Tension stiffening in reinforced high performance fiber reinforced cement-based composites

High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Cement-based Composite (HPFRCC) materials carry tension to strains greater than the yield strain of reinforcing steel and exhibit distributed compression damage with minimal spalling. Characterization of the interaction between the composite and steel reinforcement to large strains (i.e., >0.005) remains largely unknown. Three HPFRCC materials as well as concrete with a single reinforcing bar are tested in a prismatic specimen in uniaxial tension up to fracture of the reinforcement. Multiple cracking of the composite led to uniform bar yielding throughout the specimen and early hardening of the reinforcement at the location of dominant cracks. The reinforcement fractured within the HPFRCC at lower strain levels relative to the reinforced concrete. A modified approach based on planar analysis to estimate flexural strength of reinforced HPFRCC components using tension-stiffening data is proposed.     

Viscoplastic behaviour of metals deformed at high-temperature, application to tension–compression cycles

A mechanical modelling is proposed in order to describe viscoplastic behaviour without hardening of a nickel-base super alloy loaded at high temperature (900 °C) with strain rates varying within a wide range (from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹). A mathematical law is associated to the viscoplastic model; the parameters of the law are identified from monotonic biaxial tests of membranes loaded by pressure of inert gas (disk pressure testing under helium). The viscoplastic law provides calculated stresses with accuracy better than 1% at the highest strain rates and 4% at the lowest strain rates; the identified yield stress is a logarithmical function of strain rate as for other metallic alloys studied in the bibliography. The parameters identified from biaxial tensile tests of disks have been successfully used to calculate the stresses during stabilized tension–compression loops of cylindrical specimens. The proposed experimental method and behaviour model are interesting because the disk biaxial testing is much more easily performed at high temperature than the tension–compression testing of cylindrical specimens.     

Rate-dependent tensile behavior of high performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites

High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCC) show strain hardening behavior accompanied with multiple micro-cracks under static tension. The high ductility and load carrying capacity resulting from their strain hardening behavior is expected to increase the resisting capacity of structures subjected to extreme loading situations, e.g., earthquake, impact or blast. However, the promise of HPFRCCs for dynamic loading applications stems from their observed good response under static loading. In fact, very little research has been conducted to investigate if their good static response translates into improved dynamic response and damage tolerance. This experimental study investigates the tensile behavior of HPFRCC using High strength steel fibers (High strength hooked fiber and twisted fiber) under various strain rates ranging from static to seismic rates. The test results indicate that the tensile behavior of HPFRCC using twisted fiber shows rate sensitivity while that using hooked fiber shows no rate sensitivity. The results also show that rate sensitivity in twisted fibers is dependent upon both fiber volume fraction and matrix strength, which influences the interface bond properties.     

Cyclic tensile response of a pre-tensioned polyurethane

In the research reported in this paper, we subject a polyurethane to uniaxial tensile loading at a quasi-static strain rate, a high strain rate and a jumping strain rate where the specimen is under quasi-static pre-tension and is further subjected to a dynamic cyclic loading using a modified Kolsky tension bar. The results obtained at the quasi-static and high strain rate clearly show that the mechanical response of this material is significantly rate sensitive. The rate-jumping experimental results show that the response of the material behavior is consistent before jumping. After jumping the stress–strain response of the material does not jump to the corresponding high-rate curve. Rather it approaches the high-rate curve asymptotically. A non-linear hyper-viscoelastic (NLHV) model, after having been calibrated by monotonic quasi-static and high-rate experimental results, was found to be capable of describing the material tensile behavior under such rate jumping conditions.     

Evaluation of toughness of textile concrete

High Performance Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCC) are characterized by a stress–strain response in tension that exhibits strain-hardening behaviour accompanied by propagation of multiple cracks. This process is often referred to as pseudo-ductility due to multiple cracking with relatively large energy absorption capacity. The cracking characteristics are dependent on matrix strength, fibre/matrix bond, fibre volume fraction and the aspect ratio of the fibre used in the composite. The matrix cracking strength and interfacial bond vary with the degree of hydration of cement in the matrix, which is time and environment dependent. This study analyses the multiple cracking patterns formed in weathered Textile Concrete (TC) samples due to direct tensile testing, and links the cracking patterns to the tensile behaviour. The specimens used for the study were thin laminates which were produced by casting six layers of specially made polypropylene (PP) textile in fine-grained mortar. The samples were cured under controlled laboratory conditions for 28 days, and thereafter exposed to different weathering regimes for different periods. The weathered samples were tested in direct tension in a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) over a range of stresses. For all the samples tested, it was observed that the tensile behaviour was characterised by strain hardening and multiple cracking, which gave high tensile strains in excess of 20% at final failure. It was further found that the cracking patterns varied mainly with age, weathering history and stress levels. Other factors that contributed to the cracking characteristics were moisture state of the specimen and the fibre/matrix bonding strength. A strong bond and dense matrix resulted in wide crack spacings compared with samples with a weaker bond which developed closely spaced cracks. A general trend of increasing crack widths and crack spacings with ageing was observed which was accredited to increased hydration accompanied by an increase in fibre/matrix bond strength.     

