Field of residual stresses in a coating with crack

We consider an object with coating deposited on its plane surface. The coating is subjected to the action of known uniform uniaxial tensile residual stresses. We analyze the field of residual stresses formed in the coating as a result of the formation of a long flat crack perpendicular both to the direction of action of tensile stresses and to the surface of the coating. The problem is studied in the two-dimensional statement. The stress field is investigated in the sections perpendicular both to the crack plane and to the surface of the coating. Two cases are analyzed, namely, the case of a through crack (through the entire thickness of the coating) and the case of a nonthrough crack with plastic zone on its continuation. The performed numerical analysis enables us to estimate the possibility of subsequent fracture of the coating after crack initiation. __________ Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 80–88, March–April, 2006.     

Microstructure and property enhancement of silicon nitride-barium aluminum silicate composites with β-Si3N4 seed addition

Si₃N₄-barium aluminum silicate (BAS) self-reinforced composites have been prepared by pressureless sintering at 1800 °C for 2 h. The β-Si₃N₄ seeds incorporated in the starting α-Si₃N₄ powders encouraged the α- to β-Si₃N₄ phase transformation, and the final bimodal microstructure with large grains, consequently, led to the improvement of the fracture toughness, from 7.74 to 8.34 MPa m^1/2. The almost-complete crystallized BAS benefited the high-temperature mechanical properties. The residual stress, crack deflection, grain bridging, and pullout were considered as the major toughening mechanisms in this composite.     

Enhancing the high cycle fatigue life of high strength aluminum alloys for aerospace applications

Hard anodized (HA) and micro arc oxidation (MAO) coatings of identical thickness were deposited on two different high strength aluminum (Al) alloys namely, 2024‐T3 and 7075‐T6. Further, as received Al alloys were also subjected to shot peening (SP) to induce subsurface compressive residual stresses followed by the MAO coating deposition (SP + MAO). The average velocity of particle‐in‐flight during the SP process was measured and utilized to calculate the kinetic energy of the peening particles. The bare and coated alloys were subjected to completely reversed stress (R = ?1) rotating beam high cycle fatigue tests at five different stress levels. In addition, the bare and coated alloys were also evaluated for their tensile properties, elemental composition, phase constituents, surface, and cross‐sectional morphologies including the surface roughness (Ra, Rz) and correlated the same with the corresponding fatigue behavior. Irrespective of substrate alloy composition and stress levels investigated, the duplex SP + MAO treatment resulted in significant fatigue life enhancement over and above the fatigue life of corresponding bare (not shot peened) Al alloy, while the hard anodized and plain MAO (both without prior shot peening) continue to exhibit significant fatigue debit. Driven by the compressive residual stresses present beneath the subsurface region of SP + MAO coating interface, fractured surface examination of SP + MAO coatings clearly highlights the crack‐branching associated multiple crack deflection as the predominant operative mechanism responsible for diminishing the crack growth rate and therefore enhance the fatigue life as compared with the near linear crack extension without significant deflections leading to relative premature failure of plain MAO coated alloys.     

The ferroelectric properties and residual stress analysis of Bi<Subscript>3.15</Subscript>Nd<Subscript>0.85</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> thin films with a LaNiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> buffer layer

Bi_3.15Nd_0.85Ti₃O₁₂ (BNT) thin film with a thin LaNiO₃ film as buffer layer was fabricated by sol–gel method on Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si substrate. The BNT thin films have a perovskite phase with a dense microstructure. The P _r and V _c value are 25.5 μc/cm² and 3.7 V, respectively under the applied voltage of 15 V. After the switching of 2 × 10⁹ cycles, the P _r value decreases to 86% of its pre-fatigue value. The leakage current density of the BNT thin films with LaNiO₃ buffer layer were generally in the order of 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁶ A/cm². The fatigue and leakage current properties were improved dramatically compared with the BNT film without a LaNiO₃ buffer layer that we prepared before. The measured residual stress was tensile stress and its value was 176 MPa.     

