Fracture mechanics model for subthreshold indentation flaws

In Part II of this two-part study we extend the shear-fault-microcrack model to non-equilibrium fracture, to allow for rate effects in the critical instability configurations in chemically interactive environments. The calibratedK-fields of Part I are combined with independently evaluated crack velocity functions to determine kinetic conditions for microcrack extension. The analysis enables evaluation of (i) a time delay in radial crack pop-in from a subthreshold flaw; (ii) a time dependence in the strength characteristics, in both the subthreshold and postthreshold domains. Comparisons with delayed pop-in and strength-stressing-rate literature data for silicate glasses in moist environments indicate that the analysis is capable of quantitative predictions of kinetic characteristics. In the strength data, the model accounts for the relatively high magnitudes, scatter and fatigue susceptibilities in the subthreshold region. Guest Scientists: On leave from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.     

Three-dimensional interactions of a crack front with arrays of penny-shaped microcracks

Three-dimensional interactions of a crack front with arrays of penny-shaped microcracks are considered. The work extends the earlier analysis of 2-D crack-microcrack interactions to the 3-D configurations.After analysing simple elementary interaction events (involving only one microcrack) we solve the interaction problem for a number of sample arrays (containing up to 50 microcracks)-realizations of certain microcrack statistics.Statistical aspects of the problem are examined. The interaction effects are found to fluctuate, even qualitatively (from shielding to amplification) along the crack front: the intervals of reduced stress intensity factors (SIFs) alternate with local peaks of SIFs that enhance local front advances. Thus, no statistically stable effect of stress shielding is found (at least, for the microcrack statistics considered): the toughening by microcracking, if it exists, may be due to a statistics of the microcrack centers which is biased towards shielding configurations or to expenditure of energy on nucleation of new microcracks, rather than elastic interactions with them. Similarly to the 2-D case, stochastic asymmetries in the microcrack field produce noticeable secondary modes on the main crack (i.e., modes II and III under mode I loading); this may be partially responsible for crack kinking and an irregular crack path.The short range interactions (several microcracks closest to the main crack tip) play a dominant role. Their impact on the main crack is quite sensitive to the individual microcrack locations and cannot be adequately reproduced by modelling the short range microcracking zone by an effective elastic material of reduced stiffness.The interaction effects in 3-D are found to be weaker than in 2-D.     

Fatigue microcrack growth in a nickel-base superalloy

The growth of very small fatigue microcracks was studied in a powder metallurgy nickel-base superalloy. A novel specimen containing a small crack was used, with crack growth rates being measured optically at high magnification. Interaction between the crack and the material microstructure was observed in a cyclic loading stage within a scanning electron microscope.It was found that microcracks grew initially at rates more rapid than those corresponding to conventional fracture mechanics (large crack) specimens. The rate undergoes a transient decrease with increasing crack length, dropping below the corresponding plot for large cracks, before beginning to increase in accordance with large crack results, ultimately merging with the latter. These results are discussed in terms of microstructure and crack growth mode, and the findings considered in light of the few studies of cyclic microcrack growth which have previously been correlated with fracture mechanics.     

Non-equilibrium microstructure of hyper-eutectic Al-Si alloy solidified under superhigh pressure

The non-equilibrium microstructures of hyper-eutectic Al-26.6wt%Si solidified under superhigh pressure (5.5 GPa) have been investigated. The results show that there exists a great deal of primary phase in hyper-eutectic Al-Si alloy. The non-equilibrium microstructure for hyper-eutectic Al-Si alloy is composed of primary phase, phase and ( + ) eutectic phase. The solid solubility of Si in phase and the solid solubility of Al in phase increase significantly. The effects of high pressure on the solidification structures of Al-Si alloy are discussed.     

Simulation of the Process of Water Freezing in a Round Pipe

The problem of freezing of pure water in a round pipe is treated with due regard for convection under asymmetric thermal boundary conditions in the absence of motion along the pipe. The problem is solved numerically using the control volume approach, SIMPLER algorithm, and the enthalpy method. Results are obtained for three Grashof (Gr) and six Biot (Bi) numbers: Gr = 1.55 × 10⁶, Bi = 0.305 (0 < ), Bi = 0.044 ( < 2); Gr = 1.24 × 10⁷, Bi = 0.610 (0 < ), Bi = 0.087 ( < 2); Gr = 9.89 × 10⁷, Bi = 1.220 (0 < ), Bi = 0.174 ( < 2). The correctness of calculation of the problem disregarding free-convection flows is analyzed.     

