Effect of prior compression treatment on the deformation behavior of Zr based bulk metallic glass

In the present work, the plasticity of Zr_64.2Cu_11.2 Ni_14.6Al₁₀ bulk metallic glass was enhanced through prior compression treatment. A considerably large compressive plastic deformation (over 6.5%) was achieved by pressing Zr_64.2Cu_11.2 Ni_14.6Al₁₀ bulk metallic glass laterally in specially designed tool steel die before compression test. Numerical analysis was also carried out to investigate the stress distribution under same mechanical conditions. It was revealed that the lateral pressing induced structural heterogeneity and high stress gradients facilitate large plastic strains through the generation of dense multiple shear band network.     

Inverse ductile–brittle transition in metallic glasses?

There is evidence that metallic glasses can show increased plasticity as the temperature is lowered. This behaviour is the opposite to what would be expected from phenomena such as the ductile–brittle transition in conventional alloys. Data collected for the plasticity of different metallic–glass compositions tested at room temperature and below, and at strain rates from rate 10^?5 to 10³ s^?1, are reviewed. The analogous effects of low temperature and high strain rate, as observed in conventional alloys, are examined for metallic glasses. The relevant plastic flow in metallic glasses is inhomogeneous, sharply localised in thin shear bands. The enhanced plasticity at lower temperature is attributed principally to a transition from shear on a single dominant band to shear on multiple bands. The origins of this transition and its links to shear bands operating ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ are explored. The stress drop on a shear band after initial yielding is found to be a useful parameter for analysing mechanical behaviour. Schematic failure mode maps are proposed for metallic glasses under compression and tension. Outstanding issues are identified, and design rules are considered for metallic glasses of improved plasticity.     

Effect of cyclic loading on interfacial shear stress in SiC–CAS glass ceramic matrix composite

Abstract

Mechanical fatigue has been observed to occur in the Nicalon–CAS continuous fibre reinforced glass ceramic matrix composite under cyclic loading at room temperature, and both microcrack proliferation and propagation are induced. In situ fibre push down tests within a scanning electron microscope have then been used to assess changes in interfacial properties as a result of this mechanical cyclic loading. Both the interfacial shear stress and the interfacial fracture energy decrease when specimens are subjected to mechanical cyclic loading. It is deduced that a decrease in interfacial shear stress is the most likely mechanism driving stable and progressive microcrack propagation.     

Metallic glass–steel composite with improved compressive plasticity

A Zr_52.5Cu₁₈Ni_14.5Al₁₀Ti₅ bulk metallic glass toughened with a commercially available spring-shaped steel wire has been produced by centrifugal casting. The addition of the steel spring significantly affects shear band nucleation and propagation through the blockage, deflection and multiplication of shear bands at the glass–spring interface. As a result of the more homogeneous distribution of the plastic strain, the room temperature plasticity increases from 0.9% for the monolitic glass to about 4% for the glass–spring composite. Given the low volume fraction of the spring used in the composite (4.2 vol.%), these results demonstrate the extreme effectiveness of the steel spring for improving the plasticity of the metallic glass.     

Microstructure-scale modeling of HCF deformation

Computational crystal plasticity (ABAQUS FE) simulations are presented for dual phase alloy Ti–6Al–4V subjected to cyclic loading in the high cycle fatigue (HCF) regime. Relations between remote loading conditions and local plasticity are discussed as a function of stress amplitude and microstructure. Based on computational micromechanics, effects of microstructure heterogeneity and R-ratio are examined in terms of their influence on cyclic microplastic strain within the microstructure of unnotched specimens. It is shown that bulk-dominated fatigue damage at high R-ratios (>0.7) is associated with the onset of percolation of ratcheting of shear strain in the HCP α phase through connected channels within the microstructure. A high cumulative plastic strain gradient across the α–β phase boundaries is the likely driving force for decohesion at phase boundaries as the manifestation of bulk damage in the HCF regime. Effects of texture are also examined using random periodic microstructure representations. Application of the same crystal plasticity model for Ti–6Al–4V in fretting fatigue contact at positive R-ratios for the bulk fatigue stress also reveals a dominance of ratcheting strain in shear bands emanating from the contact surface, ostensibly in the HCF regime.     

Fabrication and mechanical characterization of a series of plastic Zr-based bulk metallic glass matrix composites

Coupling the high yielding strength with enhanced plasticity under compression at ambient temperature, a series of Zr-based bulk metallic glass matrix composites are designed based on a pseudo ternary phase diagram. The largest compressive fracture plastic strain of 17.0% with the yielding strength of 1070 MPa is available for Zr_60.0Ti_14.7Nb_5.3Cu_5.6Ni_4.4Be_10.0 bulk metallic glass matrix composite. The relationship between the cooling rate and the microstructure, the microstructure and the mechanical properties, and the fractographs of the composites is carefully identified.     