Fracture mechanisms of aluminium alloy AA7075-T651 under various loading conditions

The fracture behaviour of the aluminium alloy AA7075-T651 is investigated for quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions and different stress states. The fracture surfaces obtained in tensile tests on smooth and notched axisymmetric specimens and compression tests on cylindrical specimens are compared to the fracture surfaces that occur when a projectile, having either a blunt or an ogival nose shape, strikes a 20 mm thick plate of the aluminium alloy. The stress state in the impact tests is much more complex and the strain rate significantly higher than in the tensile and compression tests. Optical and scanning electron microscopes are used in the investigation. The fracture surface obtained in tests with smooth axisymmetric specimens indicates that the crack growth is partly intergranular along the grain boundaries or precipitation free zones and partly transgranular by void formation around fine and coarse intermetallic particles. When the stress triaxiality is increased through the introduction of a notch in the tensile specimen, delamination along the grain boundaries in the rolling plane is observed perpendicular to the primary crack. In through-thickness compression tests, the crack propagates within an intense shear band that has orientation about 45° with respect to the load axis. The primary failure modes of the target plate during impact were adiabatic shear banding when struck by a blunt projectile and ductile hole-enlargement when struck by an ogival projectile. Delamination and fragmentation of the plates occurred for both loading cases, but was stronger for the ogival projectile. The delamination in the rolling plane was attributed to intergranular fracture caused by tensile stresses occurring during the penetration event.     

Microstructure,deformation and failure of polymer bonded explosives

Polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) are highly particle filled composite materials comprised of explosive crystals and a polymeric binder (ca. 5–10% by weight). The microstructure and mechanical properties of two pressed PBXs with different binder systems were studied in this paper. The initial microstructure of the pressed PBXs and its evolution under different mechanical aggressions were studied, including quasi-static tension and compression, ultrasonic wave stressing and long-pulse low-velocity impact. Real-time microscopic observation of the PBXs under tension was conducted by using a scanning electron microscope equipped with a loading stage. The mechanical properties under tensile creep, quasi-static tension and compression were studied. The Brazilian test, or diametrical compression, was used to study the tensile properties. The influences of pressing pressures and temperatures, and strain rates on the mechanical properties of PBXs were analyzed. The mesoscale damage modes in initial pressed samples and the samples insulted by different mechanical aggressions, and the corresponding failure mechanisms of the PBXs under different loading conditions were analyzed.     

循环荷载作用下超高性能混凝土的轴拉力学性能及本构关系模型

对具有不同拉伸应变特性(应变强化和应变软化)的超高性能混凝土(Ultra high performance concrete, UHPC)进行了单调和循环荷载作用下的直接拉伸试验。试验结果表明:应变强化UHPC基体开裂后进入多点微裂纹分布的应变强化段,达到极限抗拉强度后进入单缝开裂的应变软化段;应变软化UHPC基体开裂后直接进入单缝开裂的应变软化段;循环荷载下两种类型UHPC的轴拉应力-应变曲线包络线与单调荷载下的应力-应变曲线基本一致;基于刚度退化过程建立了两种类型UHPC的轴拉损伤演化方程,根据实测应力-应变曲线和试件的裂缝分布形态建立了两种类型UHPC的轴拉本构关系模型,与试验结果基本吻合;采用能量法研究了应变强化UHPC两阶段轴拉本构关系在数值计算时的等效方法。最后,通过无筋应变强化UHPC抗弯试验梁的数值模拟对本文建立的应变强化UHPC轴拉本构关系模型和损伤演化方程及相关假定进行了验证,结果表明本文建立的应变强化UHPC轴拉本构模型能较好地预测UHPC弯拉构件的极限承载力,轴拉损伤变量能在宏观层面上较好地反应试件的裂缝分布状态。      

Applications and recommendations of high performance fiber reinforced cement composites with multiple fine cracking (HPFRCC) in Japan

High performance fiber reinforced cement composites with multiple fine cracking (HPFRCC) show remarkably high ductility under uniaxial tensile stress and excellent performance distinguished from conventional cementitious materials by multiple cracking and strain hardening behaviors. Characteristics of HPFRCC include crack width controlling capability keeping crack width in a permissible range. HPFRCC has been applied to bridge decks and building dampers, making use of its excellent mechanical performance. It has also been used for surface repair of concrete dams, water channels, and retaining walls making use of its finely distributed cracking behavior. Appropriate use of the tensile performance can work out a structural component excellent in both durability and mechanical performance. The Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) has published the first design recommendations for HPFRCC. Examples of HPFRCC applications in Japan and the outlines of the JSCE recommendations for HPFRCC are introduced in this article.     

