A natural example of brittle-to-viscous strain localization under constant-stress conditions: a case study of the Kellyland fault zone, Maine, USA

This article integrates field, powder X-ray diffraction and microstructural data to constrain deformation mechanisms in and the rheology of granite-derived fault rocks exposed along the SE side of the crustal-scale, strike-slip Kellyland fault zone. Deformation in this area of the Kellyland fault zone localized during cooling and is marked by (1) foliated granite, (2) a ∼50 m wide band of pulverized foliated granite, (3) a ∼2.8 m wide breccia zone hosting coeval shear zones, and (4) a >100 m wide ultramylonite zone. The earliest fabric in the foliated granite is defined by elongated quartz grains, and quartz dislocation creep was the rate-controlling deformation mechanism. Seismogenic deformation initiated when recorded flow stresses reached 96–104 MPa at temperatures of 400–450 °C and is marked by coeval pulverization and formation of breccia. Interseismic viscous creep at similar flow stresses is recorded by mutual cross-cutting relationships between breccia-hosted shear zones, brittle fractures and pseudotachylyte. Field and microstructural observations indicate that breccia-hosted shear zones are low-strain equivalents of the >100 m wide ultramylonite zone, and seismogenic deformation abated as the ultramylonite formed. The rheology of ultramylonites was governed by grain-size-sensitive creep at 112–124 MPa flow stresses. Hence, from the onset of seismogenesis, the Kellyland fault zone was likely a constant-stress system wherein the rate-controlling mechanism shifted from episodic seismogenic slip and interseismic viscous creep to steady state grain-size-sensitive creep in ultramylonites derived from brittle fault rocks. Flow stresses recorded by these rocks also imply that the whole zone was relatively weak if the brittle–viscous transition and uppermost viscous zone are the strongest part of the crust.

Study on Establish a Brittle Fracture Prediction Considering Different Crack Opening Modes Using Mixed-Mode Ratio

In this study, we propose a method for predicting the occurrence of brittle fractures in the beam-to-column joints of steel structures, considering different crack opening modes. We conducted experiments on beam-to-diaphragm joint specimens with varying plastically constrained cracks to reproduce brittle fractures. The experiments’ results demonstrated the effectiveness of the toughness scale model and the Weibull stress approach. In addition, we propose the mixed-mode ratio, which is a quantitative index of the mode difference, and we applied it to the finite element models of the specimens. In this study, we evaluate the validity of the mixed-mode ratio and explore the differences in crack opening modes, as they pertain to the occurrence of brittle fractures.

A Modified Phase-Field Fracture Model for Simulation of Mixed Mode Brittle Fractures and Compressive Cracks in Porous Rock

In this work, we propose a modified phase-field model for simulating the evolution of mixed mode fractures and compressive driven fractures in porous artificial rocks. For the purpose of validation, the behaviour of artificial rock samples, with either a single or double saw cuts, under uniaxial plane strain compression has been numerically simulated. The simulated results are compared to experimental data, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It is shown that the proposed model is able to capture the commonly observed propagation pattern of wing cracks emergence followed by secondary cracks driven by compressive stresses. Additionally, the typical types of complex crack patterns observed in experimental tests are successfully reproduced, as well as the critical loads.

A New Methodology for Predicting Brittle Fracture of Plastically Deformable Materials: Application to a Cold Shell Nosing Process

The traditional theory of ductile fracture has limitations for predicting crack generation during a cold shell nosing process. Various damage criteria are employed to explain fracture and failure in the nose part of a cold shell. In this study, differences in microstructure among fractured materials and analysis of their surfaces indicated the occurrence of brittle fractures. The degree of “plastic deformation-induced embrittlement” (PDIE) of plastically deformable materials affects the likelihood of brittle fractures; PDIE can also decrease the strength in tension due to the Bauschinger effect. Two indicators of brittle fracture are presented, i.e., the critical value of PDIE and the allowable tensile strength (which in turn depends on the degree of PDIE or embrittlement-effective strain). When the maximum principal stress is greater than the latter and the PDIE is greater than the former, our method determines the likelihood of brittle fracture. This approach was applied to an actual cold shell nosing process, and the predictions were in good quantitative agreement with the experimental results.