Simulation of a liquid-liquid floating interface

The planar interface between two simple liquids interacting with 6-12 LJ potentials was simulated by molecular dynamics at a low temperature. The peculiar physical picture. the new breathing mode, the 2 x 2 matrix of the structure factorsS(k l, and the interfacial dynamic structure factor Slk. ), are reported.Paper presented at the Twelfth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 19–24, 1994, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Influence of stabilizers on Na-β′′-Al2O3 phase formation in Li2O(MgO)-Na2O-Al2O3 ternary systems

The influences of stabilizers on - and -Al2O3 phase formations in Li2O(MgO)-Na2O-Al2O3 systems were investigated. When stabilized with 4MgCO3Mg(OH)25H2O, most of the -Al2O3 phase formed below 1200°C and further - to -Al2O3 transformation with an increase of temperature was not observed. On the other hand, when stabilized with Li2CO3,-Al2O3 formation occurred by two steps. First, -Al2O3 was partly formed below 1200°C, and, second, noticeable transformation from -Al2O3 to -Al2O3 occurred at higher temperature ranges. It was shown that transient eutectic liquid in the Li2O-Na2O-Al2O3 system promoted the - to -Al2O3 transformation at higher temperatures. Uniform distribution of both Mg2+ and Li+ stabilizing ions enhanced -Al2O3 formation at low temperatures. In the Li-stabilized systems, however, homogeneous distribution of Li+ ions hindered both the formation of transient eutectic liquid and the second - to -Al2O3 phase transformation at high temperatures.     

Energy‐Environmental Analysis of Combustion of Fuel Gases in Heating Furnaces of Metallurgical and Engineering Plants

Results of an energyenvironmental analysis of the expediency of purifying artificial fuel gases are given. Experimental investigations have been carried out in industrial furnaces of modern structure where various kinds of high and lowcalorific gaseous fuels are used.     

Paramagnetic resonance in a “dirty” spin-glass

For a spin-glass with nonmagnetic defects (n _m ^1/3l 1, where n _m is the magnetic impurity concentration and l is the mean free path) an absorption function () is derived. Three ranges of temperature and external magnetic field are considered. In the vicinity of the transition the value of () d is estimated as a function of temperature and field.     

The constitution of the Ni-Al-Ru system

The constitution of the Ni-Al-Ru system has been investigated in the range 0 to 50 at% Al. Isothermal sections at 1523 and 1273 K have been determined using microstructural observations, electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction. The phases present were: nickel-based solid solution (); (based on Ni₃Al); solid solutions based on NiAl and RuAl, respectively (designated ₁ and ₂), and ruthenium-based solid solution (Ru). The maximum solubility of Ru in was 5 at%. ₁, and ₂ show extensive range of solubilities, namely up to 20at% Ru in ₁ and up to 25 to 35 at% Ni in ₂. Three-phase equilibrium between , ₂ and (Ru) existed at 1523 and 1273 K. Also at 1523 K, three-phase equilibria existed between , and ₁ and ,₁ and ₂, while at 1273 K, the equilibria were between , ₁,₂ and , , ₂ indicating the occurrence of a reaction +₁, +₂ at a temperature between 1523 and 1273 K. Liquidus features have been deduced from data on as-solidified structures. Lattice parameter data and hardnesses are also reported.     

Tensile and fatigue strength of hydrogen-treated Ti-6Al-4V alloy

Tensile, fatigue and fractographic data on Ti-6Al-4V microstructures attained through a series of post--annealing treatments which used hydrogen as a temporary alloying element are presented. Hydrogen-alloying treatments break up the continuous grain boundary and colony structure, and produce a homogeneous microstructure consisting of refined -grains in a matrix of discontinuous . These changes in microstructural morphology result in significant increases of the yield strength (974 to 1119 MPa), ultimate strength (1025 to 1152 MPa) and high cycle fatigue strength (643 to 669 MPa) compared to respective values for lamellar microstructures (902, 994, 497 MPa). The strengths are also significantly greater than the strengths of equiaxed microstructures (914, 1000, 590 MPa). The strengths of hydrogen-alloy treated samples are therefore superior to strengths attainable via other thermal cycling techniques.The fatigue fracture surfaces of the hydrogen-alloy treated samples were topographically similar to equiaxed samples. Fatigue crack initiation was characterized by faceted regions. As crack length and K increased, the crack surface changed to a rounded, ductile topology, with microcracks and locally striated regions. Fracture primarily followed the - interfaces. This is rationalized by the fact that hydrogen-alloyed microstructures are very fine Widmanstatten microstructures having reduced aspect ratios, and these microstructures fail along - interfaces.     

