The present work summarises a numerical procedure aimed to the residual strength assessment of a cracked butt joint, based on R-curve analysis and plastic collapse prediction. In a linear elastic fracture analysis, the SIF’s (Stress Intensity Factors) evaluation is based on the use of the Dual Boundary Element Method, as implemented in the BEASY code. A two -dimensional approximation (plane str...

The current trend shows an increasing demand for composites due to their high stiffness to weight ratio and the recent progress in manufacturing and cost reduction of composites. To combine high strength and stiffness in a cost-effective way, composites are often joined with steel or aluminum. However, joining of thermoset composite materials is challenging because circular holes are often used...

We dedicate this work to Wolfgang Pompe, a very good friend and a good friend of the Materials Faculty at UCSB where he and his wife, Gisela, shared their lives and fellowship. Three different zirconia–alumina laminates, AZ50, AZ80, and AZ95, were fabricated via tape-casting thick Zr(3Y)O2 layers, dip-coating the zirconia tapes in a slurry containing a mixture of zirconia and alumina, stacking ...

The strength and fatigue properties of cast iron samples taken from water distribution mains have been investigated. Specimens were sourced from three sections of pipe which had experienced varying amounts of corrosion in service, enabling the variable of pipe condition to be incorporated within the study. The strengths in four-point flexure of small specimens from the pipes examined were descr...

The effect of residual lignin content on the mechanical strength and water absorption of kraft pulp/ polypropylene composites was studied. To meet this objective, hornbeam wood chips were converted to kraft pulp at three different alkalinities (15, 20, and 25%) and three different cooking times (60, 90, and 120 min). The residual lignin contents of these pulps were determined according to the T...

Neutron diffraction analysis was employed to measure residual stresses near welds in used anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks. Tensile residual stresses contribute to stress corrosion cracking of nurse tanks, which can cause tanks to release toxic ammonia vapor. The analysis showed that tensile residual stresses were present in the tanks measured, and the magnitudes of these stresses approached the y...

A numerical study is presented of the residual strength of an aircraft fuselage in the presence of multiple site damage (MSD)/muItiple element damage. The analyses were carried out using a software package that was developed to facilitate automated analyses of full-scale fuselage panels with widespread fatigue damage, using a hierarchical approach and elastic-plastic finite element alternating ...