Nonlinear Creep Damage Model for Concrete under Uniaxial Compression

An isotropic model for creep damage of concrete under uniaxial compression is proposed, where the combined effect of nonlinear viscous strain evolution and crack nucleation and propagation at high stress levels is considered. Strain splitting assumption is used for creep and damage contributions. Creep is modeled by a modified version of solidification theory. As usual in the modeling of damage of concrete, a damage index based on positive strains is introduced. As particular cases, the proposed model reduces to linear viscoelasticity for long time low stress levels whereas, for very high stresses, tertiary creep causing failure at a finite time can be described. The effect of strength variation with time is also included. The model is numerically implemented to perform time integration of nonlinear equations by means of a modified version of exponential algorithm. The model is validated through comparison with experimental results. Some numerical examples are also presented, where the roles of concrete ageing and strength variation with time are investigated.     

Prediction of cracking within early-age concrete due to thermal, drying and creep behavior

To predict potential early-age cracking after concrete placing, a numerical simulation procedure has been completed based on a micromechanical model and empirical formulas on the property development of young concrete. The numerical model could account for the effects of hydration, moisture transport and creep. Environmental influences, such as removal of formworks, curing conditions and variations of surrounding temperature and relative humidity, have been investigated. In calculating stress field with age caused by these synthetic physical-mechanical processes, three-dimensional finite element and finite difference (3D-FE-FD) methods are combined together.     

Non-uniform hydrogen attack cavitation and the role of interaction with creep

Hydrogen attack (HA) is the development of grain-boundary porosity by cavities filled with high-pressure methane that originates from the reaction of carbides with hydrogen at high temperatures. The cavities grow by grain-boundary diffusion and by creep of the adjacent grain material till they coalesce with neighbouring cavities to form a microcrack. Earlier work on HA has focussed on unit cells containing a single cavity, using average cavitation properties. Here, non-uniform cavitation properties on the grain-size scale are assumed in a polycrystalline aggregate, and unit cell analyses are performed to investigate the influence of the adjacent grains on the development of the grain-boundary HA. The numerical results are explained in terms of two simplified models which highlight the key parameters governing the grain deformation-grain boundary cavitation interaction process.     

Fracture mechanics global approach concepts applied to creep slow crack growth in a medium density polyethylene (MDPE)

Creep fracture by slow crack growth is studied in a medium density polyethylene at 60 °C and 80 °C. Whereas elastic-plastic fracture mechanics load parameters fail to provide a unique temperature-independent correlation, that of the fracture mechanics for creeping solids C^∗ is proved to be relevant since this parameter correlates very well with the time to failure. Correlation established on both full notched creep tensile and double edge notched tensile tests was validated on cracked gas-pipe samples tested under hydrostatic pressure, extending the use of time to failure versus C^∗ diagram to predict lifetime of engineering components.     

Effect of lamellar spacing on microstructural instability and creep behavior of a lamellar TiAl alloy

Finer lamellar spacing in the lamellar structure of a Ti–45Al–2Nb–2Mn + 0.8 vol.%TiB₂ (45XD) alloy does improve the primary creep resistance. However, the unstable nature of the fine plate contributes largely to the degradation of the lamellar structure and a rapid increase in the tertiary creep rate, indicating that a fine lamellar structure has a detrimental effect on the long-term creep.     

High-temperature performance evaluation of adirectionally solidified nickel-base superalloy

The application of a new approach, design for performance, for high-temperature alloy development, design analysis, and remaining life assessment, based on short-time high-precision testing, is described in this paper. The material tested was a directionally solidified nickel-base alloy, GTD111. It was found that the creep strength at 850 °C was indeed superior to that of a competitive alloy, IN738, but was not necessarily enhanced by the preferred alignment of grain boundaries and crystal orientation. In contrast, the fracture resistance at 800 °C was improved in the longitudinal direction compared with transverse and diagonal orientations in terms of susceptibility to gas phase embrittlement (GPE) by oxygen. Specimens cut transversely and diagonally to the growth direction were more sensitive to GPE than specimens taken from conventionally cast IN738. The new conceptual framework allows account to be taken of GPE and other embrittling phenomena, which may develop in service, leading to rational life management decisions for gas turbine users. Additionally, straightforward design analysis procedures can be developed from the test data, which for the first time allow separate measurements of creep strength and fracture resistance to be used for performance evaluation.     

疲劳与蠕变复合作用下PS的应变与寿命

对PS在疲劳/蠕变复合作用下应变与寿命进行了研究。结果表明：其疲劳/蠕变曲线与纯蠕变曲线十分相似。加载时间周期越短和疲劳载荷变化越频繁。结束普弹应变阶段应变越小，进入延迟弹性变形的平台应变阶段越早。在疲劳/蠕变复合作用下聚苯乙烯存在疲劳和蠕变的交互损伤，其断裂寿命比纯疲劳或纯蠕变的断裂寿命低。断裂寿命减小，疲劳/蠕变的交互损伤程度与温度密切相关，PS在较低温度的疲劳/蠕变交互损伤作用大于较高温度的交互损伤作用。随温度升高，疲劳/蠕变断裂寿命下降是疲劳和蠕变各自的单独损伤增加所致。     

Creep and physical aging behaviour of PA6 nanocomposites

The creep and physical aging behavior of various types of PA6 nanocomposites and unfilled PA6 are described. After annealing far above T_g the samples were quenched to room temperature and tested after various ageing times. The creep compliance shows a significant reduction with the addition of exfoliated layered silicate to the matrix polymer. The shape of the creep curves of the nanocomposites is similar to unfilled PA6 and time—ageing time superposition is possible with all materials. The shift rate for superposition is in the same range, but slightly higher in nanocomposites. The creep behavior of nanocomposites conditioned with an equilibrium amount of moisture and dry samples at elevated temperatures shows that the effect of nanofillers is much stronger under these conditions.