We develop a finite-element method for the simulation of dynamic fracture and fragmentation of thin-shells. The shell is spatially discretized with subdivision shell elements and the fracture along the element edges is modeled with a cohesive law. In order to follow the propagation and branching of cracks, subdivision shell elements are pre-fractured ab initio and the crack opening is constrain...

The effect of loading rate on the plane stress fracture toughness properties of a 3.2-mm thick 2219-T87 aluminum alloy plate was investigated with center-cracked panels. Plane-stress J-resistance curves were generated at a constant displacement rate of 10-6 and 5.7 m s-l. Dynamic fracture testing was performed with a coupled pressure plates technique. Fracture initiation and propagation toughne...

An oblique fracture of the distal third of the right metatarsus in a three-year-old dromedary heifer weighing about 300 kilograms was immobilized with a 4.5 mm broad-webbed 12-hole dynamic compression bone plate and two interfragmental compression screws. The animal showed slight lameness after 16 weeks of surgery that disappeared after removal of the plate. The result was quite encouraging and...

A grossly displaced segmental zygomatic arch fracture with marked ventro-lateral deviation of the left globe was diagnosed in a 3-month-old male German Shepherd dog following a bite injury. The fracture was approached via a modified lateral orbitotomy and a fragment of the lacrimal bone removed. The rostral portion of the fracture was stabilized with a 5-hole 2.0 dynamic compression plate bone ...

Dynamic fracture in a wide class of materials reveals a "fracture energy" Gamma much larger than the expected nominal surface energy due to the formation of two fresh surfaces. Moreover, the fracture energy depends on the crack velocity, Gamma=Gamma(upsilon). We show that a simple dynamical theory of viscoplasticity coupled to asymptotic pure linear elasticity provides a possible explanation to...

The experimentally determined marked rise of the stress intensity factor required to initiate crack propagation in brittle solids under variably high loading rates, is analyzed. This problem of fracture initiation at the tip of a crack is considered in terms of activating a flaw at some distance away from the tip. By using a semi-infinite crack in an unbounded two-dimensional solid subjected to...

Experiments in brittle, amorphous PMMA indicate that the process of dynamic fracture is governed by a micro-branching instability. At a critical velocity, vc, a single crack undergoes an abrupt, well-defined transition to microscopic crack branching. As a result, the velocity of the crack develops oscillations, the mean acceleration decreases and structure is formed on the fracture surface. Bey...

BACKGROUND Fractures lead to reduced physical function and quality of life (QOL), but little is known about postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture. The purpose was to evaluate physical function in terms of quadriceps strength, dynamic balance, physical capacity and QOL in postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture compared to a matched, healthy co...

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Many studies concerned with the microleakage of endodontically treated teeth restored with posts and cores and subjected to loading can be found in the literature. However, no studies have investigated microleakage under dynamic loading with simultaneous dye penetration, which is more relevant to clinical situations. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare microl...