Papers by Author: Yong Bin Zhang

Abstract: Parallel fracture formation on surfaces of bi-layered columnar materials like growing tree trunk has been previously studied numerically. In this paper, numerical results of a continuous transition from parallel to polygonal fracture patterns with principal stress ratio provides the clear convincing theoretical explanation for fracture spacing. We perform three-dimensional simulations of fracture growth in a bi-layered columnar model with an embedded heterogeneous layer under inner radial expansion and terminal tension by finite element approach. As a result of this expansion, the bark stretches until it reaches its limit of deformation and cracks. A novel numerical code, 3D Realistic Failure Process Analysis code (abbreviated as RFPA3D) is used to obtain numerical solutions. In this numerical code, the heterogeneity of materials is taken into account by assigning different properties to the individual elements according to statistical distribution function. Elastic-brittle constitutive relation with residual strength for elements and a Mohr-Coulomb criterion with a tensile cut-off are adopted so that the elements may fail either in shear or in tension. The discontinuity feature of the initiated crack is automatically induced by using degraded stiffness approach when the tensile strain of the failed elements reaching a certain value. Numerical results of a continuous transition from parallel to polygonal fracture patterns with principal stress ratio are obtained by varying simulation parameters, the thickness of the material layer. We find that, except for further opening of existing fractures after they are well-developed (saturation), new fractures may also initiate and propagate along the interface between layers, which may serve as another mechanism to accommodate additional strain for fracture saturated layers.

Abstract: In this paper, a ring shaped numerical specimen is used to studying the failure process in brittle materials. The ring specimen is subjected to a compressive diametral load and contains two angled central cracks. Numerical modeling in this study is performed. It is shown that the obtained numerical results are in a very good agreement with the experiments. Effect of the crack orientation angle on the failure modes and loading-displace responses is discussed. In the range of 0°~40°, the fracture paths are curvilinear forms starting from the tip of pre-existing cracks and grow towards the loading points. For the crack orientation angle 90°, vertical fractures will split the specimen and the horizontal cracks do not influence the fracture process.

Abstract: Nnumerical tests on three-dimensional failure process of rock samples containing vertical wall semi-arched tunnel with and without reinforcing are carried out with Mechsoft’s RFPA-Parallel system running on Lenovo 1800 Cluster, reproducing zonal disintegration phenomenon within rockmass around deep tunnels, and then the deep tunnel reinforcing influences on zonal disintegration within rockmass around tunnel is analyzed. Numerical results indicate that deep tunnel reinforcing does not change the general nature to form zonal disintegration phenomenon, but it can improve the stability of the tunnel wall.

Abstract: Fracture formation on surfaces of bi-layered materials is studied numerically. A simplified two-layered materials model like growing tree trunk is present. This work is focused on patterns of fractures and fracture saturation. We consider the formation of crack pattern in bark as an example of pattern formation due to expansion of one material layer with respect to another. As a result of this expansion, the bark stretches until it reaches its limit of deformation and cracks. A novel numerical code, 3D Realistic Failure Process Analysis code (abbreviated as RFPA3D) is used to obtain numerical solutions. In this numerical code, the heterogeneity of materials is taken into account by assigning different properties to the individual elements according to statistical distribution function. Elastic-brittle constitutive relation with residual strength for elements and a Mohr-Coulomb criterion with a tensile cut-off are adopted so that the elements may fail either in shear or in tension. The discontinuity feature of the initiated crack is automatically induced by using degraded stiffness approach when the tensile strain of the failed elements reaching a certain value. The different patterns are obtained by varying simulation parameters, the thickness of the material layer. Numerical simulation clearly demonstrates that the stress state transition precludes further infilling of fractures and the fracture spacing reaches constant state,i.e. the socalled fracture saturation. It also indicates that RFPA code is a viable tool for modeling fracture formation and studying fracture patterns.

Abstract: A numerical code RFPA3D (Realistic Failure Process Analysis) is used to simulate the crack initiation and propagation in FRP-strengthened concrete beam under external loading. In our model, the FRP-strengthened concrete is assumed to be a three-phase composite composed of concrete, FRP, and interface between them. The displacement-controlled loading scheme is used to simulate the complete failure process of FRP-strengthened concrete the numerical simulation of failure process of the specimens. It is found that the main failure mode is the interfacial debonding and the interfacial debonding may propagate either within the adhesive layer or through concrete layer in the vicinity of bond interface. The simulation results agree well with the experiment observations. The width of the FRP sheet is considered an important factor not only to significantly influence the debonding propagation type and crack distribution but also to control the ultimate load-capacity and ultimate strain. This study is focused on the failure process of the FRP-strengthened concrete beam and the effects of the width of FRP sheet on the failure mode and on the structural load-carrying capacity of concrete structures.

