Stress relaxation in hot-drawn low density polyethylene

The tensile stress relaxation behaviour of hot-drawn low density polyethylene, (LDPE), has been investigated at room temperature at various draw ratios. The drawing was performed at 85° C. The main result was an increase in relaxation rate in the draw direction, especially at low draw ratios when compared to the relaxation behaviour of the isotropic material. This is attributed to a lowering of the internal stress. The position of the relaxation curves along the log time axis was also changed as a result of the drawing, corresponding to a shift to shorter times. The activation volume, , varied with the initial effective stress ₀ ^* according to ₀ ^* 10kT, where ₀ ^* =₀ — _i, is the difference between the applied initial stress, ₀, and the internal stress _i. This result supports earlier findings relating to similarities in the stress relaxation behaviour of different solids.     

The tensile strength and ductility of continuous fibre composites

The plastic instability approach has been applied to the tensile behaviour of a continuous fibre composite. It is shown that the combination of two components with different strengths and degrees of work-hardening produces a new material with a new degree of work-hardening, which may be determined by the present analysis. Expressions for the elongation at rupture and the strength of a composite have been obtained and the results of the calculation are compared with some experimental data.List of symbols V _f volume fraction of fibres in composite - , , true strain of fibre, matrix and composite - s true stress - , , nominal stress on fibre, matrix and composite - _*, _*, _* critical stress of fibre, matrix and composite (ultimate tensile strength) - _*, _* critical strain of separate fibre and matrix - _* critical strain of composite - Q external load - A cross-sectional area - A ₀ initial value of area     

Methodology for the determination of the interfacial properties of brittle matrix composites

The interfacial properties of a glass-ceramic matrix composite (SiC/CAS) were determined from single-fibre push-out tests using the interfacial test system. The coefficient of friction, , the residual clamping stress, _c, and fibre axial residual stress, _z , were extracted by fitting the experimental stress versus fibre-end displacement curves using the models of Hsueh, and Kerans and Parthasarathy. Using Hsueh's model, the intrinsic interfacial frictional stress (=_c) was found to be 11.1±3.2 MPa, whereas by using Kerans-Parthasarathy's model it was found to be 8.2±1.5 MPa. Comparisons between these models are included, together with a discussion of data analysis techniques.Nomenclature _z Axial fibre residual stress (Pa) - ^* Effective clamping stress (Pa) - _c Residual clamping stress (Pa) - _p Poisson's effect-induced clamping stress (Pa) - _d ⁰ Debond stress in the absence of residual stresses (Pa) - _d Experimental debond stress (Pa) - Compressive applied stress (Pa) - Interfacial shear stress (Pa) - u Fibre-end displacement (m) - h Debond length (m) - r Fibre radius (m) - E _f Fibre Young's modulus (Pa) - E _m Matrix Young's modulus (Pa) - v _f Fibre Poisson's ratio (dimensionless) - v _m Matrix Poisson's ratio (dimensionless) - f Fibre volume fraction (dimensionless) - k Parameter (dimensionless) - D Parameter (dimensionless) - Interfacial coefficient of friction (dimensionless) - G _i Interface toughness (J m^–2) - C _m Load-train compliance (m N^–1)     

Residual thermal stresses in the pull-out specimen: A finite element calculation

The residual thermal stress field in the pull-out specimen is calculated in the case of a high properties thermoset system (carbon-bismaleimide). The calculation is performed within the framework of the linear theory of elasticity by means of a finite element method. The specimen is modelled as a three-phase composite (holder-fibre-matrix). The meniscus which forms at the fibre entry is taken into account in order to provide a realistic stress concentration. The latter is far higher than the matrix strength. Evidence that fibre debonding propagates from the fibre end during cooling is then produced.Nomenclature T thermal load - L _e embedded length - r _f fibre radius - _c curvature radius of the meniscus (fibre entry) - r _c radial dimension of the finite element mesh - E _m,E _h matrix and holder moduli - E _A,E _T fibre axial and transverse moduli - _m, _h matrix and holder thermal expansion coefficients - _A, _T fibre axial and transverse thermal expansion coefficients - _rr, , _zz, _rz non-zero components of the residual stress field - _rr ⁱ , ^im , _zz ^im , _rz ⁱ stresses at the interface in the matrix (r=r _f + ) - _rr ⁱ , ^if , _zz ^if , _rz ⁱ stresses at the interface in the fibre (r=r _f–) - _p1 maximum principal stress - _zz ^f mean axial stress over the fibre section - _rupt ^m matrix strength - u _r ,u _z non-zero components of the displacement field     

