A proposed mixed-mode fracture specimen for wood under creep loadings

A mixed-mode fracture specimen was designed in this paper. This geometry is a judicious compromise between a modified Double Cantilever Beam specimen and Compact Tension Shear specimens. The main objective is to propose a specimen which traduces a stable crack growth during creep loading taking into account viscoelastic behaviour under mixed-mode loadings. The numerical design is based on the instantaneous response traduced by a crack growth stability zone. This zone is characterized by a decrease of the instantaneous energy release rate versus the crack length. In order to obtain a mixed-mode separation, the paper deals with the use of the M-integral approach implemented in finite element software, according to energetic fracture criterions. In these considerations, a numerical geometric optimization is operated for different mixed-mode ratios. Finally, a common specimen which provides to obtain fracture parameters, viscoelastic properties and creep crack growth process for different mixed-mode configurations is proposed.     

Finite element calculation of stress intensity factors for interfacial crack using virtual crack closure integral

This paper presents a successful implementation of the virtual crack closure integral method to calculate the stress intensity factors of an interfacial crack. The present method would compute the mixed-mode stress intensity factors from the mixed-mode energy release rates of the interfacial crack, which are easily obtained from the crack opening displacements and the nodal forces at and ahead of the crack tip, in a finite element model. The simple formulae which relate the stress intensity factors to the energy release rates are given in three separate categories: an isotropic bimaterial continuum, an orthotropic bimaterial continuum, and an anisotropic bimaterial continuum. In the example of a central crack in a bimaterial block under the plane strain condition, comparisons are made with the exact solution to determine the accuracy and efficiency of the numerical method. It was found that the virtual crack closure integral method does lead to very accurate results with a relatively coarse finite element mesh. It has also been shown that for an anisotropic interfacial crack under the generalized plane strain condition, the computed stress intensity factors using the virtual crack closure method compared favorably with the results using the J integral method applied to two interacting crack tip solutions. In order for the stress intensity factors to be used as physical variables, the characteristic length for the stress intensity factors must be properly defined. A study was carried out to determine the effects of the characteristic length on the fracture criterion based the mixed-mode stress intensity factors. It was found that the fracture criterion based on the quadratic mixture of the normalized stress intensity factors is less sensitive to the changes in characteristic length than the fracture criterion based on the total energy release rate along with the phase angle.This work has been supported by ONR, with Dr. Y. Rajapakse as the program official.     

Stress intensity factors as the fracture parameters for delamination crack growth in composite laminates

A “mutual integral” approach is used to calculate the mixed-mode stress intensity factors for a free-edge delamination crack in a laminate under tensile loading conditions. This “mutual integral” approach, for generalized plane strain conditions, is based on the application of the path-independent J integral to a linear combination of three solutions: one, the problem of the laminate to be solved using the quasi 3-D finite element method, the second, an “auxiliary” solution with a known asymptotic singular solution, and the third, the particular solution due to the out-of-plane loading. A comparison with the exact solutions is made to determine the accuracy and efficiency of this numerical method. With this “mutual integral” approach, it was found that the calculated mixed-mode stress intensity factors of the free-edge delamination crack remain relatively constant as the crack propagates into the laminate. It was also found that the fracture criterion based on the mixed-mode stress intensity factors is more consistent with the experimental observations than the criterion based on the total energy release rate, and hence demonstrates the importance of the ability to calculate each individual component of the stress intensity factors. Furthermore, it was found that the fracture toughness measurements from double cantilever beam specimens can be used directly to predict the onset of delamination crack growth between two dissimilar laminae. Using these fracture toughness measurements from the double cantilever beam specimens, some examples are given to show that the fracture criterion based on the mixed-mode stress intensity factors can accurately predict the failure load for various laminates under tensile loading conditions.     

FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH UNDER MIXED-MODE I AND II LOADING

Abstract— Mixed-mode fatigue crack growth has been studied using four point bend specimens under asymmetric loads. A detailed finite element analysis provides the stress intensity factors for curved cracks under different mixed-mode load conditions. Both fatigue crack growth direction and crack growth rate are studied. The maximum tangential stress and the minimum strain energy density criteria were found to provide satisfactory predictions of the crack growth directions. An effective stress intensity factor was used to correlate the fatigue crack growth rates successfully. It is found that the use of mode I fatigue crack growth rate properties results in a conservative crack growth rate prediction for mixed-mode load conditions.     

A Finite Element Analysis of Creep-Crack Growth in Viscoelastic Media

In this paper, the effects of viscoelastic characteristics, on the creep-crack growth process are studied through a finite element approach. The general approach of an independent path integral is extended to crack propagation. Afterwards, fracture parameters are computed through a coupling process with an incremental viscoelastic formulation. Finally, numerical examples are presented in order to demonstrate the independence of the integration domain and the possibility of evaluating fracture characteristics which can be energetic (energy release rate) and local in the vicinity of the crack tip (stress and crack opening intensity factors).     

