The kinking behaviour of a bimaterial interface crack under indentation loading

The aims of this paper are twofold. The first is to evaluate the applicability of the formula for the crack kink angle—based on the maximum principle stress criterion—for predicting the interface kink angle in a bimaterial sample undergoing indentation loading. This formula was developed for cracks in homogenous materials but in this paper, it is used to predict the kink angle using the mode mixity at the tip of a crack lying on a bimaterial interface. The second aim is to examine the behaviour of the system, in terms of the crack kink angle and contact radius, for various coating thickness', crack lengths and combinations of properties of the coating and substrate. The system that is analysed consists of a planar bimaterial sample undergoing indentation with a tungsten-carbide spherical indenter. Two-dimensional, axisymmetric models are created to represent the system, with subdomains used for modelling the cracks. In order to determine the applicability of the kink angle formula, the angle predicted is compared to the angle that is directly calculated using boundary element method models that establish the angle of the kink which yields the maximum mechanical energy release rate. The second aim of the paper is achieved by varying the material property combinations and coating thickness of the bimaterial sample and observing the effect on the kink angle of the interface crack and the contact radius. The methodologies employed are initially verified on homogenous samples with known solutions.     

Intersonic shear crack growth along weak planes

Classical dynamic fracture theories predict the Rayleigh surface wave speed (c _R ) to be the limiting speed of propagation for mode-I cracks in constitutively homogeneous, isotropic, linear elastic materials subjected to remote loading. For mode-II cracks, propagating along prescribed straight line paths, the same theories, while excluding the possibility of crack growth in the speed regime between c _R and the shear wave speed, c _s , do not exclude intersonic (c _s <υ<c _l ) crack tip speeds. In the present study, we provide the first experimental evidence of intersonic crack growth in such constitutively homogeneous and isotropic solids, ever recorded in a laboratory setting. Intersonic shear dominated crack growth, featuring shear shock waves, was observed along weak planes in a brittle polyester resin under far-field asymmetric loading. The shear cracks initially propagate at speeds just above c _s and subsequently accelerate rapidly to the longitudinal wave speed (c _l ) of the solid. At longer times, when steady state conditions are attained, they propagate at speeds slightly higher than √2–c _s . The experimental results compare well with existing asymptotic theories of intersonic crack growth, and the significance of the preferred speed of √2–c _s is discussed. Received: 13 September 1999 / Reviewed and occerted: 19 November 1999     

On the effects of a crack propagating toward the interface of a bimaterial system

This paper deals with the influence of matrix cracks on the failure mode of bimaterial systems and composite materials. In order to investigate such an influence, the stress field near a crack embedded into the more yielding material and propagating perpendicularly to the interface, has been analyzed by using systematic numerical simulations. Such analysis has shown that the crack propagation give rises to transversal stresses that can damage the reinforcing materials when this has low modulus, as glass fibers, or low transversal strength, such as carbon fibers. Moreover, the longitudinal stress concentration can damage the reinforcing material only if this has high stiffness, as in the case of aramid and carbon fibers.Also, the numerical results have permitted to implement simple formulas that allows the user an accurate evaluation of the SIF as well as to predict possible debonding or fiber splitting phenomena. Finally, the SIFs evaluated numerically have been corroborated by experimental tests carried out by using an efficient procedure based on RGB digital photoelasticity.     

Stress intensity factors of an inclined elliptical crack near a bimaterial interface

In this paper the stress intensity factors are discussed for an inclined elliptical crack near a bimaterial interface. The solution utilizes the body force method and requires Green’s functions for perfectly bonded semi-infinite bodies. The formulation leads to a system of hypersingular integral equation whose unknowns are three modes of crack opening displacements. In the numerical calculation, unknown body force densities are approximated by using fundamental density functions and polynomials. The results show that the present method yields smooth variations of stress intensity factors along the crack front accurately. Distributions of stress intensity factors are presented in tables and figures with varying the shape of crack, distance from the interface, and elastic modulus ratio. It is found that the inclined crack can be evaluated by the models of vertical and parallel cracks within the error of 24% even for the cracks very close to the interface.     