Abstract: Using newly developed 3 dimensional Rock Failure Process Analysis code RFPA3D, numerical simulations on samples of rock-like material containing pre-existing surface closed flaws under uniaxial compressive loading are conducted to investigate the failure mechanism and crack coalescence modes. Friction in closed flaws is modeled by inserting ideal elasto-plastic materials into the flaws. The simulations replicate most of the phenomena observed in actual experiments, such as initiation and growth of wing and secondary cracks, crack coalescence, and the macro-failure of the sample. For the samples containing three pre-existing surface closed flaws, four different patterns of crack coalescence are obtained in our simulations. The four different patterns of coalescence are the combination of T mode, S mode, TS mode and C mode, i.e. type
(C+S mode), (T+S mode),  (S mode) and (C+S mode). A total of four types of samples containing three surface parallel inclined frictional flaws are numerically simulated.

Abstract: This paper introduces a newly developed three-dimensional Material Failure Process Analysis code, MFPA3D to model the failure processes of brittle materials, such as concrete, ceramics, fibrous materials, and rocks. This numerical code, based on a stress analysis method (finite element method) and a material failure constitutive law, can be taken as a tool in numerical modeling analysis to enhance our understanding of the failure mechanisms of brittle materials. Properties of material heterogeneity are taken into account. The material is discretized into numerous small elements with fixed size. Fracture behavior can be modeled by reducing the material stiffness and strength after the peak strength of the material has been reached. The evolution of the cracking process down to full fracture implies strain softening, which describes the post-peak gradual decline of stress at increasing strain. In the present study, a Mohr-Coulomb criterion envelop with a tension cut-off is used so that the element may fail either in shear or in tension. Simulated fracture or crack patterns of two examples are found quite realistic, and the results strongly depend on the heterogeneity level.

Abstract: A newly developed numerical code MFPA3D is applied to simulate the progressive damage and failure process of laminated cylindrical composite shell. Heterogeneities in meso-scale are taken into account by randomly distributing the material properties throughout the model by following a Weibull statistical distribution. The cylindrical composite shell is discretized into 3-D block elements with the fixed size and is subjected to a lateral compressive loading, applied with a constant displacement control manner. The numerical simulation results show that not only the process of crack initiation, propagation and coalescence but also the failure process can be numerically obtained in three dimensional. The MFPA3D modeling demonstrates that the code can simulate non-linear behavior of brittle materials with a simple mesoscopic constitutive law with a strength and elastic modulus reduction of the weaken elements.

Abstract: Equally spaced opening-mode fractures always evolve in top layer attached to underlying layer. With a newly developed Material Failure Process Analysis code (MFPA2D), we have firstly investigated the stress distribution between two adjacent fractures as a function of the fracture-spacing-to-layer-thickness ratio using a two-layer model with a fractured top layer. The numerical results indicate the horizontal stress perpendicular to the fractures near the top surface changes from tensile to compressive when the fracture-spacing-to-layer-thickness ratio changes from greater than to less than a critical value. Then, the process from fracture initiation to fracture saturation is numerically modeled. The modeling of fracture process shows that the fractures initiate at the top surface and propagate to the interface between the two layers in the first stage. In the following stage, new fractures can infill between the earlier formed fractures and they always initiate at the interface and propagate to the top surface. Numerical simulation clearly demonstrates that the stress state transition precludes further infilling of fractures and the fracture spacing reaches a constant state, i.e. the so-called fracture saturation.

Abstract: Masonry structure is heterogeneous and has been widely used in building and construction engineering. The study on cracking pattern of masonry structure is significant to engineering design. Many previous investigations on the failure process of masonry structure are usually based on the homogenization technique by selecting a typical unit of masonry to serve as a representative volume. This kind of numerical analysis neglects the mesoscopic heterogeneous structure, which cannot capture the full cracking process of masonry structures. The cracking process of masonry structure is dominantly affected by its heterogeneous internal structures. In this paper, a mesoscopic mechanical model of masonry material is developed to simulate the behavior of masonry structure. Considering the heterogeneity of masonry material, based on the damage mechanics and elastic-brittle theory, the new developed Material Failure Process Analysis (MFPA2D) system was put forward to simulate the cracking process of masonry structure, which was considered as a two-phase composite of block and mortar phases. The crack propagation processes simulated with this model shows good agreement with those of experimental observations. The numerical results show that numerical analysis clearly reflect the modification, transference and their interaction of the stress field and damage evolution process which are difficult to achieve by physical experiments. It provides a new method to research the forecast theory of failure and seismicity of masonry. It has been found that the fracture of masonry observed at the macroscopic level is predominantly caused by tensile damage at the mesoscopic level.