Viscoelastic crack growth process in wood timbers: An approach by the finite element method for mode I fracture

In this paper the effects of viscoelastic characteristics in wood timbers, on the creep crack growth process are studied through a new finite element approach in the time domain. In order to take into account the linear viscoelastic orthotropic behavior, we present an incremental formulation based on a rheological representation of creep tensor components. By using a relationship between stress and crack opening intensity factors, the general approach of path independent integrals is extended in order to calculate energy release rate and local fracture characteristics. Afterwards, fracture parameters are computed through a coupling process with the incremental viscoelastic behavior. The numerical algorithm is presented and validated through numerical as well as experimental examples.     

Viscoelastic Creep Crack Growth: A Review of Fracture Mechanical Analyses

The study of time dependent crack growth in polymers using a fracture mechanics approach has been reviewed. The time dependence of crack growth in polymers is seen to be the result of the viscoelastic deformation in the process zone, which causes the supply of energy to drive the crack to occur over time rather than instantaneously, as it does in metals. Additional time dependence in the crack growth process can be due to process zone behavior, where both the flow stress and the critical crack tip opening displacement may be dependent on the crack growth rate. Instability leading to slip-stick crack growth has been seen to be the consequence of a decrease in the critical energy release rate with increasing crack growth rate due to adiabatic heating causing are duction in the process zone flow stress, a decrease in the crack tip opening displacement due to a ductile to brittle transition at higher crack growth rates, or an increase in the rate of fracture work due to more rapid viscoelastic deformation. Finally, various techniques to experimentally characterize the crack growth rate as a function of stress intensity have been critiqued. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mixed-mode interfacial fracture toughness for thermal barrier coating

A new interfacial fracture test method was developed for measuring the mixed-mode interfacial fracture toughness of thermal barrier coated material over a wide range of loading phase angles. The principle of this developed method is based on peeling the coating from the substrate due to compressive loading to the coating edge, as forming a shear loading to the interface, and slinging loading such as beam bending, as normal loading to the interface. The complete closed form of the energy release rate and associated complex stress intensity factor for our testing method is shown. An yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coating, which was sprayed thermally on Ni-based superalloy, was tested using the testing device developed here.The results showed that the energy release rate for the coating-interfacial crack increased with loading phase angle, which is defined by tan⁻¹ for a ratio of stress intensity factor K₂ to K₁. It was noticed that the interfacial energy release rate increasing with mode II loading could be mainly associated with the contact shielding effect due to crack surface roughness rubbing together.     

Crack surface relative displacement analysis of mixed-mode fracture mechanics problems

In this paper a unique criteria, crack surface relative displacement, is used to evaluate mixed-mode (mode I and mode II) fracture mechanics problems. Using a conic-section simulation of a crack surface, relationships among the energy release rate G, the stress intensity factors (K₁ and K₂), and crack surface relative displacement are developed. Because the crack surface relative displacement criterion makes direct use of the displacements on the crack surface, instead of the stress field in the region of the crack tip, it simplifies numerical analysis of crack problems. A finite element model of a slant-center-cracked plate is employed to demonstrate the applicability of crack surface relative displacement to mixed-mode problems. The numerical results obtained agree well with analytical solutions. In addition, it is illustrated that similar to K₁, K₂, and G (J in LEFM), crack surface, relative displacement can serve as a fracture criterion for general mixed-mode I and II fracture mechanics problems.     

Theoretical analysis of Hertzian contact fracture: Ring crack

The axisymmetric fracture behavior of brittle materials under an applied indentation force is investigated by considering the pile-up of Somigliana ring dislocations. For such a mixed-mode crack problem, the stress intensity factors (SIFs) and strain energy release rate are obtained by solving a system of Cauchy singular integral equations. The Auerbach range is extensively studied during the formation of a shallow ring crack. The Auerbach constant is also determined from the exact solutions, enabling the prediction of surface energy from Hertzian indentation tests. The obtained results can be used to extract the fracture parameters of brittle materials by using the indentation technique.     

A thermomechanical fracture modeling and simulation for functionally graded solids using a residual-strain formulation

This paper addresses mixed-mode crack growth in two-dimensional functionally graded solids under thermomechanical loads, and investigates the effect of mechanical and thermal loads as well as the T-stress on their crack growth behavior. A novel residual strain-based formulation in the interaction integral method is developed and used for the accurate evaluation of mixed-mode stress intensity factors and/or the T-stress. Simulation of mixed-mode crack propagation in functionally graded materials including solid oxide fuel cells under thermomechanical loads is performed by means of the finite element method and the generalized interaction integrals in conjunction with a remeshing algorithm. An iterative procedure is used for crack growth simulation including the calculation of mixed-mode stress intensity factors and/or the T-stress by means of the generalized interaction integral method, determination of crack growth direction and crack initiation condition based on selected fracture criteria, and local automatic remeshing along the crack path. The present approach employs a user-defined crack increment at the beginning of the simulation. Crack trajectories and fracture parameters obtained by the present simulation for thermomechanical loads are assessed for some numerical examples in comparison with those for mechanical loads.     