Influence of bimaterial interface on kinking behaviour of a crack growth emanating from notch

The mechanism of crack deviation by an interface modifies considerably the behaviour of bimaterials fracture. Their fracture resistance is highly affected by the difference of the elastic properties of the bonded materials. In this work, the finite element method is applied to analyze the behaviour of a crack emanating from semicircular notch root growing in interface ceramic/metal composites and perpendicularly to this interface. The obtained results showed that the crack grew to interface from harder material, its energy decreased at the approach of the interface, in this case was retarded; an inverse phenomenon occurs if the crack is propagated towards a lower strength material and its energy increases, it has tendency to accelerate. The effects of geometry on the crack deflection near the interface are also discussed.     

Theoretical development of the method of caustics for intersonically propagating interfacial crack

In this paper, a theory of caustics for an intersonically propagating interfacial crack is developed. Using the first invariant of stress singular field in the vicinity of the intersonically propagating tip of an interface crack, mapping equations are derived for the caustic curve on the reference plane as well as the initial curve on the specimen plane. The effect of the crack velocity on the caustic pattern is investigated. Two practically measurable characteristic dimensions are proposed. Using these characteristic dimensions, a simple procedure is also proposed for the evaluation of the stress singularity factor for the intersonically propagating interfacial crack.     

Elastodynamics of a crack on the bimaterial interface

The paper is an application of boundary integral equations to the problem of a crack located on the bimaterial interface under time-harmonic loading. A system of linear algebraic equations is derived for solving the problem numerically. The distributions of the displacements and tractions at the bimaterial interface are obtained and analysed for the case of a penny-shaped crack under normal tension-compression wave. The dynamic stress intensity factors (normal and shear modes) are also computed. The results are compared with those obtained for the static case.     

Investigation of near-tip displacement fields of a crack normal to and terminating at a bimaterial interface under mixed-mode loading

The displacement fields near the tip of a crack in a bimaterial joint under mixed-mode loading have been investigated by using a highly sensitive moiré interferometry technique. With a scheme adopted for data reduction, the study find that the near-tip displacements due respectively to opening and slipping loads are non-coupled and separable. The study on the parameters characteristic of the crack-tip deformation include: (1) the strength of stress singularity; (2) the angular distribution; and (3) the stress intensity factors K_I and K_II. The characteristic parameters determined experimentally are compared with the theoretical ones for the problem given by Zak and Williams [J. Appl. Mech. 30 (1963) 142], and Chen [Eng. Fract. Mech. 49 (4) (1994) 517].     

Effect of thermomechanical loads on the propagation of crack near the interface brittle/ductile

The purpose of this paper is to understand the combined effect of thermal and mechanical loading on the initiation and behaviour of sub-interface crack in the ceramic. In this study a 2D finite element model has been used to simulated mixed mode crack propagation near the bimaterial interface. The assembly ceramometalic is subjected simultaneously to thermomechanical stress field. The extent of a plastic zone deformation in the vicinity of the crack-tip has a significant influence on the rate of its propagation. The crack growth at the joint specimen under four-point bending (4PB) loading and the influence of residual stresses was also evaluated by the maximum tensile stress criterion. The J-integral at the crack tip is generally expressed by the thermomechanical local stresses. The results obtained show the effect of the temperature gradient ΔT, the size of the crack and the applied stresses on the J-integral.     

Dynamic response of bimaterial and graded interface cracks under impact loading

The interfacial fracture in bimaterial and functionally graded material (FGM) under impact loading conditions is investigated using experimental and numerical techniques that are valid for both type of interfaces. Experiments are conducted on epoxy based specimens in three point bend configuration and the complex SIF is measured using an electrical strain gage mounted close to the crack-tip. A complementary two-dimensional finite element simulation is performed using tup force and support reactions as input tractions, and the SIF-time history is determined using a displacement extrapolation technique. The experimentally determined SIF-histories match closely with numerical simulation up to the time of fracture initiation. The test results show that the mode-mixity remains nearly constant through out the test in both the materials, and the mixity values correspond to their respective static counterparts. The general dynamic response of the bimaterial and FGM specimens in terms of impact load, support reaction and the magnitude of complex SIF are comparable, and the mode-mixity is the parameter that distinguishes the graded interface from the bimaterial case.     

