Determination of dynamic fracture parameters using a semi-circular bend technique in split Hopkinson pressure bar testing

Fracture initiation toughness, fracture energy, fracture propagation toughness, and fracture velocity are key dynamic fracture parameters. We propose a method to simultaneously measure these parameters for mode-I fractures in split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) testing with a notched semi-circular bend (SCB) specimen. The initiation toughness is obtained from the peak load given dynamic force equilibrium. A laser gap gauge (LGG) is developed to monitor the crack surface opening displacement (CSOD) of the specimen, from which the fracture velocity and the fracture energy can be calculated. The feasibility of this methodology for coarse-grained solids is demonstrated with the SHPB-SCB experiments on Laurentian granite.     

Quasi-static and dynamic fracture behaviour of rock materials: phenomena and mechanisms

An experimental investigation is conducted to study the quasi-static and dynamic fracture behaviour of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. The notched semi-circular bending method has been employed to determine fracture parameters over a wide range of loading rates using both a servo-hydraulic machine and a split Hopkinson pressure bar. The time to fracture, crack speed and velocity of the flying fragment are measured by strain gauges, crack propagation gauge and high-speed photography on the macroscopic level. Dynamic crack initiation toughness is determined from the dynamic stress intensity factor at the time to fracture, and dynamic crack growth toughness is derived by the dynamic fracture energy at a specific crack speed. Systematic fractographic studies on fracture surface are carried out to examine the micromechanisms of fracture. This study reveals clearly that: (1) the crack initiation and growth toughness increase with increasing loading rate and crack speed; (2) the kinetic energy of the flying fragments increases with increasing striking speed; (3) the dynamic fracture energy increases rapidly with the increase of crack speed, and a semi-empirical rate-dependent model is proposed; and (4) the characteristics of fracture surface imply that the failure mechanisms depend on loading rate and rock microstructure.     

Study of mode I crack dynamic propagation behaviour and rock dynamic fracture toughness by using SCT specimens

To study crack dynamic propagation behaviour and rock dynamic fracture toughness, a single cleavage triangle (SCT) specimen was proposed in this paper. By using these specimens and a drop‐weight test system, impact experiments were conducted, and the crack propagation velocity and the fracture time were measured by using crack propagation gauges. To examine the effectiveness of the SCT specimen and to predict the test results, finite difference numerical models were established by using AUTODYN code, and the simulation results showed that the crack propagation path agrees with the test results, and crack arrest phenomena could happen. Meanwhile, by using these numerical models, the crack dynamic propagation mechanism was investigated. Finite element code ABAQUS was applied in the calculation of crack dynamic stress intensity factors (SIFs) based on specimen dimension and the loading curves measured, and the curves of crack dynamic SIFs versus time were obtained. The fracture toughness (including initiation toughness and propagation toughness) was determined according to the fracture time and crack speeds measured by crack propagation gauges. The results show that the SCT specimen is applicable to the study of crack dynamic propagation behaviour and fracture toughness, and in the process of crack propagation, the propagation toughness decreases with crack propagation velocity, and the crack arrest phenomena could happen. The critical SIF of an arrest crack (or arrest toughness) was higher than the crack propagation toughness but was lower than the initiation toughness.     

An experimental and theoretical comparison of CCNBD and CCNSCB specimens for determining mode I fracture toughness of rocks

The cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc (CCNBD) specimen, suggested by the International Society for Rock Mechanics for testing mode I fracture toughness of rocks, usually yields rather conservative toughness measurements, and the reasons have not been fully explored. In this study, the CCNBD method is compared with the cracked chevron notched semicircular bending (CCNSCB) method in the fracture process zone (FPZ) and its influence on the fracture toughness measurement. Theoretical analysis reveals that the FPZ is longer in the CCNBD specimen than in the CCNSCB specimen using a relatively large support span, the toughness measurement using the former is affected more seriously by the presence of FPZ, and thus the CCNBD method is usually, more or less, conservative compared with the CCNSCB method. These inferences are further validated by experimental results, which indicate that the CCNBD test indeed produces much lower fracture toughness values and even the results of 75‐mm radius CCNBD specimens are still lower than those of 25‐mm radius CCNSCB specimens. Consequently, due to smaller FPZ, the CCNSCB specimen with a relatively large span is more likely to produce comparably accurate or representative toughness value, and it may be more suitable than the CCNBD specimen for the engineering applications that require more representative or less conservative fracture toughness.     

