Papers by Author: Yiu Wing Mai

Abstract: Since stress singularity was found at the interface end in current specimen of pullout test, interface shear strength (IFSS) obtained from the tests loses its rationality [2]. But a useful conclusion [2] is that when the wedge angle of the matrix is less than a critical angle, the singularity of stress field at the interface end of the specimen in micro-debond test nearly disappears. Following this conclusion, a conic specimen shown in Fig. 1 is presented, in which the wedge angle of the specimen is designed to be less than a critical angle in order to prevent the singular stress field occurred at the interface end. The conic specimen is designed for pullout test to avoid disadvantages inherent in the micro-debond test [3]. An axisymmetric model of fiber/matrix system with arbitrary wedge angles at the interface end is used for the determination of critical wedge angle. With the aid of asymptotic analysis and variable separation, eigenvalue, λ, could be determined by a characteristic determinant. For a given fiber-matrix system, a curve representing the relationship between the stress singularity index and wedge angle could be obtained by solving the characteristic determinant. We define the critical wedge angle, θcr, as the corresponding singularity index of – 0.005. The design of a conic pullout specimen is also discussed. FEM analysis is adopted to calculate the distribution of interfacial stresses near the interface end with different wedge angle. The results verify the rationality of the principle of the design of conic pullout specimen for IFSS measurement.

Abstract: How a crack initiates from the smooth surface of single crystals subjected to uniaxial cyclic loading is unclear. Experiments were conducted to observe in detail the dislocation microstructures during the saturation stage of cyclic deformation in a copper single crystal using scanning electron microscopy and the electron channeling contrast (SEM–ECC) technique. Some dark zones were found in the dislocation microstructures, which were located either at the edge region of the specimen or within the persistent slip bands (PSBs) at the matrix/PSB interfaces. Hence, fatigue cracks will initiate at these sites with high stress concentrations, i.e., the dark zones. Also, dislocation dynamics (DD) simulation was adopted to calculate internal stress distributions induced by dislocations, and finite element analysis (FEA) used to obtain stress distribution at the matrix/PSB interfaces and neighboring micro-regions caused by an externally applied load. Simulation results show that the external shear stresses distribute uniformly in all specimens; while near the free-surface regions, the maximum value of internal stresses not only occurs at interfaces between PSBs and dislocation matrix, but also at locations where these interfaces cross the freesurface. Consequently, the interfaces are most probable sites for nucleated cracks. Finally, the simulation results agree well with experimental observations.

Abstract: The deformation and failure behavior of an AM60 magnesium alloy was investigated using tensile test on circumferentially notched specimens with different notch radii. The strain and stress triaxiality corresponding to the failure point were evaluated using both analytical and finite element analyses. Combining with systematical observations of the fracture surfaces, it is concluded that deformation and failure of AM60 magnesium alloy are notch (constraint) sensitive. The failure mechanisms change from ductile tearing to quasi cleavage with the increase of constraint.

Abstract: This paper solves the penny-shaped crack configuration in transversely isotropic solids with coupled magneto-electro-elastic properties. The crack plane is coincident with the plane of symmetry such that the resulting elastic, electric and magnetic fields are axially symmetric. The mechanical, electrical and magnetical loads are considered separately. Closed-form expressions for the stresses, electric displacements, and magnetic inductions near the crack frontier are given.