Microstructural Features of Freezing and Thawing-Creep Damages for Concrete Mixed with Fly Ash

The macroscopic morphology characteristics, pore structure characteristics, and microfracture morphology of concrete with fly ash subjected to the freeze-thaw-creep effect were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the macrosection of a specimen subjected to freeze-thaw cycling evolves from a regular to an irregular morphology in which the degree of fragmentation increases. Four specimen pore structure types characterized by single holes, nonconnected hole clusters, connected hole clusters, and fly ash holes, respectively, were identified. The microfracture morphology of the concrete was found to include five types of brittle fractures—river, step, cascade, hemispherical, and irregular patterns—and two types of ductile fractures—dimple and peak forest patterns. Two sets of experiments in which (1) the fly ash content ( m = 35 % ) was kept constant and the number of freeze-thaw cycles increased, and (2) the number of freeze-thaw cycles ( n = 120 ) was kept constant, and the fly ash content was increased were carried out. In both cases, the number of connected hole clusters increased and a surrounding skeleton structure with a needle filamentous or flaky appearance was produced. In addition, the degree of deterioration of the pore structure increased and the fracture features changed from brittle to ductile.

Fundamental Investigation of Diamond Cutting of Micro V-Shaped Grooves on a Polycrystalline Soft-Brittle Material

Fabricating micro-structures on optical materials has received great interest in recent years. In this work, micro-grooving experiments were performed on polycrystalline zinc selenide (ZnSe) to investigate the feasibility of surface micro-structuring on polycrystalline soft-brittle material by diamond turning. A photosensitive resin was coated on the workpiece before cutting, and it was found that the coating was effective in suppressing brittle fractures at the edges of the grooves. The effect of tool feed rate in groove depth direction was examined. Results showed that the defect morphology on the groove surface was affected by the tool feed rate. The crystallographic orientation of grains around the groove was characterized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and it was found that the formation of defects was strongly dependent on the angle of groove surface with respect to the cleavage plane of grain. The stress distribution of the micro-grooving process was investigated by the finite element method. Results showed that the location of tensile stresses in the coated workpiece was farther from the edge of the groove compared with that in the uncoated workpiece, verifying the experimental result that brittle fractures were suppressed by the resin coating.

A New Fracture Analysis Technique for Charpy Impact Test Using Image Processing

The Charpy impact test is used to identify the transition between ductility and brittleness. The percentages of ductile and brittle fractures in steel can be evaluated based on each fracture area, which is presently determined by an analyzer with the naked eye. This method may lead to subjective judgement, and difficulty accurately quantifying the percentage. To resolve this problem, a new analysis method based on image processing is proposed in this study. A program that can automatically calculate the percentage of the ductile and brittle fractures has been developed. The analysis is performed after converting an RGB fracture image into a binary image using image processing techniques. The final binary image consists of 0 and 1 pixels. The parts with the pixel values of 1 correspond to the brittle fracture areas, and the pixel values of 0 represent the ductile fracture areas. As a result, by counting the number of 0 pixels in the entire area, it is possible to automatically calculate the percentage of ductile fracture. Using the proposed automatic fracture analysis program, it is possible to selectively distinguish only the brittle fracture from the entire fracture area, and to accurately and quantitatively calculate the percentages of ductile and brittle fractures.

Hopkinson rod test results and constitutive description of TRIP780 steel resistance spot welding material

A quasi-static tensile test was performed on a 1.4 mm-thick TRIP780 steel strip with welding points. An MTS810 material test machine was used in the test, and a Split Hopkinson tension bar device was used in performing impact stretch loading at different strain rates. The dynamic tensile stress–strain curve of the spot welding material with different strain rates was obtained through the finely designed Hopkinson rod test, and the strain rate dependence of a TRIP780 steel spot welding material was discussed. According to the dynamic constitutive equation of the TRIP780 steel spot welding material, the test results were numerically simulated, the constitutive description and test curves were compared, and the simulation results and test results were discussed and analyzed. The fractures of the test recovery specimen were scanned with the scanning electron microscope, and the fracture mechanism of the TRIP780 steel spot welding material was explored by observing the fractures. The surfaces of the fractures surface showed obvious cleavage river patterns, and the evolution process of microcracks was determined and used in characterizing brittle fractures in specimen spot welding sample subjected to dynamic stretch loading.