Scattering of SH wave by a crack terminating at the interface of a bimaterial

A general method for solving the scattering of plane SH wave by a crack terminating at the interface of a bimaterial is presented. The crack can terminate at the interface in an arbitrary angle. In order to solve the proposed problem, the Greens function for a point harmonic force applied at an arbitrary point of the bimaterial is established by the Fourier transformation method. Using the obtained Greens function and the Betti-Rayleigh reciprocal theorem, the total scattered field of the crack is constructed. The total scattered field of the crack is divided into a regular part and a singular part. The hypersingular integral equation of the crack is obtained in terms of the regular and singular scattered field as well as the free wave field. The stress singularity order and singular stress at the terminating point are analyzed by the hypersingular integral equation and the singular scattered field of the crack. The dynamic stress intensity factor (DSIF) at the terminating point is defined in terms of the singular stresses at the terminating point. Numerical solution of the hypersingular integral equation gives the DSIFs at the crack tips. Comparison of our results with known results confirms the proposed method. Some numerical results and corresponding analysis are given in the paper.Constructive advice from the anonymous reviewers is acknowledged.     

The effect of plasticity on dynamic crack growth across an interface

The effect of plasticity on the growth of a crack originating in an elastic solid across an interface and into an elastic-viscoplastic solid is analyzed numerically. The analyses are carried out within a framework where the continuum is characterized by two constitutive relations; one relating the stress and strain in the bulk material and the other relating the traction and separation across a specified set of cohesive surfaces. Crack initiation, crack growth and crack arrest arise naturally as a consequence of the imposed loading, without a priori assumptions concerning criteria for crack growth and for crack path selection. Full transient analyses are carried out. Various values of initial flow strength and cohesive strength of the elastic-viscoplastic solid and of cohesive strength of the interface are considered. With the ratio of cohesive strength of the elastic-viscoplastic solid to cohesive strength of the interface fixed, increasing the ratio of cohesive strength to initial flow strength for the elastic-viscoplastic solid is found to promote crack deflection into the interface.     

Analysis of in-plane transonically propagating interface crack with a finite contact zone

The report of Lambros and Rosakis [(1995) J Mech Phys Solids 43(2): 169–188] has focused attention on steady-state transonic interfacial crack growth accounting for the phenomenon of crack face contact in elastic/rigid bimaterial but could not handle issues relating to energy transmission across the interface. The present paper attempts to provide a complete explicit expression of the asymptotic fields induced by transonically propagating interfacial crack in elastic/elastic bimaterial for in-plane case. The energy distribution on the contact area, crack tip and two singular characteristic lines is analysed thoroughly and compared with the dynamic separated J-integrals. The length of the contact zone is also discussed briefly by establishing energy fracture criterion that satisfies contact condition. The two-dimensional in-plane asymptotic deformation field surrounding the contact area of a crack propagating transonically along an elastic/elastic bimaterial interface is observed and discussed thoroughly.     

Effect of surface/interface on the dynamic stress of two interacting cylindrical nano-inhomogeneities under compressional waves

Based on the surface/interface elasticity theory, the effect of surface/interface on the dynamic stress of two interacting cylindrical nano-inhomogeneities under compressional waves is considered. The analytical solutions of displacement potentials are expressed by employing wave function expansion method and the expanded mode coefficients are determined by satisfying the boundary conditions at the interfaces. The addition theorem for cylindrical wave function is used to accomplish the superposition of wave fields in different coordinate systems. Analyses show that the effect of the interface properties on the dynamic stress is significantly related to the wave frequency of incident waves, the shear modulus ratio of the nano-inhomogeneities to matrix, and the relative position and distance between the two nano-inhomogeneities.     

Analysis of mixed-mode dynamic crack propagation by interface element based on virtual crack closure technique

An interface element tailored for the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) was used to study an example of dynamic crack propagation under mixed mode loading. Through this interfacial element approach, VCCT can be implemented into a commercial finite element analysis (FEA) code having user subroutines without interrupting the main code. Further, with the implementation of relevant fracture criteria, this interface element can be used to simulate a wide range of fracture problems by utilizing the enhanced capabilities available by the commercial FEA codes. For illustration, this element has been implemented with the commercial FEA software ABAQUS^® through the user defined element (UEL). One example of fast crack propagation at constant speed and under mixed-mode loading was examined by comparison to the other’s numerical results using singular moving elements. No convergence difficulty was encountered for all the cases with different values of crack velocity. Neither singular element, nor the collapsed element was required. Therefore, due to its simplicity, the VCCT interface element as demonstrated could be a potential tool for engineers to practice dynamic fracture analysis in conjunction with commercial FEA codes.     

