Fracture of Flat and Curved Aluminum Sheets With Stiffeners Parallel to the Crack

1961 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Frisch

The mode of crack propagation and failure in relatively large 2024-T3 aluminum sheets reinforced with stiffeners parallel to the crack direction has been investigated. Curved specimens with a 69-in. radius of curvature as well as flat panels were subjected to uniaxial tension perpendicular to a simulated crack to study the effects of curvature, crack location, and stiffener spacing. Increase in strength due to stiffening particularly in the curved panels was observed although these specimens exhibited considerable lower crack strength than flat ones. For the specimens tested, crack location as well as variations of stiffener spacing from 3 to 12 in. had no appreciable effect on either critical crack length or failure stress.

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 3353-3366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Richter ◽  
Jürg Schweizer ◽  
Mathias W. Rotach ◽  
Alec van Herwijnen

Abstract. Observed snow stratigraphy and snow stability are of key importance for avalanche forecasting. Such observations are rare and snow cover models can improve the spatial and temporal resolution. To evaluate snow stability, failure initiation and crack propagation have to be considered. Recently, a new stability criterion relating to crack propagation, namely the critical crack length, was implemented into the snow cover model SNOWPACK. The critical crack length can also be measured in the field with a propagation saw test, which allows for an unambiguous comparison. To validate and improve the parameterization for the critical crack length, we used data from 3 years of field experiments performed close to two automatic weather stations above Davos, Switzerland. We monitored seven distinct weak layers and performed in total 157 propagation saw tests on a weekly basis. Comparing modeled to measured critical crack length showed some discrepancies stemming from model assumption. Hence, we replaced two variables of the original parameterization, namely the weak layer shear modulus and thickness, with a fit factor depending on weak layer density and grain size. With these adjustments, the normalized root-mean-square error between modeled and observed critical crack lengths decreased from 1.80 to 0.28. As the improved parameterization accounts for grain size, values of critical crack lengths for snow layers consisting of small grains, which in general are not weak layers, become larger. In turn, critical weak layers appear more prominently in the vertical profile of critical crack length simulated with SNOWPACK. Hence, minimal values in modeled critical crack length better match observed weak layers. The improved parameterization of critical crack length may be useful for both weak layer detection in simulated snow stratigraphy and also providing more realistic snow stability information – and hence may improve avalanche forecasting.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepehr Ghafari ◽  
Fereidoon Nejad Moghadas

Fracture properties and crack propagation characteristics of asphalt concrete mixtures were studied by obtaining fracture resistance curves using three point single edge SE(B) notched beam specimens. Elastic-plastic approach is used in the calculation of the J-integral since the fracture process zone size is large enough to not use a linear elastic approach. Crack length measurements were obtained directly from high resolution images taken during the tests. A rising R-curve was observed in all the specimens which indicates ductility and a toughening mechanism in the ductile to quasi-brittle fracture of the mixture. Mixtures developed by limestone and siliceous aggregates with 4%, 4.5% and 5% binder contents were tested at temperatures ranging from +5ºC to –20ºC. Mixtures with 5% binder content showed greater crack resistant behavior at each temperature. Crack lengths at which crack propagation instability occurred were decreased by the reduction of temperature. A significant drop of this critical crack length is observed in temperatures below –15ºC. As well, the elastic-plastic fracture toughness is increased by the reduction of temperature up to –15ºC and starts to diminish thereafter.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertil Trottet ◽  
Ron Simenhois ◽  
Gregoire Bobillier ◽  
Alec van Herwijnen ◽  
Chenfanfu Jiang ◽  
...  

<p>Snow slab avalanche release can be separated in four distinct phases : (i) failure initiation in a weak snow layer buried below a cohesive snow slab, (ii) the onset and, (iii) dynamic phase of crack propagation within the weak layer across the slope and (iv) the slab release. The highly porous character of the weak layer implies volumetric collapse during failure which leads to the closure of crack faces followed by the onset of frictional contact. To better understand the mechanisms of dynamic crack propagation, we performed numerical simulations, snow fracture experiments, and analyzed the release of full scale avalanches. Simulations of crack propagation are based on the Material Point Method (MPM) and finite strain elastoplasticity. Experiments consist of the so-called Propagation Saw Test (PST). Concerning full scale measurements, an algorithm is applied to detect changes in image pixel intensity induced by slab displacements. We report the existence of a transition from sub-Rayleigh anticrack to supershear crack propagation following the Burridge-Andrews mechanism. In detail, after reaching the critical crack length, self-propagation starts in a sub-Rayleigh regime and is driven by slab bending induced by weak layer collapse. If the slope angle is larger than a critical value, and if a so-called super critical crack length is reached, supershear crack propagation occurs. The corresponding critical angle may be lower than the weak layer friction angle due to the loss of frictional resistance during volumetric collapse. The sub-Rayleigh regime is driven by mixed mode anticrack propagation while the supershear regime corresponds to a pure mode II propagation with intersonic crack speeds (v: crack speed, c<sub>s</sub>: shear wave speed, c<sub>p</sub>: longitudinal wave speed, E: slab Young's modulus and ρ: slab density). This intersonic regime of crack propagation thus leads to pure tensile slab fractures initiating from the bottom of the slab as opposed to top initiations induced by slab bending in the sub-Rayleigh regime. Key ingredients for the existence of this transition are discussed such as the role played by friction angle, collapse height and slab secondary fractures. </p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Gaume ◽  
Alec van Herwijnen ◽  
Guillaume Chambon ◽  
Nander Wever ◽  
Jürg Schweizer