Damage modelling of laminated carbon/epoxy composites under static and fatigue loadings

This study deals with the modelling of the behaviour of laminated carbon/epoxy composites under static and fatigue loading. The non-linear cumulative damage model developed is written on the scale of the plies. It is based on a multi-criterion approach: brittle behaviour in the fibre direction, elastoplastic damage behaviour under shear and transverse tension stress, and elastoplastic behaviour under transverse compression loading. The range of validity of the model described here is limited to the first intra-laminar macro-crack, and it does not account for the delamination processes. This first-ply failure criteria model provides a conservative approach, which should be useful in some industrial context where the highest safety is required. Static tests results obtained on plate samples are presented [±45°]_3s and hybrid glass/carbon [0,90]_s are presented: they justify the modelling adopted here. The first tension/tension fatigue test results obtained on plate samples [±45°]_3s are presented: they are used to identify the parameters of the model contributing to the shear behaviour.     

Simulated extreme value fatigue sensitivity to inclusions and pores in martensitic gear steels

The objective of this work is to model the sensitivity of high cycle fatigue resistance of secondary hardening martensitic gear steels to variability in extrinsic inhomogeneities such as primary inclusions, and pores, coupled with intrinsic microstructure variability. A simplified approach is presented to quantify the variability in the driving force for fatigue crack formation in the matrix at non-metallic inclusions and pores in lath martensitic gear steels using a three-dimensional crystal plasticity constitutive model. The utility of a simulation-based strategy for exploring sensitivity of minimum fatigue lifetime (low probability of failure) to microstructure lies in its inherent capability to consider parametric simulations of hundreds of inclusions and microstructures in contrast to limited numbers of physical experiments. Experiments are used to calibrate the polycrystalline cyclic stress–strain response and mean (50% probability) fatigue crack formation life. Several remote loading conditions are considered in the high cycle fatigue (HCF) regime relevant to typical gear applications. Idealized inhomogenieties (spherical) in the form of hard (Al₂O₃), soft inclusions (La₂O₂S), and pores are systematically investigated in this parametric computational study. Relations between remote loading conditions and local plasticity are discussed as a function of stress amplitude and microstructure. The maximum plastic shear strain range is used in the modified form of Fatemi–Socie parameter evaluated at the grain scale as a measure of the driving force for fatigue crack formation (nucleation and early growth to lengths on the order of several times the average grain size). Multiple realizations of the polycrystal microstructure are considered to obtain a statistical distribution of this fatigue indicator parameter (FIP). The results are used to construct an extreme value Gumbel distribution of the FIPs for the selected microstructures. Subsequently, a computational micromechanics based minimum life estimate that corresponds to 1% fatigue crack formation probability is calculated.     

Micromechanical methodology for fatigue in cardiovascular stents

A finite element based micromechanical methodology for cyclic plasticity and fatigue crack initiation in cardiovascular stents is presented. The methodology is based on the combined use of a (global) three-dimensional continuum stent-artery model, a local micromechanical stent model, the development of a combined kinematic–isotropic hardening crystal plasticity constitutive formulation, and the application of microstructure sensitive crack initiation parameters. The methodology is applied to 316L stainless steel stents with random polycrystalline microstructures, based on scanning electron microscopy images of the grain morphology, under realistic elastic–plastic loading histories, including crimp, deployment and in vivo systolic–diastolic cyclic pressurisation. Identification of the micromechanical cyclic plasticity and failure constants is achieved via application of an objective function and a unit cell representative volume element for 316L stainless steel. Cyclic stent deformations are compared with the J₂-predicted response and conventional fatigue life prediction techniques. It is shown that micromechanical fatigue analysis of stents is necessary due to the significant predicted effects of material inhomogeneity on micro-plasticity and micro-crack initiation.     

Effect of frequency on high-temperature fatigue crack growth in a silicon carbide reinforced silicon nitride composite

A detailed study on a silicon nitride reinforced with silicon carbide whiskers, Si₃N₄SiC_W, has been undertaken at elevated temperature during static and dynamic loading at increasing K and ΔK respectively. It is shown that cyclic sub-critical crack growth rates are lower than static crack growth rates. The increased crack growth rate during static far field loading is attributed to the stress relaxation of the inter-granular glass phase which allows time-dependent processes to occur ahead of the crack tip which lead to enhanced sub-critical crack growth rates. During cyclic fatigue the glass phase has insufficient time to relax and glassy ligaments are able to bridge the crack wake thereby shielding the crack tip from the full force of the applied load. Also, at particular temperatures, bridging between the surfaces of the crack wake by the inter-granular glass phase results in increased strength and fatigue retardation. The extent of ‘crack wake healing’ is shown to be time and temperature dependent. The viscosity of the glass phase is directly related to the temperature and the bonding force associated with glass phase bridging is observed to reduce with increasing temperature. The results from a previous study at room temperature are compared to those found during this investigation.     