Approximation of curved cracks under mixed-mode loading

The calculation of stress intensity factors or mechanical energy release rate for non-straight cracks can be complicated. Approximation to equivalent crack shapes can simplify calculations considerably, but this requires an understanding of the influence of key shape parameters on crack-tip stresses. A simple analytical model has been developed, based on the concept of a relaxed volume, to predict mechanical energy release rate and deflection angle for a range of crack shapes under mixed-mode loading. Results from this model compared well with those obtained from finite element (FE) simulations, and with predictions from previous analytical models. It was found that the crack length and orientation of the crack-tip with respect to loading direction are the key influences on fracture parameters, whilst curvature near the crack-tip can also affect results.     

A survey of failure criteria and parameters in mixed-mode fatigue crack growth

From the present survey of the mixed-mode crack growth criteria based on the fracture toughness K _Ic (critical J-integral), it follows that this concept is very extensively and variously used by different authors. The criteria discussed in the work are based on the parameters K, δ, W, and J. The most extensively applied models include the mixed mode I + II described by the stress intensity factor K. The criteria presented in the work are based on the factors affecting the fatigue crack growth during testing, namely stress, crack-tip displacement, or energy dissipation. In the case of mixed-mode cracking, special attention should be paid to the energy approach (application of the J-integral and strain energy density), which seems to be very promising for elastoplastic materials. Under mixed-mode cracking, two things should be taken into account: the rate and direction of fatigue-crack growth. Moreover, the nonproportional loading, crack closure, or overloads strongly affect the process of fatigue crack growth in the case of mixed-mode cracking.     

Removing mesh bias in mixed-mode cohesive fracture simulation with stress recovery and domain integral

To remove mesh bias and provide an accurate crack path representation in mixed-mode investigation, a novel stress recovery technique is proposed in conjunction with a domain integral and element splits. Based on a domain integral and stress recovery technique, a maximum strain energy release rate is estimated to determine a crack path direction. Then, for a given crack path direction, continuum elements are split, and a cohesive surface element is adaptively inserted. One notes that the proposed stress recovery technique provides a more accurate stress field than a standard stress evaluation procedure. The proposed computational framework is verified and validated by solving mode-I and mixed-mode examples. Computational results demonstrate that the domain integral with the stress recovery accurately evaluates a crack path, even with a lower-quality mesh and under a biaxial stress state. Furthermore, the cohesive surface element approach, with the element split in conjunction with the stress recovery and the domain integral, predicts mixed-mode fracture behaviors while removing mesh bias in the crack path representation. Additionally, the condition numbers of stiffness matrices are within the same order of magnitude during cohesive fracture simulation.     

A theory for the fracture of thin plates subjected to bending and twisting moments

Stress fields near the tip of a through crack in an elastic plate under bending and twisting moments are reviewed assuming both Kirchhoff and Reissner plate theories. The crack tip displacement and rotation fields based on the Reissner theory are calculated here for the first time. These results are used to calculate the J-integral (energy release rate) for both Kirchhoff and Reissner plate theories. Invoking Simmonds and Duva's [16] result that the value of the J-integral based on either theory is the same for thin plates, a universal relationship between the Kirchhoff theory stress intensity factors and the Reissner theory stress intensity factors is obtained for thin plates. Calculation of Kirchhoff theory stress intensity factors from finite elements based on energy release rate is illustrated. A small scale yielding like model of the crack tip fields is discussed, where the Kirchhoff theory fields are considered to be the far field conditions for the Reissner theory fields. It is proposed that, for thin plates, fracture toughness and crack growth rates be correlated with the Kirchhoff theory stress intensity factors.     

聚合物梯度材料黏弹性断裂的双控制参数

针对组分材料体积分数任意分布的聚合物功能梯度材料,研究其在蠕变加载条件下Ⅰ型裂纹应力强度因子（SIFs）和应变能释放率的时间相依特征。由Mori-Tanaka方法预测等效松弛模量,在Laplace变换域中采用梯度有限元法和虚拟裂纹闭合方法计算断裂参数,由数值逆变换得到物理空间的对应量。分析边裂纹平行于梯度方向的聚合物功能梯度板条,分别考虑均匀拉伸和三点弯曲蠕变加载。结果表明,聚合物梯度材料应变能释放率随时间增加,其增大的程度与黏弹性组分材料体积分数正相关;材料的非均匀黏弹性性质产生应力重新分布,导致裂纹尖端应力场强度随时间变化,当裂纹位于黏弹性材料含量较低的一边时,应力强度因子随时间增加,反之,随时间减小。而且,材料的应力强度因子与时间相依的变化范围和体积分数分布以及加载方式有关,当体积分数接近线性分布时,变化最明显,三点弯曲比均匀拉伸的变化大。SIFs随时间的延长增加或减小、加剧或减轻裂纹尖端部位的“衰坏”,表明黏弹性功能梯度裂纹体的延迟失稳需要联合采用应力强度因子与应变能释放率作为双控制参数。     