Effect of magnesium content on the stress exponent and effective stress in the steady state creep of Al-Mg alloys

The stress exponent of steady state creep,n, and the internal ( _i) and effective stresses ( _e) have been determined using the strain transient dip test for a series of polycrystalline Al-Mg alloys creep tested at 300° C and compared with previously published data. The internal or dislocation back stress, _i, varied with applied stress,, but was insensitive to magnesium content of the alloy, being represented by the empirical equation _i=1.084 ^1.802. Such an applied stress dependence of _i can be explained by using an equation for _i of the form _i (dislocation density)^1/2 and published values for the stress dependence of dislocation density. Values of the friction stress, _f, derived using the equation _e/=(1–c) (1– _f/), indicate that _f is not dependent on the magnesium content. A constant value of _f can best be rationalized by postulating that the creep dislocation structure is relatively insensitive to the magnesium content of the alloy.On leave from Engineering Materials Department, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada.     

Deformation of a carbon-epoxy composite under hydrostatic pressure

This paper describes the behaviour of a carbon-fibre reinforced epoxy composite when deformed in compression under high hydrostatic confining pressures. The composite consisted of 36% by volume of continuous fibres of Modmur Type II embedded in Epikote 828 epoxy resin. When deformed under pressures of less than 100 MPa the composite failed by longitudinal splitting, but splitting was suppressed at higher pressures (up to 500 MPa) and failure was by kinking. The failure strength of the composite increased rapidly with increasing confining pressure, though the elastic modulus remained constant. This suggests that the pressure effects were introduced by fracture processes. Microscopical examination of the kinked structures showed that the carbon fibres in the kink bands were broken into many fairly uniform short lengths. A model for kinking in the composite is suggested which involves the buckling and fracture of the carbon fibres.List of symbols d diameter of fibre - E _f elastic modulus of fibre - E _m elastic modulus of epoxy - G _m shear modulus of epoxy - k radius of gyration of fibre section - l length of buckle in fibre - P confining pressure (= ₂ = ₃) - R radius of bent fibre - V _f volume fraction of fibres in composite - _t, _c bending strains in fibres - angle between the plane of fracture and ₁ - ₁ principal stress - ₃ confining pressure - _c strength of composite - _f strength of fibre in buckling mode - _n normal stress on a fracture plane - _m strength of epoxy matrix - shear stress - tangent slope of Mohr envelope - slope of pressure versus strength curves in Figs. 3 and 4.     

Interfacial debonding and fibre pull-out stresses

Based on a theoretical model developed previously by the authors in Part II of this series for a single fibre pull-out test, a methodology for the evaluation of interfacial properties of fibre-matrix composites is presented to determine the interfacial fracture toughness G _c, the friction coefficient , the radial residual clamping stress q _o and the critical bonded fibre length z _max. An important parameter, the stress drop , which is defined as the difference between the maximum debond stress _d ^* and the initial frictional pull-out stress _fr, is introduced to characterize the interfacial debonding and fibre pull-out behaviour. The maximum logarithmic stress drop, In(), is obtained when the embedded fibre length L is equal to the critical bonded fibre length z _max. The slope of the In()-L curve for L bigger than z _max is found to be a constant that is related to the interfacial friction coefficient . The effect of fibre anisotropy on fibre debonding and fibre pull-out is also included in this analysis. Published experimental data for several fibre-matrix composites are chosen to evaluate their interfacial properties by using the present methodology.On leave at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong.     

Electrical conductivity,thermoelectric power and dielectric constant of NiWO4

The a.c. electrical conductivity ( _ac), thermoelectric power () and dielectric constant () of antiferromagnetic NiWO₄ are presented. _ac and have been measured in the temperature range 300 to 1000 K and in the temperature range 600 to 1000 K. Conductivity data are interpreted in the light of band theory of solids. The compound obeys the exponential law of conductivity = ₀ exp (–W/kT). Activation energy has been estimated as 0.75eV. The conductivity result is summarized in the following equation =2.86 exp (–0.75 eV/kT)^–1 cm^–1 in the intrinsic region. The material is p-type below 660 K and above 950 K, and is n-type between 660 and 950 K.     