冲击载荷下岩石材料动态断裂韧性测试研究进展

岩石动态断裂韧性是岩石动力学的基本力学参数之一,也是评价岩石抵抗裂纹动态起裂和扩展性能的重要参数之一。随着采矿工程、岩土工程的不断发展,冲击动态载荷下岩石动态断裂韧性的研究也愈来愈为国内外岩土工程界所关注。综述了冲击载荷下岩石材料动态断裂韧性测试研究进展,主要介绍了冲击载荷下岩石动态断裂韧性测试技术研究成就及其优缺点,并就冲击载荷下岩石动态断裂韧性测试研究发展趋势给予展望。     

An experimental cum numerical technique to determine dynamic interlaminar fracture toughness

A method combining experimental and finite element analysis is developed to determine interlaminar dynamic fracture toughness. An interlaminar crack is propagated at very high speed in a double cantilever beam (DCB) specimen made of two steel strips which are bonded together by epoxy with a precrack of about 40 mm length. The face of the front cantilever is bonded to a large solid block and a special fixture is designed to apply impact load to the rear cantilever through a load bar. In the load bar, a compressive square shaped elastic stress pulse is generated by impacting it with a striker bar which is accelerated in an air gun. The rear cantilever is screwed to the load bar; when the incident compressive pulse reaches the specimen, a part of the energy is reflected into the load bar and the rest of it passes to the specimen. By monitoring the incident and the reflected pulses in the load bar through strain gauges, deflection of cantilever-end is determined. The crack velocity is determined by three strain gauges of 0.2 mm gauge length bonded to the side face of the rear cantilever. Further, the first strain gauge, bonded very close to the tip of the precrack, and the crack velocity determine the initiation time of crack propagation.

The experimental results are used as input data in a finite element (FE) code to calculate J-integral by the gradual release of nodal forces to model the propagation of the interlaminar crack. The initiation fracture toughness and propagation fracture toughness are evaluated for an interlaminar crack propagating with a velocity in the range of 850 to 1785 m/s. The initiation toughness and propagation toughness were found to vary between 90–200 J/m² and 2–13 J/m², respectively.     

半圆盘构件冲击断裂特性的动态焦散线实验研究

采用动态焦散线实验系统,对有机玻璃（PMMA）在冲击载荷下的I型和I-II混合型裂纹在起裂和扩展时的动态断裂特性进行了研究。结果表明：随着PMMA由I型断裂转变为I-II混合型断裂,从落锤作用在试件上到裂纹起裂所需时间不断增加,说明裂纹起裂需要的能量有所增加,同时从裂纹起裂到最终贯通所需时间不断减少,说明裂纹平均扩展速度也不断增大;在I型断裂中,PMMA的断裂韧度KIC为2.04 MN/m3/2,而在I-II混合型断裂中,PMMA的断裂韧度KIC低于I型断裂时的断裂韧度KIC,但是KIIC有所增大;对于I-II混合型断裂,PMMA极限扩展速度约为366m/s,当达到极限扩展速度后,裂纹尖端出现微裂纹增韧现象,使裂纹的表面能迅速增大,随后裂纹的扩展速度迅速减小。     

Experimental and numerical studies on dynamic crack growth in layered slate rock under wedge impact loads: part I—plane strain problem

The experimental and numerical investigations presented in this paper were carried out to determine the splitting forces and crack propagation scenarios of naturally bedded layered slate rock. Splitting loads were determined by impact splitting of regular‐sized slate blocks under plane strain test loading conditions, using a hydraulic actuator with a wedge‐shaped indenter. The mechanical properties of slate blocks required for numerical analyses were obtained from detailed experimental testing. The velocity of dynamic crack propagation in slate blocks under indenting wedge impact loading was determined using a series of strain gauge sensors. Numerical studies were carried out using ABAQUS, a general purpose, finite element analysis (FEA) program. Mode I dynamic crack propagation was simulated numerically by the gradual releasing of the restrained node on the symmetric plane of the specimens. Mode I stress intensity factors were computed for different crack lengths and the results were compared with the plane strain material fracture toughness obtained from earlier experiments/FEA. Very good agreement was obtained between analysis results and the measured fracture toughness value of slate, for the applied impact splitting load. Using the equation derived from a parametric study, of results obtained from the numerical analysis of different sizes of slate blocks, the maximum theoretical impact splitting force was determined using the plane strain fracture toughness value obtained from FEA. The difference between the loads obtained from the experimental studies and the derived empirical equation, varied between + 4.96% and −32.34%.     

