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The chemically driven propagation of interacting parallel cracks in monoclinic alkali feldspar was studied experimentally. Single crystals of potassium-rich gem-quality sanidine were shifted towards more sodium-rich compositions by cation exchange with a NaCl–KCl salt melt at a temperature of 850 ∘ C and close to ambient pressure. Initially, a zone with elevated sodium content formed at the crystal surfaces due to the simultaneous in-diffusion of sodium and out-diffusion of potassium, where the rate of cation exchange was controlled by sodium–potassium interdiffusion within the feldspar. A chemical shift of potassium-rich alkali feldspar towards more sodium-rich compositions produces highly anisotropic contraction of the crystal lattice. This induced a tensile stress state in the sodium-rich surface layer of the crystals, which triggered the formation of a system of nearly equi-spaced parallel cracks oriented approximately perpendicular to the direction of maximum shortening. Crack propagation following their nucleation was driven by cation exchange occurring along the crack flanks and was controlled by the intimate coupling of the diffusion-mediated build-up of a tensile stress state around the crack tips and stress release by successive crack propagation. The critical energy release rate of fracturing was determined as 1.8–2.2 J m - 2 from evaluation of the near-tip J-integral. The mechanism of diffusion-controlled crack propagation is discussed in the context of high-temperature feldspar alteration.

When a crack propagates in a heterogeneous elastic material, its crack driving force depends strongly on the distribution of the local stiffness near the crack tip. In materials with periodic spatial variations of the Young’s modulus, shielding and anti-shielding effects appear, i.e. the crack driving force is reduced or enhanced, compared to a homogeneous material. The effect is of great practical relevance, since it may lead to a strong increase of the fracture resistance. The concept of configurational forces (CCF) offers an established procedure for calculating the crack driving force. A very general relation for the periodic variation of Young’s modulus is applied, allowing the description of both harmonically varying and layered microstructures. Numerical results are presented. Two semi-analytical approximation concepts, based on either the CCF or the moduli perturbation concept, are introduced and discussed. Comparisons are provided and recommendations given.

The paper considers the near-tip J-integral J tip , the far-field J-integral J far , and the experimental J-integral J exp in a material with sinusoidal variation of the Young’s modulus E . The evaluations of J tip and J far are based on the concept of configurational forces; J exp is evaluated from the area below the load point displacement curve, as prescribed by the standard testing procedures. Analytic expressions and/or approximation formulae are derived, how J tip , J far and J exp depend on the system parameters of the material, i.e. wavelength and amplitude of the E -variation and its phase shift with respect to the crack tip position, and the global specimen dimensions. The analyses show that J tip and J far exhibit a strong dependency on the phase shift, but not the experimental J-integral J exp . This is the reason why the current procedures for fracture mechanics testing are not suitable to determine the true values of the fracture initiation toughness J i or the crack growth resistance R of a material, if the material properties exhibit a spatial variation in the direction of crack propagation. Relations are given to estimate the possible errors.

This paper describes a theoretical model and related computational methods for examining the influence of inhomogeneous material properties on the crack driving force in elastic and elastic-plastic materials. Following the configurational forces approach, the crack tip shielding or anti-shielding due to smooth (e.g. graded layer) and discontinuous (e.g. bimaterial interface) distributions in material properties are derived. Computational post-processing methods are described to evaluate these inhomogeneity effects. The utility of the theoretical model and computational methods is demonstrated by examining a bimaterial interface perpendicular to a crack in elastic and elastic-plastic compact tension specimens.

Configurational forces invariably appear at the external boundaries of cracked bodies (including the crack faces), but it is unclear whether they influence crack growth. Also, it is unclear how such boundary configurational forces are related to the J -integrals calculated in the body. In this brief note, we (i) derive expressions for the surface configurational forces and determine their values on regions of the external boundaries with prescribed tractions or displacements, (ii) determine the relation between the far-field J -integral and the surface configurational forces, and (iii) show that surface configurational forces on the crack faces do not alter the relation between the near-tip and far-field J -integrals.

