted as function of the number of cycles in cyclic ‘deformation’ curves and represent the summation of microstructural changes caused by service loading. On the basis of generalized Morrow and Basquin equations the physically based fatigue life calculation method “PHYBAL” was developed for constant amplitude and service loading. With only three fatigue tests, Woehler (S–N) and fatigue life curves can be calculated in very good agreement with experimental ones determined in a conventional manner. The application of “PHYBAL” provides an enormous saving of experimental time and costs.     

Micromechanical modeling of interface damage of metal matrix composites subjected to off-axis loading

A three dimensional micromechanics based analytical model is presented to investigate the effects of initiation and propagation of interface damage on the elastoplastic behavior of unidirectional SiC/Ti metal matrix composites (MMCs) subjected to off-axis loading. Manufacturing process thermal residual stress (RS) is also included in the model. The selected representative volume element (RVE) consists of an r × c unit cells in which a quarter of the fiber is surrounded by matrix sub-cells. The constant compliance interface (CCI) model is modified to model interfacial de-bonding and the successive approximation method together with Von-Mises yield criterion is used to obtain elastic–plastic behavior. Dominance mode of damage including fiber fracture, interfacial de-bonding and matrix yielding and ultimate tensile strength of the SiC/Ti MMC are predicted for various loading directions. The effects of thermal residual stress and fiber volume fraction (FVF) on the stress–strain response of the SiC/Ti MMC are studied. Results revealed that for more realistic predictions both interface damage and thermal residual stress effects should be considered in the analysis. The contribution of interfacial de-bonding and thermal residual stress in the overall behavior of the material is also investigated. Comparison between results of the presented model shows very good agreement with finite element micromechanical analysis and experiment for various off-axis angles.     

Finite element simulation of fracture behaviour for aged duplex stainless steels

In this paper, the local approach model developed by Gurson–Tvergaard has been applied to simulate both the crack initiation and the crack growth of aged duplex stainless steel. The parameters of the Gurson–Tvergaard model have been obtained, from axisymmetric notched specimen testing, as a function of the ageing time at 400°C, the ferrite content of the steel and the stress triaxiality. After that, to simulate the fracture of CT specimens, finite element (FE) calculations have been effected in order to obtain the stress triaxiality value at each point on the process zone ahead of the crack tip of these specimens. The adequate damage parameters concerning triaxiality are determined from the ones obtained at the notched specimens, in order to be used in FE simulations of fracture behaviour. With them, the corresponding J−Δa curves have been simulated as representative of both the crack initiation and crack propagation stages, and compared with experimental results in order to validate the methodology proposed.     

Study of the effect of grain size on the dynamic mechanical properties of microalloyed steels

In the present paper the effect of grain refinement on the dynamic response of ultra fine-grained (UFG) structures for C–Mn and HSLA steels is investigated. A physically based flow stress model (Khan-Huang-Liang, KHL) was used to predict the mechanical response of steel structures over a wide range of strain rates and grain sizes. However, the comparison was restricted to the bcc ferrite structures. In previous work [K. Muszka, P.D. Hodgson, J. Majta, A physical based modeling approach for the dynamic behavior of ultra fine-grained structures, J. Mater. Process. Technol. 177 (2006) 456–460] it was shown that the KHL model has better accuracy for structures with a higher level of refinement (below 1 μm) compared to other flow stress models (e.g. Zerrili-Armstrong model). In the present paper, simulation results using the KHL model were compared with experiments. To provide a wide range of the experimental data, a complex thermomechanical processing was applied. The mechanical behavior of the steels was examined utilizing quasi-static tension and dynamic compression tests. The application of the different deformation histories enabled to obtain complex microstructure evolution that was reflected in the level of ferrite refinement.     

The damage and failure mechanism of the concrete subjected to shaped charge loading

In this paper, the experiments of the large-size shaped charge jet penetration in concrete target were carried out. Then, the concrete target was cut off to obtain the internal structure and measure the shape of the penetration hole. Moreover, the cube concrete samples with the sizes of 100 mm length in different location of the concrete target were incised, and the material compressive strength was test by the material testing machine. The test results show that the material strength of the concrete target is enhanced with the increase of the distance to the penetration hole. Therefore, the damage of concrete target can be rough evaluated according to the compressive strength of the concrete samples. Based on the test results, the damage factor was added in the dynamic constitutive, which can describe mechanical behavior of concrete subjected to intensive impact loading was proposed. In this model, the concrete is assumed to be homogenous and consecutive in macroscopically. The results of the model were compared with the experimental results and the results which not considering the damage factor. The comparing results show that the model can be used to describe the dynamic mechanical behavior of concrete.