用应变片法确定混凝土动态起裂时间的研究

在混凝土等准脆性材料的动态起裂韧度K_(1d)测试中,准确确定试件裂尖的起裂时间是测试工作的关键。采用分离式霍普金森压杆系统,对圆孔裂纹平台巴西圆盘混凝土试件进行动态径向冲击试验,通过在裂尖粘贴应变片的方法来确定起裂时间。讨论了应变片在裂纹尖端的粘贴位置、粘贴方向等因素对起裂时间测试值的影响,结果表明裂尖应变片的最佳粘贴方式是:在裂纹延长线上或在裂尖并与裂纹垂直的线上,都距离裂尖3 mm左右,且粘贴方向与裂纹延长线垂直。给出了考虑贴片位置和试件厚度的起裂时间计算公式。     

Dynamic crack initiation toughness of 4340 steel at constant loading rates

Determination of fracture toughness for metals under quasi-static loading conditions can follow well-established procedures and ASTM standards. The use of metallic materials in impact related applications requires the determination of dynamic crack initiation toughness for these materials. There are two main challenges in experiment design that must be overcome before valid dynamic data can be obtained. Dynamic equilibrium over the entire specimen needs to be approximately achieved to relate the crack tip loading state to the far-field loading conditions, and the loading rate at the crack tip should be maintained near constant during an experiment to delineate rate effects on the values of dynamic crack initiation toughness. A recently developed experimental technique for determining dynamic crack initiation toughness of brittle materials has been adapted to measure the dynamic crack initiation toughness of high-strength steel alloys. A Kolsky pressure bar is used to apply the dynamic loading. A pulse shaper is used to achieve constant loading rate at the crack tip and dynamic equilibrium across the specimen. A four-point bending configuration is used at the gage section of the setup. Results are presented which show a monotonically increasing rate dependence of crack initiation toughness for 4340 high-strength steel.     

CTOD-R curve construction from surface displacement measurements

The construction of a fracture resistance δ–R (or J–R) curve requires the appropriate measurement of crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) as a function of crack extension. This can be made by different procedures following ASTM E1820, BS7448 or other standards and procedures (e.g., GTP-02, ESIS-P2, etc.) for the measurement of fracture toughness. However, all of these procedures require standard specimens, displacement gauges, and calibration curves to get intrinsic material properties. This paper deals with some analysis and aspects related to the measurement of fracture toughness by observing the surface of the specimen. Tests were performed using three-dimensional surface displacement measurements to determine the fracture parameters and the crack extension values. These tests can be conducted without using a crack mouth opening displacement-CMOD or load-line displacement gauge, because CMOD can be calculated by using the displacement of the surface points. The presented method offers a significant advantage for fracture toughness testing in cases where a clip gauge is not easy to use, for example, on structural components. Simple analysis of stereo-metrical surface displacements gives a load vs. crack opening displacement curve. Results show that the initiation of stable crack propagation can be easy estimated as the point of the curve’s deviation. It is possible to determine the deviation point if the crack opening displacement measurements are close to crack tip in the plastic zone area. The resistance curve, CTOD-R, is developed by the local measurement of crack opening displacement (COD) in rigid body area of specimen. COD values are used for the recalculation with the CMOD parameter as a remote crack opening displacement, according to the ASTM standard.     

Effect of loading rate on dynamic fracture initiation toughness of brittle materials

Numerical simulation is carried out to investigate the effect of loading rate on dynamic fracture initiation toughness including the crack-tip constraint. Finite element analyses are performed for a single edge cracked plate whose crack surface is subjected to uniform pressure with various loading rate. The first three terms in the Williams’ asymptotic series solution is utilized to characterize the crack-tip stress field under dynamic loads. The coefficient of the third term in Williams’ solution, A ₃, was utilized as a crack tip constraint parameter. Numerical results demonstrate that (a) the dynamic crack tip opening stress field is well represented by the three term solution at various loading rate, (b) the loading rate can be reflected by the constraint, and (c) the constraint A ₃ decreases with increasing loading rate. To predict the dynamic fracture initiation toughness, a failure criterion based on the attainment of a critical opening stress at a critical distance ahead of the crack tip is assumed. Using this failure criterion with the constraint parameter, A ₃, fracture initiation toughness is determined and in agreement with available experimental data for Homalite-100 material at various loading rate.     

Initiation, propagation and arrest of an interface crack subjected to controlled stress wave loading

An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the initiation, propagation, and arrest of bimaterial interface cracks subjected to controlled stress wave loading in the form of a tensile dilatational stress wave pulse. The tensile pulse is generated by detonating lead azide explosive in a specially designed specimen. Dynamic loading of the bimaterial interface results in crack initiation, propagation, and arrest, all in the same experiment. This failure event is observed using photoelasticity in conjunction with high speed photography. Full field data from the experimentally obtained isochromatic fringe patterns is analyzed to determine time histories of various fracture parameters such as the crack tip speed, the dynamic complex stress intensity factor, the energy release rate, and the mixity. The experimental data is also used to quantify the values of the dynamic initiation and arrest toughness and to evaluate a recently proposed dynamic interface fracture criterion. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