High emissivity coatings on titanium alloy prepared by micro-arc oxidation for high temperature application

Micro-arc oxidation coatings were prepared on Ti6Al4V alloy in Na₃PO₄-based electrolyte with different additives such as FeSO₄, Co(CH₃COO)₂, Ni(CH₃COO)₂, and K₂ZrF₆. The composition, structure, surface morphology, and chemical state of the coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis system, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The spectral emissivity of the coating was measured by Fourier transform spectrometer apparatus. The bonding strength between the ceramic coating and substrate was studied by tensile strength test and shear strength test. The thermal shock resistance of the coatings was evaluated too. The results showed that the thermal emission of the coatings increased significantly with adding additives. The average spectral emissivity value of the coating with adding Co(CH₃COO)₂ is about 0.91 at wavelength of 3–20 μm. All the coatings showed a tensile strength higher than 30 MPa, and a shear strength higher than 10 MPa. In addition, after subjected to severe thermal shocking for 40 cycles, there was no peeling off of the coating occurred, the coatings possessed good thermal shock resistance.     

On the failure of cracks under mixed-mode loads

Fracture of plates containing a crack under mixed-mode, I and II, loading conditions is investigated. Fracture mechanisms are first examined from fracture surface morphology to correlate with the macroscopic fracture behavior. Two distinct features are observed and they are typical of shear and tensile types of failure. From this correlation, a fracture criterion based on the competition of the attainment of a tensile fracturing stress σ_{_C} and a shear fracturing stress τ_{_C} at a fixed distance around the crack tip is proposed. Material ductility is incorporated using τ_{_C}/σ_{_C} determined from classical material failure theories. The type of fracture is predicted by comparing τ_{_max}/σ_{_max} at r=r_{_C} for a given mixed mode loading to the material ductility_{τ_C/σ_C} , i.e. τ_{_max}/σ_{_max})<(τ_{_C} /σ_{_C}) for tensile type of fracture and (τ_{_max}/σ_{_max}) r (τ_{_C}/ σ_{_C}) for shear type of fracture. It is found that, for typical engineering structural metals with certain ductility, (1) crack propagation initiates according to the maximum hoop stress criterion when the the mode mixity is near mode I and according to the maximum shear stress criterion when the mode mixity is near mode II, and (2) the transition of the failure from tensile to shear type can be predicted by the proposed criterion. For brittle materials the maximum hoop (opening) stress always reaches the tensile fracturing stress before the maximum shear stress reaches the shear fracturing stress of the material at a crack tip. Therefore, specimens made of brittle materials tend to fail under the maximum hoop stress criterion, as demonstrated by Erdogan and Sih (1963) and others. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The mechanism of the failure of the dispersion-strengthened Cu–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanosystem

The method of “in situ tensile testing in SEM” is suitable for investigations of fracture mechanisms because it enables to observe and document deformation processes directly, thank to which the initiation and development of plastic deformation and fracture can be reliably described. The deformation and fracture mechanisms of Cu–Al₂O₃ nanomaterials with 5 vol.% of Al₂O₃ phase has been analyzed using technique of the “in situ tensile testing in SEM.” It has been shown that the deformation process causes break-up of large Al₂O₃ particles and decohesion of smaller ones. The final fracture path is influenced also by boundaries of nanograins, through which the principal crack propagates towards the sample exterior surface. Based on the experimental observations, a model of damage and/or fracture mechanisms has been proposed.     

Fluorescence spectroscopy analysis of Al–Al2O3 composites with coarse interpenetrating networks

Fluorescence microprobe spectroscopy was used to characterize the stress fields that develop within an interpenetrating Al–Al₂O₃ composite resulting from both the thermal expansion mismatch during sample processing, and from an external applied load. The 30 vol% Al–70 vol% Al₂O₃ composite that was investigated had an aluminum and alumina phase feature size of 50–100 μm. The residual thermal compressive stress measured in the alumina was ∼40–340 MPa. The effect of varying the metal ligament size on the residual stress distribution is discussed. Additionally, the application of an external load caused a non-uniform stress distribution to develop within the alumina regions around the crack-tip, which was attributed to microstructure inhomogeneities. The crack was further extended and the influence of the stress distribution within the alumina regions on the crack extension direction is briefly discussed.     