Experimental investigation of the effects of stress rate and stress level on fracture in polystyrene

The effects of stress rate and stress level on fatigue crack propagation in compression-moulded single-edge notched specimens (0.25 mm in thickness) of polystyrene are reported. Values of the stress rate are obtained from the formula = 2v(_max – _max),, wherev is the frequency and _max, _min are the maximum and minimum stresses of the fatigue cycle. Different levels of are achieved by changing the frequency while keeping _max, _min at fixed values. The effect of the stress level is investigated by keeping and _min constant and varying _max andv. The results show that when the kinetic data are plotted as l/t against the energy release rateG ₁, a relatively small effect of the stress rate is observed. If the same data are treated as l/N againstG ₁, a decrease in l/N with test frequency is seen. The increase in the level of _max results in a higher crack speed. The critical crack length is found to be practically the same for all stress-rate experiments. A decrease in the critical crack length is observed with the increase in stress level. Analysis of craze distribution around the crack path shows that the extent of crazing decreases with the increase in stress rate and increases with the increase in stress level. For all experimental conditions, the ratio of the second moment to the square root of the fourth moment of the histograms of craze density along directions normal to the crack path is found to be constant throughout the slow phase of crack propagation. This result supports a self-similarity hypothesis of damage evolution proposed in the crack layer model.     

Large deformation theory of coupled thermoplasticity including kinematic hardening

Summary Thermoplasticity is a topic central to important applications such as metalforming, ballistics and welding. The current investigation introduces a thermoplastic constitutive model accommodating the difficult issues of finite strain and kinematic hardening. Two potential functions are used. One is interpreted as the Helmholtz free energy. Its reversible portion describes elastic behavior, while its irreversible portion describes kinematic hardening. The second potential function describes dissipative effects and arises directly from the entropy production inequality. It is shown that the dissipation potential can be interpreted as a yield function. With two simplifying assumptions, the formulation leads to a simple energy equation, which is used to derive a rate variational principle. Together with the Principle of Virtual Work in rate form, finite element equations governing coupled thermal and mechanical effects are presented. Using a uniqueness argument, an inequality is derived which is interpreted as a finite strain thermoplastic counterpart to the classical inequality for stability in the small. A simple example is introduced using a von Mises yield function with linear kinematic hardening, linear isotropic hardening and linear thermal softening.Symbols D rate of deformation tensor - d VEC(D) - F deformation gradient tensor - h heat generation per unit mass - L velocity gradient tensor - q heat flux vector - workless internal variable - Lagrangian strain - e VEC() - E quasi-Eulerian strain - entropy - internal energy per unit mass - Helmholtz free energy - Cauchy stress tensor - Truesdell stress flux tensor - t VEC() - yield function - First Piola Kirchhoff stress - Second Piola Kirchhoff stress - s VEC() - s ^* backstress, center of the yield surface - Kronecker product symbol - VEC vectorization operator - tr(.) trace - DEV deviator of a tensor - TEN22 Kronecker tensor operator     

Steady state creep of a composite material with short fibres

The shear within a matrix volume is assumed to be an important process during the creep of composite material reinforced with short rigid fibres. The rate of elongation of such a composite with certain fibre distributions can be estimated. The agreement with a few experimental data is reasonably good.List of main symbols V _f volume fraction of fibres in composite - aspect ratio of a fibre - L length of a fibre - h transverse size of a fibre - h interfibre spacing - m, _m , _m constants for creep for a matrix material - n, _f, _f constants of creep for a fibre material _{f m} - v rate of relative motion of two fibres - _* ultimate strength of a fibre - ^* the first critical value of aspect ratio - ^** the second critical value of aspect ratio This work was carried out when the author was a guest worker at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, Middlesex, UK.     