预加载下岩石的动态力学性能研究

动态和静态载荷共同作用下的岩石力学特性是深部地下岩石工程的关键问题。设计了用于测试静态预加载下岩石动态力学性能的分离式霍普金森压杆系统,并详细介绍了具有预加载装置的分离式霍普金森压杆系统的原理、数据分析和应力波的传播过程。通过具有预加载装置的分离式霍普金森压杆系统研究了岩石在不同预拉伸应力下的拉伸强度。结果表明:动态拉伸强度和总拉伸强度随着加载率的增加而增加,同时,在相同加载率下,动态拉伸强度随着预拉伸载荷的增加而减小,而总拉伸应力与预拉伸载荷的大小无关。此外,对不同预加载条件下岩石的动态断裂韧度也进行了研究,实验结果说明岩石的动态断裂韧度和总断裂韧度随着加载率的增加而增加。在相同加载率下,动态断裂韧度随着预加载荷的增加而减小,而总断裂韧度随着加载率的增加而增加。     

A method for testing interlaminar dynamic fracture toughness of polymeric composites

Static and dynamic Mode I delamination fracture in two polymeric fiber composites was studied using a WIF test method. The dynamic test was conducted on a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus. Crack speeds up to 1000 m/s were achieved. Dynamic fracture and crack propagation were modeled by the finite element method. Dynamic initiation fracture toughness of S2/8552 and IM7/977-3 composites were obtained. The dynamic fracture toughness of IM7/977-3 associated with the high speed propagating crack was extracted from the finite element simulation based on the measured data. It was found that the dynamic fracture toughness of the delamination crack propagating at a speed up to 1000 m/s approximately equals the static fracture toughness.     

混凝土断裂过程区长度计算方法研究

该文基于粘聚裂缝概念,以起裂韧度作为裂缝起裂和扩展的准则,提出了混凝土断裂过程区长度的计算方法。以Ⅰ型裂缝为例,计算了不同初始缝长和起裂韧度情况下的断裂过程区长度值,结合以往大体积混凝土的试验数据对其进行了验证。进而分析了断裂过程区长度的影响因素,结果表明:断裂过程区长度随初始缝长的增大而逐渐增大,随起裂韧度的增大而逐渐减小。     

Quasi-static and dynamic fracture initiation toughness of Ti/TiB layered functionally graded material under thermo-mechanical loading

Quasi-static and dynamic fracture initiation toughness of Ti/TiB layered functionally graded material (FGM) is investigated using a three point bend specimen. The modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) apparatus in conjunction with induction coil heating system is used during elevated temperature dynamic loading experiments. A simple and accurate technique has been developed to identify the time corresponding to the load at which the fracture initiates. A series of experiments are conducted at different temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800 °C, and the effect of temperature and loading rate on the fracture initiation toughness is investigated. The material fracture toughness is found to be sensitive to temperature and the fracture initiation toughness increases as the temperature increases. Furthermore, the fracture initiation toughness is strain rate sensitive and is higher for dynamic loading as compared to quasi-static loading.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc specimen for fracture toughness testing of rock

The cracked chevron notched Brazilian disc (CCNBD) specimen has been suggested by the International Society for Rock Mechanics to quantify mode I fracture toughness (K_Ic) of rock, and it has also been applied to mode II fracture toughness (K_IIc) testing in some research on the basis of some assumptions about the crack growth process in the specimen. However, the K_Ic value measured using the CCNBD specimen is usually conservative, and the assumptions made in the mode II test are rarely assessed. In this study, both laboratory experiments and numerical modeling are performed to study the modes I and II CCNBD tests, and an acoustic emission technique is used to monitor the fracture processes of the specimens. A large fracture process zone and a length of subcritical crack growth are found to be key factors affecting the K_Ic measurement using the CCNBD specimen. For the mode II CCNBD test, the crack growth process is actually quite different from the assumptions often made for determining the fracture toughness. The experimental and numerical results call for more attention on the realistic crack growth processes in rock fracture toughness specimens.     

Numerical study of fracture plane control in laboratory-scale blasting

One way of achieving controlled crack growth is to introduce notches into the surface of the guide hole wall. This results in high stress concentration at the notch tips when the stress wave reaches the guide hole. This paper presents the estimated fracture properties for analyzing blasting-induced fracture processes in PMMA specimens. The model experiments, which have a notched guide hole between the charge holes, were simulated using dynamic fracture process analysis (DFPA) software to examine the effect of the notched guide hole on fracture plane control. The influence of the location of the guide hole and the initiation time lag on the crack propagation control is discussed, as is the relationship between the applied fracture energy and crack extension.     

铁素体钢断裂韧度尺寸效应的小冲孔试验

对六种不同厚度的试样进行了小冲孔试验,并进行了有限元模拟,此外还通过扫描电镜观察并分析了断裂面的微观结构。试验结果显示,试样的SP断裂变形能和断裂韧度随试样厚度的增大而增大。提出了裂纹起始遵循断裂应变准则及裂纹扩展遵循断裂能密度准则的观点。有限元模拟结果与试验结果基本吻合。断裂面呈典型的韧性断裂特征,试样变形后的半球状外表面布满微小的褶皱状突起和微裂纹。