Key Engineering Materials Vols. 417-418

Abstract: The present work considers the possibility of simultaneous health monitoring and active repair of the edge debonding in dynamically loaded smart concrete structures strengthened with fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) composite materials. This is achieved by using local piezoelectric (PZT) actuators/sensors, the electro-mechanical admittance concept and extreme value statistics.

Abstract: Predicting precisely where a crack will develop in a material under stress and exactly when in time catastrophic fracture of the component will occur is one the oldest unsolved mysteries in the design and building of large-scale engineering structures. Fitness considerations for long-life implementation of aerospace composites include understanding phenomena such as fatigue, creep and stress corrosion cracking that affect reliability, life expectancy, and durability of structure. Structural integrity analysis treats the design, the materials used, and figures out how best components and parts can be joined; furthermore, SI takes into account service duty.

Abstract: The evolution of concrete behavior in the proximity of a joint under the effect of varying external pressures is studied by means of a novel nonlinear ultrasonic technique denoted as Scaling Subtraction Method. The results obtained show that the proposed method is effective in describing the occurrence of micro-structural changes near the joint and detect potential conditions for crack opening and damage initiation.

Abstract: In this paper a higher order crack path simulation algorithm for multiple interacting cracks is presented using piecewise parabolic curved increments including the consideration of the plastic limit loads. For this reason, the program PCCS-2D has been extended to analyse the crack growth and the plastic limit load for each crack propagation step in a fully automatic simulation. The proposed solution algorithm provides a powerful tool for flaw assessment with the FAD proce¬dure in combination with a numerical crack path simulation. Several numerical examples are pre¬sented to show the accuracy and the efficiency of the crack path simulation including the analysis of the plastic limit loads

Abstract: In this paper the influence of DCT (Deep Cryogenic Treatment) and a CrN arc-deposited PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating on the fatigue behaviour of AISI 302 stainless steel was studied. Rotating bending tests were carried out on standard specimens to evaluate the fatigue limit at 300000 load cycles. The single and the combined effects of the two treatments were investigated by addressing untreated, PVD-coated and both PVD-coated and DC-treated specimens to the tests. All the series of specimens were also tested statically and laboratory analyses including fracture surface SEM observations and hardness measurements were performed.

Abstract: A new class of metal/ceramic composites has recently been developed. A porous ceramic preform, the pore structure of which is created via a freeze-casting technique, is melt-infiltrated with metallic alloy via sqzeeze-casting. The microstructure of the composite has lamellar-like domains with geometrical characteristics which are dependent on the manufacturing parameters. The aim of our study is to find a good micromechanical model in order to deduce the mechanical properties of the single domains and of the whole material as a function of the microstructural geometry and the material parameters of the ceramics (alumina) and the alloy (Al-Si eutectic). Firstly, the statistical analysis of polarized light microscopic micrographs of the cross section of the specimen was performed. Domains with the same orientation of lamellae, so-called single domains were detected, selected and measured. The material modeling was performed by a two-step homogenisation procedure using a combination of different micromechanical models. Predicted material properties were compared with ultrasonic measurements for a single domain and for the whole microstructure.

Abstract: Effects of surface defect size and the method used to obtain the defect itself on bending fatigue behaviour of nitrided and shot peened steel was studied. Two different series of 15 sandglass specimens with a microhole in the minimum section generated after nitriding and shot peening treatments were considered. In one series the microholes were obtained by controlled electro-erosion. In the other series microholes were obtained by indentation, much more invasive that electro-erosion, simulating a damage due to a mechanical impact or scratch on the surface material, common on real components during the life span. In both cases the microholes act as a pre-existent crack. The results show that defects obtained by indentation lead to a minor fatigue limit with respect of larger defects obtained by electro-erosion. This was interpreted as the modification of the residual stress field due to the mechanical indentation. On the basis of the results some consideration is formulated about generating micro-holes with one of the discussed ways.

Abstract: This paper summarizes recent theoretical studies on the three-dimensional singular stress state at sharp notches in infinite (or large) plates of finite thickness subjected to in-plane loading. In general, such loading produces a number of singular states: in-plane singularities (normally described as KI and KII fracture modes and known as Williams’ solution), singular states associated with corners and the out-of-plane singularity (KO mode), which is generated due to the Poisson’s effect. The latter mode has an interesting behavior and its intensity increases as a power function with the increase of the plate thickness when the notch is stresses in shear mode. From finite fracture mechanics considerations it is clear that at some certain thickness the out-of-plane singular mode will dominate over the fracture zone and with the further increase of the plate thickness will affect the strength of the notched plate, virtually reducing it to zero.

Abstract: Effect of micaceous iron oxide epoxy coating on the microbiological influenced corrosion (MIC) behavior of the low alloy steel was studied. Samples uncoated or coated with micaceous iron oxide epoxy coating in sterile seawater and SRB solution was investigated by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and so on. A series of data was obtained. Results show that micaceous iron oxide epoxy coating protected the base material effectively duo to its excellent physical barrier property.

Abstract: Advanced steels are designed and produced to be used in engineering applications in which thermo-mechanical fatigue could be a main factor in causing failure in components operating at elevated temperatures. In this paper thermo-mechanical fatigue properties of these steels are studied under the influence of creep and fatigue damage evolution. Development of different models and simulation techniques are reviewed to predict material behaviour. Numerical simulations are carried out to predict experimental tests on parent material notched bar specimens. Numerical predictions are introduced in advance of experimental test to assess the experimental test procedure. This is usually done to enhance the experimental result integrity and expectations. A local ductile damage development methodology is employed using the kinematic hardening criterion and compared to previously used strain hardening material property. The modelling on notched bar geometries is extended to geometries with cracks in which a local damage criterion will be used to predict virtual crack extension in compact tension specimens.