The influence of brittle boundary layers on the strength of fibrous metallic composites

The brittle boundary layers often caused during the production of composites or by their treatment at higher temperatures, may change the mechanical properties. On the steel wire/aluminium system the growth of the intermetallic boundary phase and its influence on the strength of the composite were investigated. Hence followed a maximum strength at small layer thicknesses. By means of fracture investigations new models were developed which allow the calculation of the dependence of strength behaviour on layer thickness.List of symbols E _f Young's modulus of fibre - E _b Young's modulus of boundary layer - _c external load - _f tensile stress in the fibre - _m tensile stress in the matrix - _b tensile stress in the boundary layer - _uc,f,b ultimate strength of the composite, the fibre or the boundary layer, respectively - averaged stress in the fibre - _bf shear stress in the boundary layer-fibre interface - ₀ shear strength of the boundary layer-fibre-interface - _uf ultimate strain of the fibre - fraction of the layer which has grown into the matrix - Weibull parameter - ^–1 characteristic length of stress transfer between fibre and boundary layer - d diameter of the boundary layer - 2l length of the boundary layer segments - r _f fibre radius - u(x) displacement field - v _{f, b,m} volume fraction of fibres, boundary layer or matrix respectively.     

Fracture stress difference of notched polycarbonate between atmospheric pressure and a hydrostatic pressure

Experimental data on fracture stress of polycarbonate (PC) with and without various artificial notches have been obtained at atmospheric pressure and a high hydrostatic pressure (400 MPa). The difference in fracture stress, _F, between both pressures was directly proportional to the intensity of pressure,P, and was inversely proportional to the stress concentration factor of the notch,K _n such that _F following the form of the Kaieda-Oguchi formula, _F. By using the combined stress concentration factor,K _nc, of superposed notch and craze, and by considering the change in elastic modulus due to pressure, the experimental data agreed with the modified Kaieda-Oguchi formula. The stress concentration factor of the craze was calculated by using the Dugdale model.     

Flow visualization glass-ceramic: Preliminary experimental and modelling results

A glass-ceramic material was developed to act as a flow visualization material. Preliminary experiments indicate that aperiodic, thermally induced, convective flows can be sustained at normal processing conditions. These flows and the stress and temperature gradients induced are most likely responsible for the anomalous behaviour seen in these materials and the difficulties encountered in their development and in their production on industrial and experimental scales. A simple model describing the dynamics of variable-viscosity fluids was developed and was shown to be in qualitative agreement with more sophisticated models as well as with experimental results. The model was shown to simulate the dependence of the critical Rayleigh number for the onset of convection on the viscous properties of the fluid at low T, and also to simulate quenching behaviour when the temperature differences were high.Nomenclature C _p Heat capacity - D, E, F Expansion coefficients - H Height of the roll cell - Pr Prandtl number - R _a Rayleigh number - R _c Critical Rayleigh number for the onset of convection in a constant-viscosity fluid - S Dimensionless stream function - T Temperature - T _m Mean temperature - T ₀ Bottom surface temperature - T _r Reference temperature - a Aspect ratio of cell - g Acceleration due to gravity - k Thermal conductivity - k ₁ Function related to ²v/T ² - k ₂ Function related to ⁴v/T ⁴ - r Rayleigh number ratioR _a/R _c - t Time - w Dimensionless vertical coordinate - w _m Mean cell height - x Horizontal coordinate - y Dimensionless horizontal coordinate - z Vertical coordinate - , Constants - _t Thermal expansion coefficient - Constant in viscosity function - T Temperature difference between top and bottom surfaces - _i Viscosity coefficients - Kinematic viscosity - _m Mean kinematic viscosity - Dimensionless kinematic viscosity - Thermal diffusivity - Non-linear temperature function - Dimensionless non-linear temperature function - _o - Stream function - Dimensionless time - Eigenvalues     

Strength of the pyroceram So115M under lengthy static loading

The article presents the results of long-time strength tests of the casting pyroceram SO115M at room temperature by the method of three-point bending. We obtained the power dependence of the time to failure _f on the applied load : _f ^–11.7.Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 1, pp. 102–104, January, 1996.     

Absence of Phase-Fluctuation Contribution to the Low-Frequency Optical Conductivity in d-Wave Superconductors at Zero Temperature

The behavior of the low-frequency optical conductivity _reg() in superconducting cuprates is, at the present, an open and interesting issue. In particular, since the zero-temperature and zero-frequency limit of _reg() attains a value much larger than the universal value expected within a self-consistent T-matrix calculation, an intriguing possibility is that the collective mode can also contribute to _reg(). By taking into account the effect of dissipation on the collective mode in a d-wave superconductor, we evaluate the phase-fluctuation contribution to _reg(0) within the formalism of the phase-only action. We show that even though the collective mode contributes to _reg() at finite frequencies, approaching the zero-temperature and zero-frequency regime the corrections at _reg() due to phase fluctuations vanish.     