高性能PVA纤维增强水泥基复合材料单轴受拉特性

高韧性PVA纤维增强水泥基复合材料具有很高的能量吸收能力,但强度通常较低,采用我国地方材料资源和工业废料,可制备出高强度同时极限变形量满足实际工程要求的高性能PVA纤维增强水泥基复合材料(HPFRCC),以应用于高层抗震建筑结构的关键部位。通过单轴受拉强度和变形特性试验,研究PVA纤维体积率、粉煤灰掺量、硅灰掺量、水胶比及砂胶比对HPFRCC抗拉性能的影响,研究结果表明:随着PVA纤维体积掺量的增加,HPFRCC的抗拉强度与极限拉应变增大;大掺量粉煤灰替代水泥及增大水胶比可降低HPFRCC的抗拉强度,但明显改善其受拉应变硬化特性;HPFRCC中掺入适量硅灰及细砂可提高其抗拉强度,但极限拉应变降低,尤其当砂胶比较大时,HPFRCC的受拉应变硬化现象不明显;基于细观力学模型,分析了各因素对HPFRCC拉伸应变硬化特性影响的原因,研究结果可为今后HPFRCC的实际工程应用提供基础依据。     

Evolution of mechanical properties for a dual-phase steel subjected to different loading paths

The evolution of the mechanical properties of a dual-phase (DP590) steel sheet after being prestrained by uniaxial tension, plane strain and equal biaxial stretching was investigated. Specimens were first loaded using the three prestraining modes. Then, from the prestrained specimens, a few sub-sized samples were machined along the rolling direction and the transverse direction for further uniaxial tension testing. Six loading paths were provided. Equal biaxial stretching was performed using a cruciform specimen. The evolution of work hardening performance, elastic modulus, yield stress and tensile stress under the six loading paths were discussed in detail. The results indicate that loading paths can affect the latent work hardening performances, strain hardenability, yield stress and tensile stress evolution as well as the elastic modulus decrease during plastic deformation. The uniaxial tension–uniaxial tension path results in a cross-softening phenomenon, the largest yield stress enhancement and a mild maximum tensile stress increase. The equal biaxial stretching-uniaxial tension path leads to a cross-hardening phenomenon, the least yield stress enhancement and the largest tensile strength increase maximum tensile strength. The elastic modulus of DP590 steel not only changes with the accumulated plastic strain but also varies with the loading paths. The largest decrease of the elastic modulus equal biaxial stretching–uniaxial tension can reach 12.7% beyond 8% equivalent strain, which is 5.2% greater than that in the monotonic uniaxial tension path.     

Influences of complex loading and margin geometry: failure of curved brittle layer structures

This study investigates the influences of off-axis loading and of margin geometry on “margins failure” observed in loaded curved bi-layer structures, away from the contact loading point. Specimens of hemispherical bi-layer model consist of glass shells with varying margins geometry, and filled with epoxy resin substrate are prepared. These specimens are loaded with compliant PTFE Teflon cylindrical indenters, with a modulus of several orders of magnitude lower than the indented materials. Load is applied normally; axisymmetric to the dome apex, and at 45° from the axis of symmetry. In this fashion, the effect of off-axis loading and the influence of margin geometry on “margins failure” are studied. The onset of fracture is observed in situ using a video camera system. Finite element analysis is applied to determine basic stress distribution within the dome structures, and to confirm a shift in maximum tensile stress from the near-contact area to the dome sides with the use of more compliant indenters. Critical loads to initiate radial cracks and damage evolution are presented, and interpreted with the results of FEA.     

