Computational models based on the finite element method and linear or nonlinear fracture mechanics are herein proposed to study the mechanical response of functionally designed cellular components. It is demonstrated that, via a suitable tailoring of the properties of interfaces present in the mesoand micro-structures, the tensile strength can be substantially increased as compared to that of a...

Modelling quasi-static crack growth with interface elements is a widely accepted technique [1-2]. Interface elements are inserted into the finite element mesh along possible crack paths. The interface elements are characterised by a traction-displacement curve. When a specific maximum stress is reached, the interface element undergoes a softening process until the critical fracture energy has b...

An important task in mixed-mode fracture analysis and prediction is the simulation of crack growth under mixed-mode conditions. To complete such a task, one must have (a) a computer code capable of handling the kinematics of general crack growth and determining the stress and deformation states during crack growth, and (b) a fracture criterion that can properly predict the instant and direction...

The prediction of the fatigue life of steel structures can be carried out in a number of different ways. A common method at the design stage is to use the so-called S-N approach using design data from a standard such as BS 7910. However, for existing structures containing defects of a known or postulated size, a fatigue life assessment is generally carried out using fracture mechanics. In keepi...

DC electric potential technique has been used to monitor crack growth in conductive materials. A constant DC current is passed through these materials and the crack length is measured through the changes in the electrical voltage at the crack mouth. However, this method is not applicable in crack growth measurement in nonconductive materials or adhesively bonded joints. For these materials, a n...

Finite element method (FEM) is one of the most famous methods which has many applications in varies studies such as the study of crack propagation in engineering structures. However, unless extremely fine meshes are employed, problem arises in accurately modelling the singular stress field in the singular element area around the crack tip. In the present study, the crack growth simulation has b...

The corrosion fatigue crack growth characteristics of small (>35pm) surface and corner cracks in aluminum alloy 7075 is established. The early stage of crack growth is studied by performing in situ long focal length microscope (500X) crack length measurements in laboratory air and 1% NaCl environments. To quantify the “small crack effect” in the corrosive environment, the corrosion fatigue crac...

The growth of slant cracks by fretting fatigue of a half plane in contact with a flat rounded pad was studied. The mode I and mode II stress intensity factors for cracks of various lengths and directions were calculated using the semi-analytical method of the distribution of dislocations, and their cumulative effect on the crack growth was investigated using the strain energy density criterion....

Cracking of the concrete cover due to corrosion is defined as the serviceability limit state of reinforced concrete structures. This study evaluated the influence of a mineral admixture i.e. nano wollastonite on corrosion performance and serviceability of reinforced concrete structures by performing an accelerated corrosion test on ten reinforced concrete beams under a sustained load. To do so,...

Precracked and notched specimens were used to investigate the fracture mechanism of a bainite steel at low temperature. The critical fracture event was studied using metallographic sectioning method. The results showed that the critical cleavage event was different in the precracked and the notched specimens. At -196C, all specimens fractured at lower-shelf region without any ductile crack grow...