This paper presents a novel numerical technique to simulate the crack propagation process for inhomogeneous solids. The criteria of crack growth and path selection are expressed in terms of some simple functions of fracture energy and loading phase angle. The energy release rate and loading phase angle for mixed mode cracks are evaluated by the ®nite element method with a mesh-adaptive techniqu...

The fatigue growth of a fiber reinforced composite laminate was characterized under thermal cycling using a combined experimental and computational investigation. Twenty-four ply composite laminates (1⁄20 12=90 12 ) are fabricated with a pre-existing delamination, and subjected to thermal cycling in an environmental chamber. The large mismatch in the coefficients of thermal expansion is used to...

A transient _nite element analysis is carried out to provide insight into the low temperature dynamic material toughness versus crack tip relationship for high strength structural steels under intense stress pulse loading[ The problem analyzed here is plane strain fracture of an edge cracked specimen under plane wave loading conditions[ The _nite element formulation employed accounts for the e}...

Single-crystal aluminas are being considered for use in the manufacture of prosthetic heart valves. To characterize such materials for biomedical application, subcritical crack growth by stress corrosion (static fatigue) and by cyclic fatigue has been examined in sapphire along (1100) planes in 24 degrees C humid air and 37 degrees C Ringer's solution (the latter as a simulated physiological en...

A software tool for automated crack onset and growth simulations based on the eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM) has been developed. For the first time, this tool is able to simulate arbitrary crack growth and composite delamination without remeshing. The automated tool is integrated with Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/CAE via the customization interfaces. It seamlessly works with the Commercia...

The solution of three-dimensional cracks (arbitrary surfaces of discontinuity) in solids and structures is considered. The BEM, developed based on the symmetric Galerkin BIEs, is used for obtaining the fracture solutions at the arbitrary crack-front. The finite element method is used to model the uncracked global (built-up) structure for obtaining the stresses in an otherwise uncracked body. Th...

For a reliable operation of structures and their components during exploitation period, it is crucial to monitor continuously or periodically check the integrity of structure. In the production and during exploitation, a certain amount of flaws can be encountered in any structure. It is important to determine how such flaws can influence the safety and reliability of the operation. Since fractu...

abstract rice can be cultivated in various soils but soil with heavy texture and low permeability is more appropriate for its growth than other types of soil texture. it’s assumed that existence of zeolite in soil can be effective for moisture retention and avoiding of occurrence of crack in soil. in order to investigation of the effect of zeolite on moisture status and hydraulic properties of ...

The effects of loading conditions, specimen size and metal particle size on the crack growth resistance curve (R-curve) and residual strength of a ceramic-metal functionally graded material (FGM) are studied based on the crack-bridging concept. It is found that the FGM exhibits strong R-curve behavior when a crack grows from the ceramic-rich region toward the metal-rich region and the residual ...