Effect of Si content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Mo-Al-Si-N coatings

Mo-Al (Al/(Mo + Al) = 6.5%)-Si-N coatings with silicon content ranging from 0 to 17 at.% were fabricated using d.c. reactive unbalanced magnetron sputtering technique in an Ar-N₂ mixture. Surface morphology, element and phase composition, residual stress and nanohardness of these coatings were studied by scanned electrical microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), residual stress tester, and nanoindenter, respectively.Results exhibit that the residual stress built in the coating is compressive in nature ranging between 0.6 and 1.8 GPa. Nanohardness of Mo-Al-Si-N coatings increased at first and then decreased with silicon content, reaching a maximum value of 36 GPa at 8.3 at.% Si. The optimum hardness could be ascribed to higher compressive stress and nanocomposite structure where nanocrystallite Mo-Al-Si-N embedded in amorphous Si₃N₄ matrix.     

Interfacial fracture characteristic and crack propagation of thermal barrier coatings under tensile conditions at elevated temperatures

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) have been extensively used in aircraft engines for improved durability and performance for more than fifteen years. In this paper, thermal barrier coating system with plasma sprayed zirconia bonded by a MCrAlY layer to SUS304 stainless steel substrate was performed under tensile tests at 1000°C. The crack nucleation, propagation behavior of the ceramic coatings in as received and oxidized conditions were observed by high-performance camera and discussed in detail. The relationship of the transverse crack numbers in the ceramic coating and tensile strain was recorded and used to describe crack propagation mechanism of thermal barrier coatings. It was found that the fracture/spallation locations of air plasma sprayed (APS) thermal barrier coating system mainly located within the ceramic coating close to the bond coat interface by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX). The energy release rate and interface fracture toughness of APS TBCs system were evaluated by the aid of Suo–Hutchinson model. The calculations revealed that the energy release rate and fracture toughness ranged, respectively, from 22.15 J m⁻² to 37.8 J m⁻² and from 0.9 MPa m^1/2 to 1.5 MPa m^1/2. The results agree well with other experimental results.     

Calculation and experimental determinations of the residual stress distribution in alumina/Ni/alumina and alumina/Ni/nickel alloy systems

Residual stress problems encountered in joining ceramics–ceramics or ceramics–metals systems for high-temperature applications >1000 °C have been studied. A solid-state bonding technique under hot-pressing via metallic foils sheet of Ni was used for joining alumina–alumina and alumina–nickel alloy (HAYNES^? 214™). The residual stresses expected in the specimen were predicted by finite-element method (FEM) calculations using an elastic–plastic-creep model (EPC). Stress distributions in the specimen were characterized experimentally using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Vickers Indentation Fracture (VIF) techniques. The tensile and shear stress profiles have been determined along selected lines perpendicular to the bonding interface. The results of the FEM calculation of residual stresses have been compared experimentally with the results of classical XRD and indentation methods. It was found that the tensile stress concentration showed higher values at the edge of the boundary. The residual stresses caused by the thermal expansion mismatch between alumina (Al₂O₃) and Ni-based super-alloy (HAYNES^? 214™) severely deteriorated the joints compared to Al₂O₃–Al₂O₃ joint with the same solid-state bonding parameters. The correlations between the FEM calculations and experimental results obtained by XRD and VIF method were discussed.     

Microstructure and property of Ni60A/WC composite coating fabricated by fiber laser cladding

Laser clad Ni60A/WC composite coating was fabricated on the surface of Q235 steel by using 6 kW fiber laser. The morphology, composition, and microhardness of composite coating were studied by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and micro‐hardness tester. The results show that in the process of fiber laser cladding Ni60A/WC composite coating, residual WC particles partially dissolve and react with other elements to form eutectics, which exists in the shape of lumpy, strip and spherical. The main structures of laser cladding are γ‐Ni, WC, W₂C, M₇C₃, M₂₃C₆ etc. From the hardness analysis, the average hardness of the composite coating is four times of the substrate.     

