Papers by Author: Kikuo Kishimoto

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the cyclic interfacial strength between thin film and its substrate by cyclic nano-indentation tests. The specimen used in this study is PET substrate/ITO coatings layered specimen. From the indentation load and displacement curve, we proposed an evaluation method for the interfacial strength. The results are good agreement with the interfacial strength evaluated by peel test. After cyclic indentations, the surface profile was observed by atomic force microscope. The number of elongates increased with indentation cycles when the indentation load is low, whereas elongates number is almost constant under high load cases. These phenomena can be explained by simple models. In this study, two types of fracture modes are proposed. They are “subsidiary fracture mode” and “buckling mode”.

Abstract: The stochastic nature of aluminum foam structure, having a random distribution of voids, makes it difficult to model its compressive deformation behavior accurately. In this paper, a 2-dimensional simplified modeling approach is introduced to analyze the compressive deformation behavior that occurs in Alporas aluminum foam (Al foam). This has been achieved using image analysis on real undeformed aluminum foam images obtained by VHX-100 digital microscope. Finite element mesh for the cross sectional model is generated with Object Oriented Finite element (OOF) method combined with ABAQUS structural analysis. It is expected that OOF modeling enable prediction of the origin of failure in terms of localized deformation with respect to the microstructural details. Furthermore, strain concentration sites leading to the evolution of the deformation band can be visualized. Thus, this investigation addresses the local inhomogeneity in the Al foam structure. This study implies that the OOF modeling approach combined with experimental observations can provide better insight into the understanding of aluminum foam compressive deformation behavior.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of ultra-violet (UV) ray irradiation on the crack formation of brittle ceramic coating on polymer substrate. It is well known that ultra-violet ray irradiation degrades the mechanical properties of polymer and polymer-based coating films. We carried out the tensile tests of PET/ITO film specimen after UV irradiation under the microscope and observed the crack formation on ITO surface. Also, we carried out nano-indentation tests of PET substrate after removing ITO layer to characterize the change of the mechanical properties near the interface between PET and ITO. The results show that the number of cracks vertical to loading direction and the rate of vertical crack formation decreased after UV irradiation. Hardness and Young’s modulus of PET substrate increase due to the oxidation of PET after UV irradiation. To explain the relationship between the crack formation and mechanical property change, the energy release rates of the thin film channeling cracks are considered.

Abstract: The main objective of this study is to measure and characterize the mechanical properties of the thermoplastic syntactic foams at the intermediate and high strain rates. The syntactic foam consists of the elastically deformable microballoons in the polypropylene matrix. The four types of syntactic foams and one polypropylene bulk specimen are prepared at same manufacturing process: 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 volume percent of microballoons. Tensile tests are conducted at nominal strain rates ranging from 10-1 to 102 (1/sec). Elastic modulus, yield stress and rupture strain are measured and the effects of microballoons on the mechanical properties are studied. In addition, fracture surfaces are observed with ESEM (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy). Finally, the changes of fracture mode due to microballoons are discussed.

Abstract: Adhesives are widely used in industrial world. However, it is difficult to characterize their mechanical properties because those strongly depend on environmental and mechanical conditions such as temperature, humidity or strain rate. In this paper, we focus on the strain rate dependence of the interfacial strength and investigate the interfacial strength by peel tests under several peel rates. The results show that, in low rate case (under 10-2 mm/s), the interfacial strength was constant and, in middle rate case (10-2 to 103 mm/s), the interfacial strength increased with the peel rate. Over 103 mm/s case, the interfacial strength became lower than those in middle rate cases. From the observation of peeling front by a high speed video camera, the deformation behavior of adhesives changed with the peel rate.

Abstract: An instrumented-drop weight impact test carried out at room temperature under a range of loading rates was applied to study the deformation and failure behaviors of PC/ABS (50/50) blends. Actually, these blends have different type of ABS, one grade of the blends is the blend containing small-sized particles of rubber and another grade is the blend containing larger-sized particles of rubber in the ABS systems. Testing results showed that both of the blends generally exhibited similar behaviors but they were totally different under 3 m/sec. A weld line-like formation captured on the fracture surface was found in each of the blends. Preliminary study using scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated that crack also propagated along the weld line. Fracture of the blends might be initially induced due to fracture of the weld lines. Hence, it has been suspected as a factor affecting behavior of the blends. Since existence of the weld line-like formation has not been found in fractured ABS materials, it is necessary to point out the complex relationship among of the ABS composition, the existence of the weld line and the weld line quality in the blends. A finite element (FE) simulation of the testing was carried in order to determine whether the weld line strength is significant enough affects the behaviors. Although the model was generated using estimated failure criterion for the weld line, the simulation results showed that weld line strength might influence the blends behavior.

Abstract: The wave function expansion method is engaged for the theoretical derivations to study the effect of material parameters perturbations on the resonance acoustic scattering behavior of 1-3 piezoelectric composites. Numerical examples are provided to verify the effectiveness of the analysis. Results obtained are meaningful for the non-destructive evaluation of 1-3 piezoelectric composites.

Abstract: Based on previous available constitutive models, a phenomenological constitutive model has been constructed and is proposed to describe the strain, strain rate and temperature dependentdeformation behavior of PC/ABS blends. In this paper, four quasi-static uniaxial tension tests of a specimen tested at different strain rates and temperatures were used to identify the constitutive model constants. By using the proposed constitutive model, predicting the stress-strain behavior of the PC/ABS blend tested at certain strain rate and different temperatures compares well to the behavior exhibited from the tests. From comparison between the DSGZ and the proposed models, proposed model shows a better prediction. Evaluation of the proposed constitutive model was also presented and it has revealed that the proposed model might have a potential to be used for predicting a wide range of temperatures and high strain rates behavior of PC/ABS blends.

Abstract: The mechanical properties of polymers are strongly influenced by meso-scale (10-9~10-3 m) structure such as entanglement, molecular weight distribution, orientation, etc. It is important to understand the relationship between the mechanical properties of polymeric material and meso-scale structure. Some studies related to the relationship have been made. However detail of the relationship is still unclear. Especially, the studies emphasize on entanglement and branch are few. This study aims to clear the role of entanglement and branch for mechanical properties by simulating the meso-scale structure using 3D network models. In the models, there are two structures considered. One of them has no branch, and, others have branch. Large strain deformation of network models is evolved via improved molecular dynamics analysis.

Abstract: The mechanical properties of polymers are strongly influenced by meso-scale (10-9-10-3 m) structure such as entanglement, molecular weight distribution, orientation, etc. It is well known that sunlight induces the UV degradation of polymers. The mechanical properties of polymer are strongly influenced by UV irradiation because of chemical change of meso-scale structure. However the detail relationship between the mechanical properties and chemical change of meso-scale structure is not clear. In this study, it is aimed to clear this relationship by the simulation. Network models considered the meso-scale structure are constructed. Degradation is described to delete the chain elements in the network model. Large strain deformation of these network models is evolved via molecular dynamics analysis improved by us. It is possible to describe the degradation by this method.