Papers by Author: Michal Kotoul

Abstract: The contribution deals with modelling and prediction of failure of mechanically loaded open cell ceramic foam structures by using 3D volume FE models constructed from CT scans of real foam specimens. The condition for crack initiation in particular struts comes from the coupled stress-energy criterion which combines two fracture-mechanics parameters of the investigated material – tensile strength and its fracture toughness. By combining of both stress and energy condition one obtains information about the crack initiation length which is later used (together with the tensile strength) for determination of the strut failure in the complex 3D FE model of the ceramic foam structure. The crack onset is considered in the critical location at the moment when the (tensile) principal stress under the strut surface (in a depth corresponding to the crack initiation length) exceeded the tensile strength of the strut. Such approach enables us to define failure also on relatively coarse meshes of the FE models where potential stress concentrations are not described precisely and therefore it is not possible to decide about the failure just based upon the value of tensile stress on the strut surface.

Abstract: The aim of the paper is quantify the material length scale parameter of the simplified form of the strain gradient elasticity theory (SGET) using first principles density-functional theory (DFT). The single material length scale parameter l is extracted from phonon-dispersions generated by DFT calculations and, for comparison, by adjusting the analytical SGET solution for the displacement field near the screw dislocation with the DFT calculations of this field. The obtained results are further used in the SGET modeling of cracked nanopanel formed by the single tungsten crystal where due to size effects and nonlocal material point interactions the classical fracture mechanics breaks down.

Abstract: This paper is focused on an analysis of a multilayer ceramic-based piezoelectric vibration energy harvester, which could be excited by ambient vibrations or external forces and thus provide a useful source of electricity for modern electronics. The proposed multilayer concept of the energy harvester enables introduction of tensile / compressive residual stresses inside particular layers. These stresses are intended to be used for enhancement of the harvester ́s fracture resistance and simultaneously for the improvement of the energy gain upon its operation. A crack arrest, by means of compressive residual stresses (in the outer “non-piezo” layer), will be utilized to this end. Primarily, the extended classical laminate theory (taking into account the piezoelectric characteristics of selected layers) will be used to define various designs of particular layers with various levels of residual stresses inside them. The weight function method is subsequently employed to select a design, which is most resistant to propagation of preexisting cracks. Selected laminate configurations are verified by means of FE simulations. Such analysis is essential for development of new energy harvesting systems formed of new smart materials and structures, which could be integrated in future development processes.

Abstract: This work deals with a computational analysis and quantification of the influence of processing (primarily crack-like) defects of various amount on the (tensile) strength of open cell ceramic foam structures. This information is essential e.g. for application of these materials in the mechanically loaded application, where a design with certain reliability to operating conditions is required. The analysed ceramic foam structures are composed of both regular and irregular cells and crack-like defects (pre-cracked struts) are simulated inside them. The foam structure is modelled using a 3D FE beam element based model created by utilization of the Voronoi tessellation technique. The tensile strength upon presence of various amount of pre-cracked struts is analysed based upon an iterative FE simulation on whose base the critical failure force leading to specimen fracture is determined. The performed parametric study relates the tensile strength of the foam structure to the amount of initial defects. With increasing amount of these defects, the foam strength decreases by approximately 30% with every 10% of broken struts. This information can be directly used for a fast estimation of the foam tensile strength if the fraction of broken struts to the intact ones is known (e.g. from a microscopic analysis).

Abstract: The work investigates an influence of the macroscopic stress concentrator inside the ceramic open cell foam structure on the fracture-mechanics response of the foam upon the tensile test. As the concentrator, the central crack/rectangular notch was taken into account. The influence of the crack/notch length and width on the stress concentration ahead the concentrator tip was assessed using the simplified FE beam element based model with irregular cells simulating the real ceramic foam structure. Average principal stresses calculated on set of struts ahead the crack/notch tip were compared with average stresses in the intact structure. It was found that the ratio of these stresses increases linearly with the crack length. The stress concentration ratio is slightly lower in case of thick rectangular notch than in case of a thin crack. Furthermore, the failure load leading to complete fracture of the studied specimens, subjected to the tensile loading, were calculated using the same model. It is shown that the difference factor between the critical fracture force in case of structure without concentrator and with concentrator is very close to the concentration factor calculated from the average stresses on particular struts in the region in front of the concentrator tip.

Abstract: The paper investigates the limits of applicability of the critical energy release rate for predicting the growth of a crack in nanoscale materials applying the strain gradient elasticity theory (SGET) capable to capture size effects, nonlocal material point interactions and surface effects in the form of (phenomenological) higher-order stress/strain gradients.

Abstract: The main drawback still impairing the use of bioactive glasses in load-bearing applications is their intrinsic brittleness. The addition of coating constituted by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) PVA/MFC led to a 10 fold increase of compressive strength and a 20 fold increase of tensile strength in comparison with non-coated scaffolds. Crack bridging by polymer coating was identified by fractographic observations as a main toughening mechanism. In this contribution a detailed computational analysis of crack bridging due to coating film fibrils is presented and an improvement of fracture resistance of coated scaffolds is explained.

Abstract: To better understand response or fracture conditions of the ceramic foam materials to the mechanical loading, a finite element (FE) analysis of these structures has to be employed. The cellular structure of foams can be modelled either using a detailed realistic FE model based on the computer tomography scans or by using of simplified, beam element based, models. Nevertheless a main drawback of the realistic foam modelling consists in its high demandingness on computational resources. Therefore, simplified models are welcome substitutions (at least for analysis of the global mechanical foam response). The regular foam structure, based e.g. on Kelvin cells, is simple from the modelling point of view, but it doesn´t exactly capture the fully random character of the real foam structures and corresponding response to the external load. Definition of the random beam foam structure (respecting the real cell shapes and their distribution within volume), can thus improve this deficiency. The main aim of this work is thus to compare these different modelling approaches and quantify the influence of the foam irregularity on the response of ceramic foams to external (tensile) loading for various model sizes.

Abstract: The goal of the contribution is to develop an asymptotic interface crack-tip solution under conditions of plane strain for a bi-material that obeys a special form of linear isotropic gradient elasticity. Several fracture mechanics problems have been solved in the past within the framework of strain gradient elasticity which is capable to capture additional length/size parameters. However to our best knowledge no solution concerning an interface crack is available in the literature.

Abstract: The paper deals with crack bridging modelling in Bioglass® based scaffolds due the presence of a special polymer coating. This includes a careful identification of bridging mechanism by polymer ligaments, selection of a suitable bridging model and its implementation into the gradient elasticity model of crack.