Effects of duty ratio at high frequency on growth mechanism of micro-plasma oxidation ceramic coatings on Ti alloy

The aim of this work is to study the effects of duty ratio on the growth mechanism of the ceramic coatings on Ti–6Al–4V alloy prepared by pulsed single-polar MPO at 2,000 Hz in NaAlO₂ solution. The phase composition of the coatings was studied by X-ray diffraction, and the morphology and the element distribution in the coating were examined through scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The thickness of the coatings was measured by eddy current coating thickness gauge. The corrosion resistance of the coated samples was examined by linear sweep voltammetry technique in 3.5% NaCl solution. Duty ratio influenced the composition and structure of the coatings. Many residual discharging channels on the coating surface showed that the spark discharge at 2,000 Hz was mainly attributable to the breakdown of the oxide film, which was suitable for the elements both from the electrolyte and from the substrate to join MPO process, and therefore, the coating was mainly composed of Al₂TiO₅. Because of the increase of the congregation and the adsorption of Al from the electrolyte with increasing duty ratio, the redundant Al on the electrode surface led to the formation of γ-Al₂O₃. And Al and Ti in the coating existed in the form of the reverse gradient distribution. Meantime, ceramic coatings improved the corrosion resistance of Ti alloy, and the coating surface morphology and thickness determined the coated samples prepared at D = 20% had the best corrosion resistance among the coated samples.     

Effects of Steam Environment on Creep Behavior of Nextel™610/Monazite/Alumina Composite at 1,100°C

The tensile creep behavior of a N610™/LaPO₄/Al₂O₃ composite was investigated at 1,100°C in laboratory air and in steam. The composite consists of a porous alumina matrix reinforced with Nextel 610 fibers woven in an eight-harness satin weave fabric and coated with monazite. The tensile stress-strain behavior was investigated and the tensile properties measured at 1,100°C. The addition of monazite coating resulted in ~33% improvement in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) at 1,100°C. Tensile creep behavior was examined for creep stresses in the 32–72 MPa range. Primary and secondary creep regimes were observed in all tests. Minimum creep rate was reached in all tests. In air, creep strains remained below 0.8% and creep strain rates approached 2 × 10⁻⁸ s⁻¹. Creep run-out defined as 100 h at creep stress was achieved in all tests conducted in air. The presence of steam accelerated creep rates and significantly reduced creep lifetimes. In steam, creep strain reached 2.25%, and creep strain rate approached 2.6 × 10⁻⁶ s⁻¹. In steam, creep run-out was not achieved. The retained strength and modulus of all specimens that achieved run-out were characterized. Comparison with results obtained for N610™/Al₂O₃ (control) specimens revealed that the use of the monazite coating resulted in considerable improvement in creep resistance at 1,100°C both in air and in steam. Composite microstructure, as well as damage and failure mechanisms were investigated.     

Physical meaning of ΔKRP and fatigue crack propagation in the residual stress distribution field

Previous papers have shown ΔK_RP to be a useful parameter describing fatigue crack propagation behavior, where ΔK_RP is an effective stress intensity factor range corresponding to the excess RPG load (re-tensile plastic zone's generated load) in which the retensile plastic zone appears under the loading process. In this paper, the relationship between ΔK_RP and the zone size ( ) (which is smaller between the tensile plastic zone at maximum load and the compressive plastic zone at minimum load) was investigated using a crack opening/closing simulation model so as to consider a physical meaning of ΔK_RP. As a result, it becomes clear that ΔK_RP dominates the zone size where fatigue damage mostly occurs. This result supports the following crack propagation equation

where C and m are material constants.Simulation and fatigue crack propagation tests were then carried out for compact tension (CT), center cracked tension (CCT) and four points bend (4PB) specimens under constant amplitude loading to obtain C and m values for HT-50 steel. Fatigue crack propagation tests were also carried out under constant amplitude loading using CCT specimens with residual stress distribution due to flame gas heating at the center line or edge lines. The T specimen introduced tensile residual stress at the tip of a notch, and the C specimen introduced compressive residual stress. It therefore becomes clear that tensile residual stress leads to a decrease in RPG load, while compressive residual stress leads to increase in RPG load, and that the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental RPG load. It also becomes clear that simulated crack growth curve using the simulated and the above equation is in good agreement with the experimental curve. It is understood that tensile residual stress creates only a slight increase in crack propagation rate and compressive residual stress create a big decrease a crack propagation rate.     