Stress intensity factor analyses of interface cracks between dissimilar anisotropic materials using the finite element method

Delamination along an interface between dissimilar materials is the primary cause of failure in microstructures like electronic packages, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and so on. Fracture mechanics is a powerful tool for the evaluation of delamination. However, many materials used in microstructures such as composite materials and single crystals are anisotropic materials. Stress intensity factors of an interface crack between dissimilar anisotropic materials, which were proposed by Hwu, are useful for evaluating the reliability of microstructures. However, numerical methods that can analyze the stress intensity factors of an interface crack between anisotropic materials have not been developed. We propose herein a new numerical method for the analysis of an interface crack between dissimilar anisotropic materials. The stress intensity factors of an interface crack are based on the generalized plane strain condition. The energy release rate is obtained by the virtual crack extension method in conjunction with the finite element method for the generalized plane strain condition. The energy release rate is separated into individual modes of the stress intensity factors K_I, K_II, and K_III, using the principal of superposition. The target problem to be solved is superposed on the asymptotic solution of displacement in the vicinity of an interface crack tip, which is described using the Stroh formalism. Analyses of the stress intensity factors of center interface cracks between semi-infinite dissimilar anisotropic media subjected to concentrated self-balanced loads on the center of crack surfaces and to uniform loads are demonstrated. The present method accurately provides mode-separated stress intensity factors using relatively coarse meshes for the finite element method.     

Quantitative fractography of mixed-mode fracture in an R-curve material

Mixed-mode fracture surfaces of an R-curve material were quantitatively assessed using fractography. The R-curve material chosen was a mica glass ceramic. Vickers indentation cracks of different sizes were introduced at the center of tensile surface of glass ceramic bars fractured in flexure. The bars were fractured in flexure by generating mixed-mode (I/II) loading conditions at crack tips by orienting indentation cracks at various angles with respect to the tensile axis. Quantitative fractography indicated that crack-to-mirror size ratios were a function of crack length and mode mixity. Stress intensity at branching for the mirror–hackle transition during mixed-mode (I/II) fracture condition was a constant and was less than the corresponding stress intensity at branching in mode I loading. An empirical relationship is derived for the effective geometric factors in mixed-mode fracture of ceramics from surface cracks in flexure.     

A cohesive XFEM model for simulating fatigue crack growth under mixed-mode loading and overloading

Structures are subjected to cyclic loads that can vary in direction and magnitude, causing constant amplitude mode I simulations to be too simplistic. This study presents a new approach for fatigue crack propagation in ductile materials that can capture mixed-mode loading and overloading. The extended finite element method is used to deal with arbitrary crack paths. Furthermore, adaptive meshing is applied to minimize computation time. A fracture process zone ahead of the physical crack tip is represented by means of cohesive tractions from which the energy release rate, and thus the stress intensity factor can be extracted for an elastic-plastic material. The approach is therefore compatible with the Paris equation, which is an empirical relation to compute the fatigue crack growth rate. Two different models to compute the cohesive tractions are compared. First, a cohesive zone model with a static cohesive law is used. The second model is based on the interfacial thick level set method in which tractions follow from a given damage profile. Both models show good agreement with a mode I analytical relation and a mixed-mode experiment. Furthermore, it is shown that the presented models can capture crack growth retardation as a result of an overload.     

Precise computation and error control of stress intensity factors and certain integral characteristics in anisotropic inhomogeneous materials

The numerical simulation of quasi-static crack propagation is closely related to the computation of characteristics such as stress intensity factors or energy release rates. In this work, ideas are proposed, how such quantities can be calculated precisely in linear elastic, anisotropic and inhomogeneous plane structures. Stress intensity factors and other local characteristics can be evaluated in terms of functionals depending on solutions of certain elasticity problems. The approach used here to calculate these functional values precisely with Galerkin finite elements is a dual-weighted-residual method for adaptive mesh refinement and a posteriori error control. Especially in structures under mixed-mode loadings contact of crack faces can occur. A numerical realization of mutual non-penetration conditions of inequality type for the crack faces and the effect of such constraints on stress intensity factors is shown. Numerical results are presented for anisotropic and functionally graded materials.