Papers by Author: Stuart Wildy

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental investigation of a new method for damage detection based on the most fundamental concept in continuum mechanics: strain compatibility. Compliance with this principle implies a deformed material is free from discontinuities, which are indicative of many types of structural damage. Therefore the principle of strain compatibility, in its ability to identify discontinuities, is very promising as a new foundation for future research into non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring technologies. The proposed method has many advantages compared to existing damage detection techniques, such as its invariance to material properties, type and intensity of loading, and the geometry of the structure. In this paper, a proposed formulation of the strain compatibility equation for beam structures, which is invariant to loading intensity, is presented. An experimental investigation of the proposed algorithm was conducted on a delaminated cantilever beam, utilising a PSV-3D scanning laser vibrometer. The experiment demonstrated that the strain compatibility technique can accurately locate delamination damage in composite beam structures.

Abstract: A new theoretical approach is presented for investigating fatigue crack growth in plates of finite thickness. The developed approach utilizes a modified strip-yield analysis and the concept of plasticity-induced crack closure. A number of typical fatigue crack growth phenomena are investigated including the thickness effect on constant amplitude fatigue crack growth, retardation due to a tensile overload cycle, and short crack growth from sharp notches. Theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data and are found to be in very good correlation.

Abstract: Thermal Barrier Coatings have existed for over 40 years, and with in the last 15 years their use in industrial applications has dramatically increased. Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) are currently used in gas turbines, diesel engines, throughout aerospace and nuclear power industries. The purpose of TBC is to reduce temperature and thermal stresses, and, as a result, increase the reliability and life of load-bearing components subjected to high temperature or temperature flux. However, TBCs often fail under thermal cyclic loading with reliability still being the major issue impeding their wide-spread applications. The focus of this work is on experimental investigations of zirconia/nickel graded TBC system, subject to thermal shock loading. The graded TBC systems were fabricated utilising a recently developed slurry spray manufacturing technique. This is a robust technique, and is able to cover large and curved surfaces at low cost, and provides many advantages in comparison with its alternatives. This paper describes the developed technique and presents selected results of thermo-mechanical and fracture testing of the TBCs including graded coatings fabricated using this new technique.