A nonlinear elastic foundation model has been developed to predict the mixed-mode (modes I and II) delamination failure of laminated composites. Two types of nonlinear elastic foundations were used to represent pure mode I and pure mode II components of the material failure ahead of the crack tip. One is a tension spring foundation for mode I component and the other is a shear spring foundation...

Models of surface fractures due to volcanic loading of an elastic plate are commonly used to constrain the thickness of planetary lithospheres, but discrepancies exist in predictions of the style of initial failure and in the nature of subsequent fracture evolution. In this study, we perform an experiment to determine the mode of initial failure due to the incremental addition of a conical load...

Cracking is a major distress in asphalt pavement which can lead to premature pavement failures and can cost agencies millions of dollars in maintenance and rehabilitation costs. Even with modern advances in pavement engineering, attempts to quantify and model cracking in asphalt pavements have proved extremely challenging; this is due to the visco-elastic behavior of asphalt concrete and the co...

Cracking is a major distress in asphalt pavement which can lead to premature pavement failures and can cost agencies millions of dollars in maintenance and rehabilitation costs. Even with modern advances in pavement engineering, attempts to quantify and model cracking in asphalt pavements have proved extremely challenging; this is due to the visco-elastic behavior of asphalt concrete and the co...