Evaluating strength of thermally sprayed Al2O3 on aluminum

We evaluated the strength of thermally sprayed Al₂O₃ on aluminum. The thermally sprayed Al₂O₃ films were processed using low-pressure plasma spraying. The thickness of the thermally sprayed Al₂O₃ was 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm. We arranged a 4-point bending test and a heating test to evaluate the strength of the thermally sprayed Al₂O₃. We also investigated the effect of residual stress on the strength by measuring deformation of the thermally sprayed Al₂O₃ after removing the aluminum substrates. The bending strength was 120 MPa, regardless of thickness. We assumed that the bending strength would be equal to the tensile strength because the thermally sprayed Al₂O₃ films were very thin. A crack was generated at 433 K, regardless of thickness. The thermal stress was 160 MPa when the crack was generated. It was 40 MPa higher than we estimated. We found that the residual stress was compression stress that measured 40 MPa, which contributed to the prevention of the crack generation. We presume that the tensile strength was lower than the thermal stress because the residual stress was reduced by stress-relaxing of the aluminum near the interface in the bending test. The influence of heat-resisting strength is dominant over residual stress. Therefore, strength design should take into account residual stress.     

Effect of residual stresses on mechanical properties and interface adhesion strength of SiN thin films

Residual stresses play a significant role in the mechanical reliability of thin films. Thus in this study, the mechanical properties and interface adhesion strengths of SiN thin films containing different residual stresses have been investigated by using nanoindentation and nanoscratch tests. With varied residual stresses from compressive to tensile, the penetration depth of nanoindentation tests shifted to a higher value. The hardness and elastic modulus decreased from 11.0 and 95 GPa, respectively, for the film containing a compressive stress of 235 MPa to 9.6 and 84 GPa for the film with a tensile stress of 86 MPa. With decreasing compressive stress and increasing tensile stress, the interface adhesion energy decreased from 1.8 to 1.5 J/m². Compressive stresses were expected to blunt crack tips and inhibit crack propagation, while tensile stresses enlarged crack opening and facilitated crack propagation, thus changing the mechanical properties of the SiN thin films.     

Effect of active metal coatings on the mechanical properties of silicon nitride-based ceramics

The effects of titanium, zirconium, hafnium and tantalum coatings on the mechanical properties of three silicon nitride ceramics were studied. The titanium coatings was found to cause a 50% decrease in the four-point bend strength of one of the silicon nitride ceramics while the effects of the zirconium, hafnium and tantalum coatings on all three silicon nitride ceramics were moderate. The reactions at a high temperature (940–980°C) between titanium and the grain-boundary glassy phase was the major cause for the degradation of the ceramic properties by the titanium coating. Residual tensile stress developed at the reaction interface replaced the glassy grain-boundary phase. Analytical electron microscopy showed the formation of a 180 nm thick Ti₅Si₃ layer and the crystallization of the amorphous grain-boundary phase. An indentation technique was used to measure qualitatively the residual stress developed at the reaction interface.     

Analyzing the mechanisms of fatigue crack initiation and propagation in CRH EMU brake discs

A significant number of high-speed electric multiple units’ (EMU) brake discs, manufactured from forged steel, showed thermal cracks during work and NDT. There exist three kinds of cracks on the friction surface; namely, the crackle, radial crack and circumferential crack. Macro-morphologies of the friction surface indicate that the cracks appeared in the interior and edges of the hotspots. Crack growth methods include the single crack propagation and multiple crack connectivity. A finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to determine temperature and stress distribution in the brake disc as well as to estimate stress distribution during braking. Simulation results indicate more significant residual, circumferential tensile stress on the external friction surface after emergency braking. The maximum residual circumferential tensile stress is 200 MPa after 300 km/h emergency braking. In addition, there is only the circumferential compressive stress on a section which is a certain distance from the exterior of the friction surface, and the distance depends on braking conditions. Therefore, not taking into account thickness reduction of the friction surface due to wear, it can be concluded that when the cracks run along the thickness direction to the specified distance, they will cease to run along this direction and begin propagating mainly in the direction of the radius. In addition, based on the simulation results, a measure was presented to prevent and inhibit the crack propagation.