A plasticity-corrected stress intensity factor for fatigue crack growth in ductile materials under cyclic compression

For prediction of the fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior under cyclic compression, a plasticity-corrected stress intensity factor (PC-SIF) range ΔK_pc is proposed on the basis of plastic zone toughening theory. The FCG behaviors in cyclic compression, and the effects of load ratio, preloading and mean load, are well predicted by this new mechanical driving force parameter. Comparisons with experimental data showed that the proposed PC-SIF range ΔK_pc is an effective single mechanical parameter capable of describing the FCG behavior under different cyclic compressive loading conditions.     

Very high cycle fatigue of VDSiCr spring steel under torsional and axial loading

Very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) properties of VDSiCr spring steel are investigated with ultrasonic equipment under fully reversed cyclic torsion loading and under cyclic axial loading at load ratios R = –1, R = 0.1 and R = 0.5. Shot‐peened specimens with surface finish similar to valve springs in combustion engines are tested until limiting lifetimes of 10¹⁰ cycles. Under cyclic torsion loading, specimens either fail below 10⁶ cycles with crack initiation at the surface or they do not fail. Under cyclic axial loading, failures above 10⁹ cycles were found for all load ratios with crack initiation at the surface or at internal inclusions. Ratio of mean endurance limit (50% failure probability at 10¹⁰ cycles) under fully reversed cyclic torsion and cyclic tension‐compression loading is 0.86. Cyclic torsion loading slightly below the endurance limit leads to cyclic softening first followed by cyclic hardening whereas cyclic stability is found for tension‐compression loading. Cyclic torsion reduces surface compression stresses whereas they are hardly affected by cyclic tension‐compression loading. Mean endurance limit at 10¹⁰ cycles for R = 0.1 is 61% of the endurance stress amplitude at load ratio R = –1, and for R = 0.5 it is 44% of the tension‐compression endurance limit. Endurance limits for cyclic torsion and cyclic tension‐compression loading are comparable, if effective stress amplitude is used that considers cyclic normal stresses and residual compression stresses at the surface.     

Dynamic fracture behaviour of Fe78Si9B13 metallic glass ribbon under laser shock loading

The fracture behaviour of Fe₇₈Si₉B₁₃ metallic glass under laser shock loading was investigated. Morphologies of the fracture surface and laser irradiated surface were characterized using scanning electron microscope. The results show that the fracture surface consists of sliding region and final fracture region with crack propagation. Liquid droplets and melted belts are scattered on the fracture surface as the notable features compared with fracture surface morphology under quasistatic loading, indicating the significant temperature increase in shear bands during dynamic loading. The primary and secondary shear bands are distributed on the specimen surface resulting from the simultaneous operation of multiple shear bands at high strain rates. Ripples with the characteristic spacing of about 1 µm are generated on the laser irradiated surface because of the interaction of laser pulse with solid surface.     

Extrinsic size effects on performance of Zr-based metallic glass under biaxial loading

The size-dependent plastic deformation of a Zr-based metallic glass under biaxial loading was investigated by using small punch (SP) test. Unlike under uniaxial tension or compression, under biaxial loading, both the critical shear offset and the density of shear bands decrease with the reduction of the sample size. However, it was found that the normalized critical shear offset keeps constant, which can well explain the worsened plastic deformation behaviors of the thin sample under biaxial loading. This finding indicates that metallic glass possesses good ductility in nature, yet it is influenced significantly by the loading mode and sample size.     

Ermüdung von Keramik unter Schwingbeanspruchung

Fatigue of Ceramics under Cyclic Loading Fatigue of ceramics attracts more attention due to the expected availability of high-performance ceramic components e.g. for engines, However, the knowledge in fatigue of brittle materials is still inadequate, the actual standpoint as taken from literature is shortly reviewed. In this study two experimental-analytical ways are presented which manifest the chances and difficulties in this part of the fatigue research. First, the probabilistic approach to identify a true cyclic fatigue effect in brittle ceramics is envisaged. The second way applies direct observation of crack extension in static and cyclic loading mode in order to define the conditions and characteristic differences of both types of crack propagation. Results are presented from both test methods for several Si₃N₄, SiC and ZrO₂ materials and possible mechanisms are discussed. It is concluded, that toughened ceramics are more prone to cyclic fatigue effects than conventional and pure brittle ceramics (e.g. glass).     

