Papers by Author: Xi Qiao Feng

Abstract: In the present paper, continuum fracture mechanics is used to analyze the Smart-Cut process, a recently established ion cut technology which enables highly efficient fabrication of various silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers of very high uniformity in thickness. Using integral transform and Cauchy singular integral equation methods, the mode-I and mode-II stress intensity factors, energy release rate and crack opening displacements are derived in order to examine several important fracture mechanisms involved in the Smart-Cut process. The effects of defect interaction and stiffening wafer on defect growth are investigated. The numerical results indicate that a stiffener/handle wafer can effectively prevent the donor wafer from blistering and exfoliation, but it slows down the defect growth by decreasing the magnitudes of SIFs. Defect interaction also plays an important role in the splitting process of SOI wafers, but its contribution depends strongly on the size, interval and internal pressure of defects. Finally, an analytical formula is derived to estimate the implantation dose required for splitting a SOI wafer.

Abstract: Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) cracks initiated from surface and subsurface defects are typical failure modes of bearing systems. In this paper, the effects of surface defects on RCF behavior of M50NiL and M50 steels were studied experimentally. Artificial dents were introduced on the rolling surface by using Rockwell hardness tester. The influences of dent shape and dent shoulders were examined by thrust-type RCF tests. Surface cracks initiation, propagation and spalling were monitored by scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. The results showed that artificial dents reduce RCF lives of M50NiL and M50 steels with mineral oil lubrication. The fatigue failure initiates at the surface defect with the effects of dent shape and dent shoulder. M50NiL steel has higher contact fatigue resistance than M50. The features of surface and sub-surface cracks propagation during RCF tests were also observed.

Abstract: In this paper, a phenomenological, nonlinear constitutive relation of ferroelectric ceramics is established by considering the fact that domain switching happens gradually with the external loading. A simplified gradual switching model is suggested and implemented into the constitutive law of ferroelectric materials. The volume fraction of domain switching is used as the internal variable in the model, and its evolution equation with mechanical/electrical loading is given. Comparison with experimental results shows that this simple constitutive model can predict the nonlinear hysteresis responses of ferroelectric materials.

Abstract: In the present paper, an integral transform-based method is presented for calculating the stress intensity factors of subsurface cracks. Due to the interaction between the crack and the free surface, the crack tip fields are generally of I-II mixed mode. The solutions for two typical configurations, a Griffith crack and a circular crack beneath the free surface of a semi-infinite solid, are derived.

Abstract: Through-thickness stitching is one of the most effective techniques to improve the delamination resistance of composite laminates. The effects of two different stitching patterns on the mode-I interlaminar fracture toughness of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are examined experimentally in the present paper by using the double cantilever beam (DCB) test method. It is found that the zigzag stitching pattern results in a better toughening effect than the straight line pattern, and that the stitching density also has a considerable influence on the mode-I fracture toughness.

Abstract: Owing to their superior mechanical and physical properties, cCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) seem to hold a great promise as an ideal reinforcing material for composites of high-strength and low-density. HOWEVER, In most of the experimental results to date, however, only modest improvements in the strength and stiffness have been achieved by incorporating carbon nanotubeCNTs in polymers. There are many factors that influence the overall mechanical property properties of CNT-reinforced composites, e.g. the weak bonding between CNTs and matrix, the waviness and agglomeration of CNTs. In the presentis paper, we use the Mori-Tanaka method to evaluate the effects of these factors on the moduli stiffness of CNTs-CNT-reinforced composites are examined. It is established found that the waviness and agglomeration may significantly reduce the stiffening effect of CNTs, while the interface adhesion between the matrix and CNTs has little influence the moduli of CNTs-reinforced composites little.

Abstract: This work focuses on the damage mechanisms and the resulting failure behavior of structures made of anodized coatings on magnesium alloy substrates. The failure of anodized coatings of about 30µm thickness on AZ91D substrates was investigated under three-points bending loading with online scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations. The obtained SEM images show that void nucleation and crack initiation occurs mainly at sites near the coating-substrate interface, and the evolutionary microcracking damage diffuses from the interface to the coating surface and also to the bulk substrate with the increasing in loading.

Abstract: It is of interest to understand damage and failure mechanisms of microcracks and their evolution as a function of loading history, especially in the case of complex loading. Owing to their superior mechanical and physical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) seem to hold a great promise as an ideal reinforcing material for composites of high-strength and low-density. HOWEVER, In most of the experimental results, only modest improvements in the strength and stiffness have been achieved by incorporating carbon nanotubes in polymers. There are many factors that influence the overall mechanical property of CNT-reinforced composites, e.g. the weak bonding between CNTs and matrix, the waviness and agglomeration of CNTs. In the present paper, we use the Mori-Tanaka method to evaluate the effect of these factors on the moduli of CNTs-CNT-reinforced composites. It is established that the waviness and agglomeration may significantly reduce the stiffening effect of CNTs, while the interface between the matrix and CNTs influence the moduli of CNTs-reinforced composites little.In this paper, the frictional sliding of microcracks under complex triaxial loading is analyzed, and the obtained results are incorporated into the constitutive relation of microcrack-weakened brittle materials.