An integrated fracture mechanics approach is proposed to account for the estimation of the fatigue resistance of component. Applications, estimations and results showed very good agreements with experimental results. The model is simple to apply, accounts for the main geometrical, mechanical and material parameters that define the fatigue resistance, and allows accurate predictions. It offers a change in design philosophy: It could be used for design, while simultaneously dealing with crack propagation thresholds. Furthermore, it allows quantification of the material defect sensitivity. In the case of the set of fatigue tests carried out by rotational bending of specimens without residual stresses, the estimated results showed good agreement and that an initial crack length of 0.5 mm can conservatively explain experimental data. In the case of fatigue tests carried out on the springs at their final condition with bending at R = 0.1 our data shows the influence of compressive residual stresses on fatigue strength. Results also showed that the procedures allow us to analyze the different combinations of initial crack length and residual stress levels, and how much the fatigue resistance can change by changing that configuration. For this set of tests, the fatigue resistance estimated for an initial crack length equal to 0.35 mm, can explain all testing data observed for the springs.

Ductile failure of structural metals is relevant to a wide range of engineering scenarios. Computational methods are employed to anticipate the critical conditions of failure, yet they sometimes provide inaccurate and misleading predictions. Challenge scenarios, such as the one presented in the current work, provide an opportunity to assess the blind, quantitative predictive ability of simulation methods against a previously unseen failure problem. Rather than evaluate the predictions of a single simulation approach, the Sandia Fracture Challenge relies on numerous volunteer teams with expertise in computational mechanics to apply a broad range of computational methods, numerical algorithms, and constitutive models to the challenge. This exercise is intended to evaluate the state of health of technologies available for failure prediction. In the first Sandia Fracture Challenge, a wide range of issues were raised in ductile failure modeling, including a lack of consistency in failure models, the importance of shear calibration data, and difficulties in quantifying the uncertainty of prediction [see Boyce et al. (Int J Fract 186:5–68, 2014 ) for details of these observations]. This second Sandia Fracture Challenge investigated the ductile rupture of a Ti–6Al–4V sheet under both quasi-static and modest-rate dynamic loading (failure in ∼ 0.1 s). Like the previous challenge, the sheet had an unusual arrangement of notches and holes that added geometric complexity and fostered a competition between tensile- and shear-dominated failure modes. The teams were asked to predict the fracture path and quantitative far-field failure metrics such as the peak force and displacement to cause crack initiation. Fourteen teams contributed blind predictions, and the experimental outcomes were quantified in three independent test labs. Additional shortcomings were revealed in this second challenge such as inconsistency in the application of appropriate boundary conditions, need for a thermomechanical treatment of the heat generation in the dynamic loading condition, and further difficulties in model calibration based on limited real-world engineering data. As with the prior challenge, this work not only documents the ‘state-of-the-art’ in computational failure prediction of ductile tearing scenarios, but also provides a detailed dataset for non-blind assessment of alternative methods.

Components and structures exposed to elastic dynamic loading respond with different surface or bulk material changes which could be monitored on the through surface deformation measurements. The measurements could be performed with electronic devices used for on-line computerized measurement systems. Fatigue induced flaw growth was monitored on a 4-point specimen, loaded by cyclic dynamic bend forces. The flaw growth was monitored by strain gauges and analyzed to determine the shape, propagation and cross sections of the crack. To determine the stress intensity factor a numerical model was developed based on measured crack shapes, material properties and cyclic loading data of the actual tested specimen. The analyses results showed that derived calibration curve could be used to predict surface deformations as a result of crack propagation and growth. With the determination of surface deformation, one could follow the crack transition from surface crack to through thickness crack. The goal of this paper is to describe methodology and results based on experimental analysis during crack propagation and potential use of this technique for online monitoring purposes.

\"Contemporary Slovenian Drama\" edited by Alja Predan is reviewed.