Influence of Multiple‐Scattering Processes on the Laser Probing of Biological Tissues

Theoretical aspects of multiplescattering processes in laser probing of biological tissues have been considered. The method of digital dynamic specklephotography has been described. The results of experimental studies of the nearsurface blood flow and stressedstrained states in a pinstructure–toothroot model are presented.     

Fatigue crack growth behaviour of tungsten carbide-cobalt hardmetals

Fatigue crack propagation studies have been carried out on a range of WC-Co hardmetals of varying cobalt content and grain size using a constant-stress intensity factor double torsion test specimen geometry. Results have confirmed the marked influence of mean stress (throughK _max), which is interpreted in terms of static modes of fracture occurring in conjunction with a true fatigue process, the existence of which can be rationalized through the absence of any frequency effect. Dramatic increases in fatigue crack growth rate are found asK _max approaches that value of stress intensity factor ( 0.9K_IC) for which static crack growth under monotonic load (or static fatigue) occurs in these materials. Lower crack growth rates, however, produce fractographic features indistinguishable from those resulting from fast fracture. These observations, and the important effect of increasing mean free path of the cobalt binder in reducing fatigue crack growth rate, can reasonably be explained through a consideration of the mechanism of fatigue crack advance through ligament rupture of the cobalt binder at the tip of a propagating crack.     

R-curves of an yttria- and alumina-doped hot-pressed silicon nitride ceramic at 1200°C and room temperature

An energy approach has been utilized to measure theR-curves of an Y2O3~A3-doped hot-pressed silicon nitride ceramic at 1200C in an argon atmosphere in three-point bending. In order to evaluate theR-curves at 1200C, a low constant displacement rate of =5 m min^–1 was applied in cyclic loading to obtain the cyclic loading/ unloading-displacement curves during controlled-crack propagation. Propagated crack lengths were measured directly by a microscope and they were compared to compliance-calculated crack lengths. After digitizing the cyclic load-displacement and crack length-displacement curves, crack-resistance parameters,R-curves andK-curves, were calculated by computer. At 1200C this material behaved non-elastically and the crack parameters, obtained here, represent the non-elastic ones. For comparison, at room temperature, continuous loading was applied to obtain the load-displacement curves. At room temperature, linear-elastic fracture mechanics behaviour was observed.     

Irreversibilites in science and technology networks: An empirical and analytical approach

The theory of autopoiesis, i.e., self-referentiality in the operation of the system, provides us with a production rule for change in the structure of the network. Using information theory, a model system is developed to study the relative likelihood of dynamic transitions: various senses of irreversibility (emergence, and path dependency) are disinguished. A test for path dependency is applied to two sets of empirical data which supposedly reflect historical discontinuities: the budget of theFraunhofer Gesellschaft, and the citation network among AIDS research related journals. The model for the interaction between self-referential developments and goal-referential boundary conditions is further specified, using the example of technological trajectories and selection environments.     

Measuring of contact gaps by the absolute interference method

Summary The accidental error which is introduced by the measuring contacts is contained in the variations of readings on the gage scale, and requires no special investigation.Systematic errors introduced by the measuring contacts must be calculated or measured for each type of measurement and taken into account during the accurate determination of dimensions in precision measurements.In measuring gage blocks (OST 85,000-39) on the contact devices, the optimum results were obtained with spherical corundum tips with R 14 mm, operating with loads of up to 300 g. In these cases the contact pressures for gage blocks are only a third to a fifth of the permissible values, while the contact gaps are so small and constant that the measurements can be made with the utmost precision.The measurements of showed that for best contacts=0 when the lengths of these gages is determined by the method of comparison, and=0.06 when it is determined by the absolute method.     