Optimal design of a thick-walled pipeline cross-section against creep rupture

Summary Cylinder under combined loadings (pressure, bending, axial force) is subject to non-linear creep described by Norton-Odqvist creep law. In view of bending a circularly-symmetric cross-section is no longer optimal in this case. Hence we optimize the shape of the cross-section; minimal area being the design objective under the constraint of creep rupture. Kachanov-Sdobyrev hypothesis of brittle creep rupture is applied. The solution is based on the perturbation method (expansions into double series of small parameters), adjusted to optimization problems.Notation A cross-sectional area - C, , creep rupture constants - K, n, _C , _C creep constants - F dimensionless creep modulus - M bending moment - N axial force - a(),b() internal and external radii of the cross-section - j creep modulus - p internal pressure - r, ,z cylindrical coordinates - s _r ,s ,s _z ,t _r dimensionless stresses - t _R time to rupture - stress function - , () dimensionless internal and external radii - _e effective strain rate - _kl strain rates - rate of curvature - rate of elongation of the central axis - dimensionless radius - _e effective stress - _I maximal principal stress - _S Sdobyrev's reduced stress - _r , , _z , _r components of the stress tensor - measure of material continuity - measure of deterioration With 7 Figures     

Motion of a thermal wave front in a nonlinear medium with absorption

We study the evolution of a thermal perturbation in a nonlinear medium whose thermal conductivity depends on the temperature and the temperature gradient according to a power law.Notation u temperature - k coefficient of thermal conductivity - t time - x spatial variable - x₊ a point on the thermal wave front - a ² generalized coefficient of thermal diffusivity - , , , and s parameters of the process - (x^s) Dirac delta-function - B[, ] a beta function - v(, x), (t) auxiliary functions - A, C, T_o, T_m, T*, R, r, p, and _m constants and parameters Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 39, No. 4, pp. 728–731, October, 1980.     

Fatigue of metallic glasses

The fatigue behaviour of Ni₄₉Fe₂₉P₁₄B₆Si₂, Ni₄₈Fe₂₉P₁₄B₆Al₃ and Pd_77.5Cu₆Si_16.5 metallic glasses is examined. In the finite lifetime regime the relationship between stress amplitude ( _a), fracture stress ( _f), mean stress ( _m) and cycles to failure (N _f) is _a=A( _f–_m) (2N _f) ^b , whereA andb are 16.9 and –0.40 respectively for reduced gauge section Ni₄₉ strips (for _m 140 kg mm^–2) and 27.0 and –0.44 for Pd base wires. These results are unusual in thatA 1. Consequently, a sharp discontinuity exists near _a( _f– _m) –1. In a simple tensile test failure occurs at _f(=_y) and 2N_f=1; for peak stresses only a percent or so less than _f the sample will withstand hundreds of cycles of stress. For uniform cross-section glassy metal filaments, a fatigue limit is observed at stress ratios ( _a/ _f) in the vicinity of 0.07 to 0.15. The fatigue limit for reduced section specimens is a factor of 2 higher. Fatigue failure of the Ni-Fe strips may occur under partially or fully plane stress or plane strain conditions, depending on sample thickness and stress. Final failure of the Pd_77.5Cu₆Si_16.5 wires always occurs by general yielding of the remaining section.     

Steady-state creep in a 25 wt % Cr-20 wt % Ni austenitic stainless steel

Steady-state creep behaviour of a 25 wt % Cr-20 wt % Ni stainless steel without precipitates was studied in the stress range 9.8 to 39.2 MPa at temperatures between 1133 and 1193 K. The results of stress-drop tests indicate that, in the steady-state creep region, diffusion-controlled recovery creep is dominant. Such recovery creep can be accounted for in terms of the composition of the internal stress, _i=_s+_c, except in the case of fine-grained specimens where d<80 m, whered is the mean grain diameter, _s is possible to reduce easily and is comparable to the driving stress for creep, and _c is the persistent stress field due to metastable substructure. In the fine-grained specimens, it is suggested that the steady-state creep is dominantly controlled by grain boundaries.