Effect of strain rate on the tension–compression asymmetric responses of Ti–6.6Al–3.3Mo–1.8Zr–0.29Si

An experimental investigation is performed to explore the tension–compression asymmetry of Ti–6.6Al–3.3Mo–1.8Zr–0.29Si alloy over a wide range of strain rates. A split Hopkinson bar technique is used to obtain the dynamic stress–strain responses under uniaxial tension and compression loading conditions. Experimental results indicate that the alloy is a rate sensitive material. Both tension yield strength and compression yield strength increase with increasing strain rate. The mechanical responses of the alloy have the tension–compression asymmetry. The values of yield strength and subsequent flow stress in compression are much higher than that in tension. The yield strength is more sensitive to change with strain rate in tension than compression. The difference of the yield strength between tension and compression increases with the increase of strain rate. The tensile specimen is broken in a manner of ductile fracture presenting characteristic dimples, while the compressive specimen fails in a manner of localized shearing failure.     

Experimental Tests and Numerical Modelling of Hexagonal Concrete Specimens

This paper describes a novel experimental investigation into concrete cracking under complex and rotating loading paths. Hexagonally shaped specimens are loaded in compression until some damage has occurred and then unloaded and rotated before being loaded again until failure. The results from tests on specimens loaded in two directions are compared with control tests undertaken under monotonic loading. The development of the test setup and sample preparation procedure for these novel experiments is described. The results show that the diffuse cracking accumulated during the initial loading direction has the effect of lowering the peak load carrying capacity of the rotated specimen relative to the peak load obtained under monotonic loading. The results of the experiments performed are subsequently used as benchmark tests for numerical simulations, to test the ability of a constitutive model, as implemented in a finite element program, to simulate cracking under complex and rotating load conditions. Numerical simulations of the experiments are performed here using a recently developed plastic-damage-contact constitutive model (Jefferson (2003) Int J Solids Str 40:5973–5999; Jefferson (2003) Int J Solids Str 40:6001–6022; Jefferson (2004) Comput Concrete 1(3):261–284). This model couples the familiar damage and plasticity model frameworks, taking advantage of their relative strengths in modelling tensile and compressive stress states, respectively. In addition, this model employs a contact function to simulate crack closure and aggregate interlock behaviour. The numerical results manage to capture the essential features of the experimental behaviour, in particular, a reduction of the peak load attained as a result of damage initiated in the original loading direction. However, the constitutive model is unable to fully capture the unloading response. A relatively high value for the specific fracture energy G _f was employed in the simulations to emulate the relatively ductile response of the experiments. This relatively ductile response of the specimens is conjectured to be due to friction on formed crack planes, and currently local plasticity on these planes is not simulated within the model framework.     

Constraint Loss under Dynamic Loading in Rate Independent Plastic Solids

The objectives of this paper are to examine the loss of crack tip constraint in dynamically loaded fracture specimens and to assess whether it can lead to enhancement in the fracture toughness at high loading rates which has been observed in several experimental studies. To this end, 2-D plane strain finite element analyses of single edge notched (tension) specimen and three point bend specimen subjected to time varying loads are performed. The material is assumed to obey the small strain J ₂ flow theory of plasticity with rate independent behaviour. The results demonstrate that a valid J–Q field exists under dynamic loading irrespective of the crack length and specimen geometry. Further, the constraint parameter Q becomes strongly negative at high loading rates, particularly in deeply cracked specimens. The variation of dynamic fracture toughness K _dc with stress intensity rate K for cleavage cracking is predicted using a simple critical stress criterion. It is found that inertia-driven constraint loss can substantially enhance K _dc for .     

An experimental method for dynamic tensile testing of concrete by spalling

A new application of the spalling phenomenon in long specimens is reported in this paper. The new experimental technique is based on an experimental setup which consists of an air launcher of cylindrical projectiles with a Hopkinson bar as a measuring tool and a relatively long concrete specimen in contact with the bar. The incident compression wave transmitted by the Hopkinson bar into the specimen is reflected as a tensile wave causing spalling. Although such configurations have been reported in the past, the main advantage of the present approach lies in the application of the detailed analysis, based on the wave mechanics with dispersion, to extract the specimen behaviour. Such an approach leads to an exact estimation of the local failure stress in tension at high strain rates, even above 100 s⁻¹. This paper demonstrates, using two series of tests on concrete, that this experimental setup can cover one decimal order of strain rates, from ∼10 to ∼120 s⁻¹. The tests performed at high strain rates on wet and dry concrete have indicated that the tensile strength is substantially influenced by the loading rate or strain rate. The absolute value of the failure stress for wet and dry concrete is almost the same for a particular strain rate, which does not occur when subject to low strain rates in tension or compression. A brief discussion is offered on a high rate sensitivity of concrete strength in tension at high strain rates.     

