Key Engineering Materials Vol. 465

Abstract: Thin film processing has been a driving technology in microelectronics and mechanics for years. The reliability of such devices is often limited by the failure of thin films. Therefore a deeper understanding of fatigue mechanisms of thin films through experiments is necessary to develop physical based lifetime models. Thus, this paper focuses on a novel setup for micro beam bending of thin metal films on Si cantilever substrate and first results will be presented.

Abstract: This study deals with the low cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviour of two steels strengthened by oxide dispersion. The ODS Eurofer steel shows cyclic softening, slower than in the case of the same steel without oxide particles. The 14Cr ODS ferritic steel is cyclically stable, even a slight cyclic hardening is observed at 650 °C. The reasons for this different behaviour lie probably in the less resistant matrix with a lot of weak subgrain boundaries in ODS Eurofer, because no clear difference in the oxide particles distribution was found.

Abstract: A 3D model for intergranular thermal stresses in coarse polycrystalline alumina has been derived using Diffraction Contrast Tomography. Larger tensile thermal strains develop when the (0001) pole of adjacent grains lies closer to the grain boundary normal. This agrees with observations of cracked boundaries, obtained through digital image correlation of in-situ observations in fine alumina.

Abstract: In this paper polymeric particulate composites are studied (especially polypropylene (PP) matrix stuffed by rigid mineral fillers). Presently, polymeric particulate composites are frequently used in many engineering applications. The composite was modeled as a three-phase continuum – matrix, interphase and particle. The properties of the particles (size, shape) have a significant effect on the global behaviour of the composite. On the basis of fracture mechanics methodology the interaction of micro-crack propagation in the matrix filled by rigid particles covered by the interphase was analyzed. The effect of the composite structure on their mechanical properties is studied here from the theoretical point of view.

Abstract: Possibility of use of Local Approach (LA) to prediction of the effect of neutron irradiation on the fracture toughness of pressure vessel steel is discussed. The fundamental of new version of LA to fracture is briefly stated. Specific feature of this version of LA is that Weibull distribution is not used for description of distribution function of fracture probability. Probability of fracture is estimated by modeling of regularities of the crack nucleus formation and instability in polycrystal. Findings on simulation of fracture of reactor pressure vessel steel 2Cr-Mo-V in initial and irradiated states are presented.

Abstract: The geometrical shielding produced by intergranular crack-tip branching in the fracture toughness tests of the Fe–V–P alloy is quantitatively assessed particularly with respect to the contribution of crack splitting. This process was evaluated by an identification of secondary intergranular cracks visualized on metalographical samples perpendicular to the fracture surface. The analysis of mixed trans/intergranular fracture revealed no special influence of triple-point branching (splitting) on the total crack tip shielding in cases of such highly spatially tortuous crack fronts. Thus, the previously reported results taking only the effect of crack tip kinking and meandering into account were proved to be correct.

Abstract: Among various micromechanical models for ductile fracture analysis using local approach, those based on the Gurson plastic flow criterion have been intensively developed in the past three decades. However, their application is still subject of many researches, with the aim to improve the assessment of ductile fracture in various, mainly metallic, materials. In this work, Gurson criterion is applied to welded joints produced with one or two different weld metals (one of these is overmatched, while the other is undermatched). Welded single-edge notched bend (SENB) specimens are examined, with an initial pre-crack located in the symmetry plane of each joint. Local approach is chosen for assessment of behaviour of the joints under the external loading, to capture the effect of material inhomogeneity and initial crack length on deformation and ductile fracture initiation in analysed specimens.