Shear band formation and cracking of a metallic glass irradiated with high energy laser pulses

A concentric deformation pattern, shear bands and cracks are produced in Fe₈₀B_14.8Si_3.5C₂ glass, irradiated with 12 msec duration ruby laser pulses, ranging in power densities between 10⁵ and 10⁷ W cm^–2. This deformation front propagates through a steep temperature gradient and a partially crystallized heat-affected zone, giving rise to variations of the macroscopic deformation mode as a function of radial distance from the centre of the laser spot. For the first time, a direct experimental mapping of crack tip plasticity, in the form of an elliptical shear band zone, has been recorded. A theoretical model, which predicts such a shear band zone at the crack tip, is used to discuss the elastic-plastic response of the metallic glass.     

Lamb waves for non-contact fatigue state evaluation of composites under various mechanical loading conditions

Methodologies for non-destructive evaluation of mechanically induced fatigue in fibre reinforced polymers are discussed. Specimens made of non-crimp glass fabric are fatigued using three different load ratios (tension–tension, tension–compression, and compression–compression). The investigation involves two loading directions (0° and 90°) of the quasi–orthotropic composite. Based on mode conversion of air-coupled ultrasound to Lamb waves, variation in a₀-mode velocity is measured in a non-contact and single-sided access configuration. The velocity measurements are performed within and outside the servo-hydraulic test rig used for inducing fatigue damage. Formation of cracks monitored in the transparent composite results in degradation of stiffness observed by the test rig. Decrease in a₀-mode velocity caused by fatigue is shown to correlate closely with stiffness degradation for all loading ratios and directions. The correlation is studied by calculating a₀-mode velocities from single-ply properties whose stiffness degradation was determined using the observed crack densities and a finite element based model.     

Torsional fatigue resistance of plasma sprayed HA coating on Ti–6Al–4V

The torsional strength of plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings was studied under static and cyclic loading. The torsional shear tests were conducted in a frustum test device developed in this laboratory, which adapted to various coating thicknesses. The interfacial fatigue resistance was measured in terms of interfacial fatigue strength defined as the average maximum stress (_fmax). A staircase fatigue method was employed to determine the interfacial fatigue strength; this method resolved the uncertainty in detecting coating failure during torsion fatigue. The values for coating shear strength and shear fatigue strength obtained from the torsional tests did not differ from those obtained by previous tensional shear tests in this laboratory. The fatigue strength of one million cycles was about 35% lower than static shear strength. This finding might be used for estimating fatigue life span without cyclic loading tests.     

Elevated-temperature crack growth in polycrystalline alumina under static and cyclic loads

An experimental investigation has been conducted to study the crack growth characteristics of a 90% pure aluminium oxide in 1050 °C air under static and cyclic loads. It is shown that the application of both sustained and fluctuating tensile loads to the ceramic, tested in a precracked four-point bend specimen configuration, results in appreciable subcritical crack growth. The crack velocities under cyclic loading conditions are up to two orders of magnitude slower than those measured in static loading under the same maximum stress intensity factor. Cyclic crack growth rates are markedly affected by the loading frequency, with a decrease in test frequency causing an increase in the rate of crack advance. Detailed optical and electron microscopy observations have been made in an attempt to study the mechanisms of stable crack growth and the mechanistic differences between static fatigue fracture. Under both static and cyclic loads, the predominant mode of fracture is intergranular separation. The presence of a glass phase along the grain boundaries appears to have a strong effect on the mechanisms of crack growth. Apparent differences in the crack velocities between static and cyclic fatigue in alumina arise from crack-wake contact effects as well as from the rate-sensitivity of deformation of the glass phase. Our results also indicate that the cyclic fatigue crack growth rates cannot be predicted solely on the basis of sustained load fracture data. White stable crack growth occurs in the 90% pure alumina over a range of stress intensity factor spanning 1.5 to 5 MPa m^1/2, such subcritical fracture is essentially suppressed in a 99.9% pure alumina, ostensibly due to the paucity of a critical amount of glass phase. Both static and cyclic fracture characteristics of the 90% pure alumina are qualitatively similar to those found in an Al₂O₃-SiC composite wherein situ formation of glass phases, due to the oxidation of SiC in high-temperature air, is known to be an important factor in the fracture process.     

Improved Room Temperature Plasticity of Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 Bulk Metallic Glass by Channel‐Die Compression

In this work, the effect of channel‐die compression (CDC) on the mechanical behavior of the Zr_41.2Ti_13.8Cu_12.5Ni₁₀Be_22.5 bulk metallic glass is analyzed. The results indicate that CDC can be successfully used as a pre‐deformation process to effectively enhance the room temperature plastic strain ability of metallic glasses. The origin of the improved mechanical properties is most likely due to the creation during CDC of a heterogenous microstructure consisting of hard and soft regions able to hinder the rapid propagation of shear bands.