Tilted and Crossing Vortex Chains in Layered Superconductors

No Heading In presence of the Josephson vortex lattice in layered superconductors, small c-axis magnetic field penetrates in the form of vortex chains. In general, structure of a single chain is determined by the ratio of the London [] and Josephson [_J] lengths, = /_J. The chain is composed of tilted vortices at large s (tilted chain) and at small s it consists of crossing array of Josephson vortices and pancake-vortex stacks (crossing chain). We study chain structures at the intermediate s and found two types of phase transitions. For 0.6 the ground state is given by the crossing chain in a wide range of pancake separations a [2–3]_J. However, due to attractive coupling between deformed pancake stacks, the equilibrium separation can not exceed some maximum value depending on the in-plane field and . The first phase transition takes place with decreasing pancake-stack separation a at a = [1 – 2]_J, and rather wide range of the ratio , 0.4 0.65. With decreasing a, the crossing chain goes through intermediate strongly-deformed configurations and smoothly transforms into the tilted chain via the second-order phase transition. Another phase transition occurs at very small densities of pancake vortices, a [20 – 30]_J, and only when exceeds a certain critical value 0.5. In this case small c-axis field penetrates in the form of kinks. However, at very small concentration of kinks, the kinked chains are replaced with strongly deformed crossing chains via the first-order phase transition. This transition is accompanied by a very large jump in the pancake density.PACS numbers: 74.25.Qt, 74.25.Op, 74.20.De     

Influence of pore volume on laser performance of Nd : YAG ceramics

For present study, 1.1 at% Nd-doped YAG ceramics with a controlled pore volume (150–930 vol ppm) were fabricated by a solid-state reaction method using high-purity powders. The scattering coefficients of Nd:YAG ceramics, obtained from Fresnel' equation, increased simply with increases in the pore volume. The cw laser output power of Nd:YAG ceramics was clearly related to the scattering coefficients of the specimens examined in the present works, which in turn were affected on the pore volume. The effective scattering coefficients of Nd:YAG ceramics with a pore volume of 150 vol ppm were nearly equivalent to those of a 0.9 at%Nd:YAG single crystal by Czochralski method. As the exciting power was increased under excitation by an 808-nm diode laser, however, the laser output power of the Nd:YAG ceramics exceeded that of the Nd:YAG single crystal because of the fairly large amount of Nd additives. The lasing performance of the Nd:YAG ceramics changed drastically with change in pore volume. On the other hand, lasing performance was not affected by the existence of grain boundaries in the polycrystalline Nd:YAG ceramics.     

Reversible colour change in Cu-Al-Ni alloy ribbon associated with phase transformation

The colour change behaviour and its relation to phase transformation of Cu-14 wt% Al-4 wt% Ni alloy ribbon produced by the twin-roller type melt-quenching method were investigated by spectral reflectivity and X-ray diffraction, respectively. This ribbon turns copper-coloured around room temperature on quenching it from a temperature above 1020 K, and turns gold-coloured on ageing it between 670 and 970 K. By repeating these heat treatments, either of the two colours can be acquired interchangeably. The spectral reflectivity also changes with respect to the colour change. The copper-coloured alloy shows a DO₃ structure which is the ₁, phase. The gold-coloured alloy shows a mixed phase of ₂ (cubic, Cu₉Al₄ compound), and (fcc, Cu-Al-Ni solid solution) and/or ₁ which is a martensite of the ₁ phase having a (1 21) twinning structure. Therefore, the colour change between copper and gold is due to the solid-state phase transformation between ₁ and ₂ + ( and/or ₁) on heat treatment.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of rapidly quenched L20 and L20+L12 alloys in Ni-Al-Fe and Ni-Al-Co systems

Ductile L2₀-type wires and+L1₂-type duplex wires with high strengths and large elongation in the Ni-Al-Fe and Ni-Al-Co ternary systems have been manufactured directly from the liquid state by an in-rotating-water spinning method. The wire diameter was in the range 80 to 180m and the average grain size was 2 to 4m for the wires and 0.2 to 1.0m for the+ wires. _y, _f and _p of the wires were found to be about 360 to 760 MPa, 560 to 960 MPa, and 0.2 to 5.5%, respectively, for the Ni-Al-Fe system, those of the+ wires were about 395 to 660 MPa, 670 to 1285 MPa, and 3.5 to 17%, respectively, for the Ni-Al-Fe system, and about 260 to 365 MPa, 600 to 870 MPa, and 4.0 to 7.0%, respectively, for the Ni-Al-Co system. Cold-drawing caused a significant increase in _y and _f and the values attained were about 1850 and 2500 MPa, respectively, for Ni-20Al-30Fe and Ni-25Al-30Co wires drawn to about 90% reduction in area. The high strengths, large elongation and good cold-workability of the melt-quenched and+ compound wires have been inferred to be due to the structural change into a low-degree ordered state containing a high density of phase boundaries, suppression of grain-boundary segregation and refinement of grain size.