Abstract. The failure of a weak snow layer buried below cohesive slab layers is a necessary, but insufficient, condition for the release of a dry-snow slab avalanche. The size of the crack in the weak layer must also exceed a critical length to propagate across a slope. In contrast to pioneering shear-based approaches, recent developments account for weak layer collapse and allow for better explaining typical observations of remote triggering from low-angle terrain. However, these new models predict a critical length for crack propagation that is almost independent of slope angle, a rather surprising and counterintuitive result. Based on discrete element simulations we propose a new analytical expression for the critical crack length. This new model reconciles past approaches by considering for the first time the complex interplay between slab elasticity and the mechanical behavior of the weak layer including its structural collapse. The crack begins to propagate when the stress induced by slab loading and deformation at the crack tip exceeds the limit given by the failure envelope of the weak layer. The model can reproduce crack propagation on low-angle terrain and the decrease in critical length with increasing slope angle as modeled in numerical experiments. The good agreement of our new model with extensive field data and the ease of implementation in the snow cover model SNOWPACK opens a promising prospect for improving avalanche forecasting.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (15n16) ◽  
pp. 3161-3166 ◽  
Author(s):  
LIYONG NI ◽  
CHAO LIU ◽  
CHUNGEN ZHOU

The durability and reliability of thermal barrier coatings(TBCs) have become a major concern of hot-section components due to lack of a reliable life prediction model. In this paper, it is found that the failure location of TBCs is at the TBC/TGO interface by a sequence of crack propagation and coalescence process. The critical crack length of failure samples is 8.8mm. The crack propagation rate is 3-10µm/cycle at the beginning and increases largely to 40µm/cycle near coating failure. A life prediction model based a simple fracture mechanics approach is proposed.


Author(s):  
Gery Wilkowski ◽  
Rick Wolterman ◽  
Dave Rudland

This paper assesses the effect of using primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) crack morphology parameters (roughness, number of turns, and actual flow path/pipe thickness) in determining the difference in the leakage crack length, and how the difference in the leaking crack lengths changes typical margins from past LBB submittals and published reports. Several past LBB submittal cases were selected; in addition, cases from generic LBB reports published by EPRI were also selected. The results of the analyses showed that the past submittals by nuclear steam system supply (NSSS) companies frequently used the surface roughness comparable to an air-fatigue crack with no turns and the actual flow path equal to the thickness of the pipe. This condition would give the shortest possible leakage flaw length. The roughness, number of turns, and actual flow path to thickness ratio for PWSCC cracks were determined from photomicrographs of service-removed cracks. When using the PWSCC crack morphology parameters that corresponded to the crack growing parallel to the long direction of the dendritic grains (V.C. Summer and Ringhals cases), then the leakage flaw length increased 69 percent over the air-fatigue crack length at the same leak rate. Using the same critical crack length as was used in the initial LBB submittals and the published documents, the margins on the crack length changed from 1.77 to 6.0 for the initial submittals (which we also reproduced) to 0.88 to 2.74 from our calculations for a PWSCC crack. If the crack grew in the buttered region of the bimetallic weld, then based on metallographic sections from service-removed flaws, there would be a more tortuous flow path. For this crack condition, in all but one case, the margins on the normal operating versus N+SSE crack lengths were below the safety factor of two required for LBB approval. The average margin decreased from 3.39 for the air-fatigue crack to 1.55 for the PWSCC crack growing transverse to the long direction of the dendritic grains. This was about an additional 20 percent decrease in the margin from the case of having the PWSCC grow parallel to the long direction of the dendritic grains. These results show that LBB is difficult to satisfy for PWSCC susceptible pipe using the current SRP 3.6.3 LBB approach. This LBB assessment did not consider the possible development of a long circumferential surface crack, which would be more detrimental to LBB behavior. Such cracking behavior would violate the LBB screening criterion.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bettina Richter ◽  
Jürg Schweizer ◽  
Mathias W. Rotach ◽  
Alec van Herwijnen

Abstract. Data on snow stratigraphy and snow instability are of key importance for avalanche forecasting. Snow cover models can improve the spatial and temporal resolution of such data, especially if they also provide information on snow instability. Recently, a new stability criterion, namely a parameterization for the critical crack length, was implemented into the snow cover model SNOWPACK. To validate and improve this parameterization, we therefore used data from three years of field experiments performed close to two automatic weather station above Davos, Switzerland. Monitoring the snowpack on a weekly basis allowed to investigate limitations of the model. Based on 145 experiments we replaced two variables of the original parameterization, which were not sufficiently well modeled, with a fit factor thereby decreasing the normalized root mean square error from 1.80 to 0.28. With this fit factor, the improved parameterization accounts for the grain size resulting in lower critical crack lengths for snow layers with larger grains. This also improved an automatic weak layer detection method using a simple local minimum by increasing the probability of detection from 0.26 to 0.91 and decreased the false alarm ratio from 0.89 to 0.47.


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