Numerical simulation of crack deflection and penetration at an interface in a bi-material under dynamic loading by time-domain boundary element method

The hybrid time-domain boundary element method (BEM), together with the multi-region technique, is applied to simulate the dynamic process of crack deflection/ penetration at an interface in a bi-material. The whole bi-material is divided into two regions along the interface. The traditional displacement boundary integral equations (BIEs) are employed with respect to the exterior boundaries; meanwhile, the non-hypersingular traction BIEs are used with respect to the part of the crack in the matrix. Crack propagation along the interface is numerically modelled by releasing the nodes in the front of the moving crack tip and crack propagation in the matrix is modeled by adding new elements of constant length to the moving crack tip. The dynamic behaviours of the crack deflection/penetration at an interface, propagation in the matrix or along the interface and kinking out off the interface, are controlled by criteria developed from the quasi-static ones. The numerical results of the crack growth trajectory for different inclined interface and bonded strength are computed and compared with the corresponding experimental results. Agreement between numerical and experimental results implies that the present time-domain BEM can provide a simulation for the dynamic propagation and deflection of a crack in a bi-material.     

Three-dimensional asymptotic stress field in the vicinity of the circumference of a bimaterial penny-shaped interfacial discontinuity

An eigenfunction expansion method is presented to obtain three-dimensional asymptotic stress fields in the vicinity of the circumference of a bimaterial penny-shaped interfacial discontinuity, e.g., crack, anticrack (infinitely rigid lamella), etc., located at the center, edge or corner, and subjected to the far-field torsion (mode III), extension/bending (mode I), and sliding shear/twisting (mode II) loadings. Five different discontinuity-surface boundary conditions are considered: (1) bimaterial penny-shaped interface anticrack or perfectly bonded thin rigid inclusion, (2) bimaterial penny-shaped interfacial jammed contact, (3) bimaterial penny-shaped interface crack, (4) bimaterial penny-shaped interface crack with partial axisymmetric frictionless slip, and (5) bimaterial penny-shaped interface thin rigid inclusion alongside penny-shaped crack. Solutions to these cases except (3) are hitherto unavailable in the literature. Closed-form expressions for stress intensity factors subjected to various far-field loadings are also presented. Numerical results presented include the effect of the ratio of the shear moduli of the layer materials, and also Poisson’s ratios on the computed lowest real parts of eigenvalues for the case (5). Interesting and physically meaningful conclusions are also presented, especially with regard to cases (1) and (2).     

Effect of residual stresses on interface crack growth by void expansion mechanism

Crack growth along an interface between two adjacent elastic–plastic materials in a layered solid is analysed, using special interface elements to represent the fracture process ahead of the crack-tip. These interface elements account for ductile failure by the nucleation and growth of voids to coalescence. In these elements the stress components normal to the interface and the shear stresses are given by equilibrium with the surrounding material, and the stress component tangential to the interface is determined by the requirement of compatibility with the surrounding material in the tangential direction. It is assumed that the layers are sufficiently thick, so that the plastic regions around the crack-tip are much smaller than the thickness of the nearest layers. The analyses focus on the effect of initial residual stresses in the layered material, or on T-stress components induced during loading. The results show that the value of the T-stress component in the softer material adjacent to the interface crack plays the dominant role, such that a negative value of this stress component gives a significant increase of the interface fracture toughness.     

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.     

Calculation of transient strain energy release rates under impact loading based on the virtual crack closure technique

This paper describes an interface element to calculate the strain energy release rates based on the virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) in conjunction with finite element analysis (FEA). A very stiff spring is placed between the node pair at the crack tip to calculate the nodal forces. Dummy nodes are introduced to extract information for displacement openings behind the crack tip and the virtual crack jump ahead of the crack tip. This interface element leads to a direct calculation of the strain energy release rate (both components G_I and G_II) within a finite element analysis without extra post-processing. Several examples of stationary cracks under impact loading were examined. Dynamic stress intensity factors were converted from the calculated transient strain energy release rate for comparison with the available solutions by the others from numerical and experimental methods. The accuracy of the element is validated by the excellent agreement with these solutions. No convergence difficulty has been encountered for all the cases studied. Neither special singular elements nor the collapsed element technique is used at the crack tip. Therefore, the fracture interface element for VCCT is shown to be simple, efficient and robust in analyzing crack response to the dynamic loading. This element has been implemented into commercial FEA software ABAQUS^® with the user defined element (UEL) and should be very useful in performing fracture analysis at a structural level by engineers using ABAQUS^®.