Tearing behaviors of polytetrafluoroethylene coated fabric under uniaxial in-plane tearing tests

This study conducts alternative-basic-angle trapezoidal tearing and single-edge notch tearing tests on a polytetrafluoroethylene coated woven fabric, where the two methods are related through the basic angle of a trapezoid. The tearing process and failure modes are carefully examined, and load–displacement curves and tearing strength are analyzed. The tearing process comprises three stages, which are distinguished photographically or in different load–displacement curve sections. Corresponding to these stages, failure modes can be classified into three parts with varying extension directions. The effect of the basic angle is clearly illustrated. As the angle increases, three stages and parts appear in sequence; the tearing strength increases, but the larger one changes from weft to warp. The relationship between the tearing process and tearing strength is described. The three stages correspond to the increase in tearing strength, occurrence of the maximum tearing strength, and failure. Because the single-edge notch tearing method is more complex and important, it is the method that is studied mainly. Digital image correlation equipment is used to observe the strain distribution at the crack section. Moreover, the applications of four frequently used models are investigated. The results indicate that Thiele’s empirical formula offers the best simulation among the three tearing strength prediction models, and the theoretical stress distribution model also provides good simulation. Furthermore, a numerical simulation is conducted. The critical tearing strength and load–displacement curves before tearing initiates acquired through the simulation and test agree well. All results may provide basic data for future improvements in design theories.

Comparison of Fatigue Crack Growth Rates Between Different Specimen Geometries

Most engineering components are subjected to cyclic loading in service and design against fatigue failure is often a key consideration in design. For fracture mechanics fatigue analysis, fatigue crack growth (FCG) tests are often required to determine the relevant Paris power law parameters for the material under the environment concerned. Standards allow use of different specimen geometries for FCG tests such as compact tension (CT), centre crack tension (CCT), single edge notch bend (SENB) and single edge notch tension (SENT). However, when selecting specimen geometry for fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) testing, there is often doubt about which specimen geometry is more appropriate and whether they give similar FCGR. There is limited work to compare the FCGR between different specimen geometries. This paper first briefly introduces the guidance on FCG test specimen geometries in standards and compares the advantages and disadvantages of these specimen geometries. A comprehensive literature review is carried out to compare the FCGR data between different specimen geometries. FCGR tests are conducted on SENB, SENT and CCT specimens of C-Mn steel to investigate any effects of specimen symmetry/asymmetry and crack constraint on FCGR. Based on the literature review and test data, it is concluded that FCGR is independent of the specimen geometries examined.

Modelling the Variability and the Anisotropic Behaviour of Crack Growth in SLM Ti-6Al-4V

The United States Air Force (USAF) Guidelines for the Durability and Damage Tolerance (DADT) certification of Additive Manufactured (AM) parts states that the most difficult challenge for the certification of an AM part is to establish an accurate prediction of its DADT. How to address this challenge is the focus of the present paper. To this end this paper examines the variability in crack growth in tests on additively manufactured (AM) Ti-6Al-4V specimens built using selective layer melting (SLM). One series of tests analysed involves thirty single edge notch tension specimens with five build orientations and two different post heat treatments. The other test program analysed involved ASTM standard single edge notch specimens with three different build directions. The results of this study highlight the ability of the Hartman–Schijve crack growth equation to capture the variability and the anisotropic behaviour of crack growth in SLM Ti-6Al-4V. It is thus shown that, despite the large variability in crack growth, the intrinsic crack growth equation remains unchanged and that the variability and the anisotropic nature of crack growth in this test program is captured by allowing for changes in both the fatigue threshold and the cyclic fracture toughness.

Acoustic Emission Monitoring During Fatigue Crack Growth in Standard C(T) and Miniature Single Edge Notch Tension Specimens

The fatigue crack growth rate studies in a structural alloy has been carried out using ASTM E-647 standard compact tension (C(T)) specimens and miniature single edge notch tension specimens (SEN(T)) at two different stress ratios of 0.1 and 0.7. Standard C(T) specimen had a dimension of 63.5 × 61 × 8 mm thickness while the miniature SEN(T) specimen had a size of 20 mm effective length × 10 mm wide and 0.7 mm thickness. A starter notch of 0.5 mm was cut using wire EDM process to initiate fatigue crack growth in miniature SEN(T) specimen. A special fixture was designed for testing the miniature SEN(T) specimen. During the fatigue crack growth experiments, Acoustic Emission (AE) activity was monitored on-line using AE sensors from Physical Acoustics, Mistras Group, USA. For the experiments on standard C(T) specimens, a standard probe (R15A) of 15 mm diameter was used, while for small size compact tension specimen, a Nano30 AE probe was used. The crack growth was monitored by visual methods as well as by compliance technique. The cumulative counts and absolute energy information obtained during fatigue crack growth testing was used to correlate the crack growth rate with acoustic emission activity. Empirical fit of data was used to obtain cross-correlation between crack growth rate and AE parameters for both the specimen geometries. The study suggested that suitable selection and placement of sensors is essential to obtain good results using AE sensor technique.

RESPONSE AND DAMAGE EVOLUTION OF SINGLE EDGE NOTCHED TIMBER BEAMS UNDER THREE-POINT BENDING

Two groups of small-size single edge notched beams (SENB) made of European spruce (Picea abies) were tested in three-point bending (3PB) until failure under displacement control. The first group comprised of eight solid and two glued laminated (GL) timber beams manufactured with (a) the single edge notch at the bottom of the mid-span and (b) the reduced ligament depth. The second group consisted of four GL timber beams with the single edge notch only. We employed digital image correlation (DIC) to quantify strains and displacements, capture the damage evolution, and track the sequence of failure patterns. In this work, we present response of the beams in terms of load vs. crosshead displacement of the moving crosshead and load vs. crack tip opening displacement (CTOD).