Papers by Keyword: Fracture Toughness

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: 16MnR steel is one of C-Mn steels widely used for pressure vessels in China. Mechanical behaviors of 16MnR steel used as liquefied petroleum gas vessel for about 100,000hr have been investigated in this paper. The macrostructure, fracture toughness, fatigue-crack growth rate, and low-cycle fatigue properties of the samples have been studied in detail. Compared the results with that of GB6654-86 (one of Chinese national material standards) and other test data of 16MnR steel, it indicates that the mechanical properties of the long-term used 16MnR steel have not been degraded and aged.

Abstract: Recently, ceramics was used extensively as structural materials and ceramics components became larger and more complex. Fracture sometimes occurs during firing because of large and complex shape, and this fracture interrupts manufacturing process. The simulation of sintering has been studied to prevent this fracture. However, it was difficult to simulate fracture process because there was little data on strength of green compact. It is necessary to measure strength during sintering in order to perform a useful simulation. In this study, we measured strength of two kind of alumina green compact during sintering. Three point bending test at elevated temperature was performed and strength was estimated at each temperature. A model for strength at relative low temperature was also proposed using the temperature dependence of specific surface area. Furthermore, fracture toughness test was performed and the relationship between strength and fracture toughness was obtained. Strength at relative low temperature increased with temperature. Fracture toughness was proportional to strength at the temperature range where materials demonstrated brittle fracture manner. Strength of each alumina was analyzed using this model.

Abstract: SiC materials have excellent high temperature strength, low coefficient of thermal expansion, good resistance to oxidation and good thermal and chemical stability etc. However, the brittle characteristics of SiC such as low fracture toughness and low strain-to fracture still impose a severe limitation on practical applications of SiC materials. Therefore, in the interests of safety, we are required to measure fracture toughness of materials. In the present work, monolithic Liquid Phase Sintered SiC (LPS-SiC) was fabricated by hot pressing method under 20MPa using sintering additives at different temperature such as 1760oC, 1780oC, 1800oC and 1820oC. The starting powder was high purity β-SiC nano-powder with an average particle size of 30nm. Compositions of sintering additives were Al2O3 / Y2O3 = 0.7 and 1.5 (wt. %). Monolithic LPS-SiC was evaluated in terms of sintering density, hardness and fracture toughness through indentation fracture method by the Vickers hardness tester. Sintered density, hardness and fracture toughness of fabricated LPS-SiC increased with the increase of sintering temperature. They are higher than those of fabricated SiC by the chemical vapor deposition method.

Abstract: In order to apply a reduced activation ferritic (JLF-1) steel to the blanket/first-wall structure of a fusion reactor, its fracture toughness is very important for the strict estimation of material life. Fracture toughness testing of irradiated materials requires the use of miniaturised specimens and evaluation of TIG welding (tungsten inert gas arc welding) weldment properties is an important issue because necessary for production of nuclear fusion reactors. In this study, the fracture toughness tests were carried out according to the ASTM E1820-99. It was performed on various sizes (ligament and thickness) and various side-grooves of specimens and the TIG welding joint of JLF-1. The test results showed the standard specimen with side-groove of 40% represented valid fracture toughness. Fracture resistance curve (R-curve) increased with increasing specimen ligament and decreased with increasing specimen thickness. However, the R-curve of half size specimen was similar to that of the standard (1inch thickness) specimen. The fracture toughness test results of the TIG welded specimen showed a slight increase in the TIG welded specimen compared with JLF-1 base metal specimen.

Abstract: Future materials for wear resistant components require a combination of excellent mechanical properties such as hardness and toughness, short processing times and good electrical conductivity to facilitate shaping by electro discharge machining (EDM). In this work, the hardness and fracture toughness of t-ZrO2 based electro conductive composites was optimised, while short processing times below 20 minutes using spark plasma sintering were sufficient to obtain near fully dense materials. The influence of powder processing technique using TiC0.5N0.5 as the starting powder and yttria as a stabiliser on the mechanical properties of ZrO2-TiC0.5N0.5-Al2O3 based composites was investigated. Fully dense Y-TZP based composites possessed an excellent toughness of 9.2 MPa.m1/2 and an increased Vickers hardness of 1397 kg/mm².

Abstract: In the present work, TZ-3Y20A/Mo multilayer composites were prepared by sedimentation method. Appropriate settling parameters were chosen and green bodies of multilayer composites were obtained by settling TZ-3Y20A powder and Mo powder in turn according to the designed individual layer thickness. Then green laminates were hot pressed at 1773K for an hour under the pressure of 20MPa. Three-point Bending and Single Edge Notched Beam (SENB) tests were adopted to evaluate the flexure strength and fracture toughness of the samples. The results showed that, compared to TZ-3Y20A ceramics, the fracture toughness and the work of fracture increased due to the layered structure. The microstructure and crack deflection of the fracture surface of the laminated composites was also observed by optical microscopy.

Abstract: Nickel-reinforced alumina composites have been manufactured by aqueous slip casting and pressureless sintered under flowing atmosphere of argon with 0,36 and 1% of oxygen in order to force interfacial reactions leading to the formation of a nickel-aluminum spinel. Colloidal stability of concentrated suspensions of alumina with 5, 10 and 15 vol% of nickel has been studied in terms of zeta potential, rheometry and packing density. The processed composites show a high dispersion of the nickel into the alumina matrix and green densities of 60-70 %th. The effect of sintering temperature and atmosphere on the mechanical behaviour of the composites has been investigated through Vickers indentation and fractographic SEM observations.