高性能PVA 纤维增强水泥基复合材料常规三轴受压本构模型

对PVA 纤维体积率从0%~2%的高性能水泥基复合材料(HPFRCC)圆柱体试件进行了6 种不同围压下的常规三轴受压试验,研究其三轴受压性能,测得了极限抗压强度、峰值应变、极限应变以及应力-应变曲线。根据试验结果得出HPFRCC 的极限抗压强度、峰值应变以及极限应变与侧向围压之间的关系。基于实测圆柱体应力-应变曲线的特点,提出了HPFRCC材料常规三轴受压本构模型。计算结果与试验数据的对比表明,根据该文模型所得的计算曲线与试验曲线吻合较好,研究成果可为HPFRCC结构非线性有限元分析提供依据。     

The effects of strain rate and CCVC interfacial layer on mechanical behaviours of CALL

In this paper, the loading and loading-unloading tests of CALL and CALL (CCVC) under tensile impact have been carried out by a self-designed Rotating Circular Disk Tensile impact Apparatus. The quasi-static tension and short beam bending tests are performed on the Shimadzu-5000 testing apparatus. Experiment results show that both CALL and CALL (CCVC) have positive hybrid effect. Under quasi-static tension, the two composites have no obvious yielding until fracture, but have an obvious yielding point on the dynamic tensile stress-strain curves. The dynamic unstable fracture strain is about three times the static unstable fracture strain. The interlaminar shear strength (ISS) of CALL (CCVC) is 10 more than that of CALL. At the same time, the tensile strength and unstable fracture strain of CALL (CCVC) are also higher than that of CALL. In this paper, some conclusions are also drawn from the SEM observation of the fracture specimen surfaces.     

Failure of AA 6061 and 2099 aluminum alloys under dynamic shock loading

Microstructural aspects of the deformation and failure of AA 6061 and AA 2099 aluminum alloys under dynamic impact loading are investigated and compared with their responses to quasi-static mechanical loading in compression. Cylindrical specimens of the alloys, heat-treated to T4, T6 and T8 tempers, were subjected to dynamic compressive loading at strain rates of between 2800 and 9200 s⁻¹ and quasi-static compressive loading at a strain rate of 0.0032 s⁻¹. Plastic deformation under the dynamic impact loading is dominated by thermal softening leading to formation of adiabatic shear bands. Both deformed and transformed shear bands were observed in the two alloys. The shear bands offer preferential crack initiation site and crack propagation path in the alloys during impact loading leading to ductile shear fracture. While cracks propagate along the central region of transformed bands in AA 6061 alloy, the AA 2099 alloy failed by cracks that propagate preferentially along the boundary region between the transformed shear bands and the bulk material. Whereas the AA 2099 alloy shows the greatest propensity for adiabatic shear banding and failure in the T8 temper condition, AA 6061 alloy is most susceptible to formation of adiabatic shear bands and failure in the T4 temper. Deformation under quasi-static loading is dominated by strain hardening in the two alloys. Rate of strain hardening is higher for naturally aged AA 6061 than the artificially aged alloy, while the strain hardening rate for the AA 2099 alloy is independent of the temper condition. The AA 2099 alloy shows a superior mechanical behaviour under quasi-static compressive loading whereas the AA 6061 shows a higher resistance to impact damage.     

Experimentelle und numerische Ermittlung dynamischer Risswiderstandskurven im Kerbschlagbiegeversuch

Experimental and numerical determination of crack resistance curves in the notched‐bar impact test The assessment of the reliability of components requires the knowledge of crack resistance curves, which are often not available due to lack of specimen material. More likely is the availability of typical material parameters such as the yield strength, tensile strength, uniform elongation, elongation at rupture as well as upper shelf impact energy and the lateral elongation of notched‐bar impact test specimens. The material model of Gurson describes ductile crack growth due to the nucleation, growth and coalescence of voids in the material. Although dependent on the material and temperature, the material parameters of the Gurson model are independent of the specimen geometry and rate of loading. This latter fact allows one to use the values of these parameters determined on statically‐loaded fracture mechanics specimens to model specimens with other geometries and subjected to different loading conditions, in particular to model impact loaded Charpy‐V specimens. A method is proposed to construct crack resistance curves based on available data of tension tests and on quasi‐static yield curves. Dynamic yield curves are determined using proven procedures as based on the analysis of the dislocation activation energy. The ductile damage parameters are then obtained via simulation of tests on notched tensile specimens and notched‐bar impact tests as well as the fitting to the upper shelf impact energy. In this way, the ductile damage parameters are determined, which in turn enable the determination of the required J‐resistance curves via simulation of ductile crack growth in fracture mechanics specimens. Thus, the application of the classical J‐integral concept gets possible. Furthermore, the independence of the identified material parameters from the geometry of the specimen then allows the use of the Gurson model to analyse the safety of structural components with cracks directly.