• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.495-511
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• 2023

In this research, the impact of micro-silica, nano-silica, and polypropylene fibers on the fracture energy of self-compacting concrete was thoroughly examined. Enhancing the fracture energy is very important to increase the crack propagation resistance. The study focused on evaluating the self-compacting properties of the concrete through various tests, including J-ring, V-funnel, slump flow, and T50 tests. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the concrete, such as compressive and tensile strengths, modulus of elasticity, and fracture parameters were investigated on hardened specimens after 28 days. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of micro-silica and nano-silica not only decreased the rheological aspects of self-compacting concrete but also significantly enhanced its mechanical properties, particularly the compressive strength. On the other hand, the inclusion of polypropylene fibers had a positive impact on fracture parameters, tensile strength, and flexural strength of the specimens. Utilizing the response surface method, the relationship between micro-silica, nano-silica, and fibers was established. The optimal combination for achieving the highest compressive strength was found to be 5% micro-silica, 0.75% nano-silica, and 0.1% fibers. Furthermore, for obtaining the best mixture with superior tensile strength, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, and fracture energy, the ideal proportion was determined as 5% micro-silica, 0.75% nano-silica, and 0.15% fibers. Compared to the control mixture, the aforementioned parameters showed significant improvements of 26.3%, 30.3%, 34.3%, and 34.3%, respectively. In order to accurately model the tensile cracking of concrete, the authors used softening curves derived from an inverse algorithm proposed by them. This method allowed for a precise and detailed analysis of the concrete under tensile stress. This study explores the effects of micro-silica, nano-silica, and polypropylene fibers on self-compacting concrete and shows their influences on the fracture energy and various mechanical properties of the concrete. The results offer valuable insights for optimizing the concrete mix to achieve desired strength and performance characteristics.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1388-1398
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• 1994

The fracture toughness and micro-fracture mechanisms of the porous glass and stainless fiber reinforced glass composite were evaluated by using the acoustice mission(AE) technique, fracture toughness $test(K_{IC})$ and the macroscopic observation of the specimen surface which was being under the loading. At initial portion of the loading, the AE signals with low energy, of which origins were considered as the micro-cracks formated at the crack tip, were emitted. With increasing the applied load, AE signals having higher energies were generated due to the coalesence of micro-cracks and fast fracture. Based on the such relationship between AE emission and loading condition, fracture toughness $K_{IAE}$ could be defined successfully be using the $K_I$ value corresponding to an abrupt change of the accumulated AE signal energies emitted during the fracture toughness test. In spite of its brittleness of glass material, nonlinear deformation behavior before maximum load was observed due to the formation of micro-cracks. Further, the stainless fiber may have attributed to the improvement of fracture toughness and the resistance to crack propagation comparing to noncomposited materials Finally, models of the micro-fracture process combined with the AE sources for the porous glass material and its composite were proposed paying attention to the micro-crack nucleation and its coalescence at the crack tip. Fiber fracture and its Pullout, deformation of fiber itself were also delinated from the model.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.197-203
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• 1995

Nearly fully dense PZT samples both with tetragonal and with morphotropic phase boundary compositions were prepared by the conventional powder processing and sintering. A micro-indentation technique was used to evaluate the dependence of fracture toughness on remanent polarization, crack length and the direction of crack propagation. The result shows that the toughness increases with the remanent polarization along the poling direction and decreases in the transverse direction. The dependence of toughness on the remanent polarization is neither symmetric nor linear but rather shown to be saturated quickly with the increase in remanent polariztion. R-curve behaviors are observed in both poled and unpoled samples. Sequential SEM and XRD studies on annealed, poled, ground, fractured and etched samples show that domain switching is evident as a viable toughening mechanism but might depend upon the rate of crack propagation. Grain bridging is also observed as one of the active toughening mechanisms.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.327-341
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• 2011

Three-dimensional graphic objects created by MATLAB are exported to the AUTOCAD program through the MATLAB handle functions. The imported SAT format files are used to produce the finite element mesh for MSC.PATRAN. Based on the Monte-Carlo random sample principle, the material heterogeneity of cement composites with randomly distributed fibers is described by the WEIBULL distribution function. In this paper, a concept called "soft region" including micro-defects, micro-voids, etc. is put forward for the simulation of crack propagation in fiber-reinforced cement composites. The performance of the numerical model is demonstrated by several examples involving crack initiation and growth in the composites under three-dimensional stress conditions: tensile loading; compressive loading and crack growth along a bimaterial interface.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.1975-1988
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• 2024

It is important to maintain cladding integrity in spent nuclear fuel management. This study proposes a numerical analysis method to evaluate the fracture resistance of irradiated zirconium alloy cladding under pinch load known to cause Mode-III failure. The mechanical behavior and fracture of the cladding under pinch loading can be evaluated by a Ring Compression Test (RCT). To simulate the fracture of hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and Zr/hydride interfaces under the stress field generated by RCT, a micro-structure crack propagation simulation method based on Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) has been proposed. Our RCT simulation model was constructed from microscopic images of irradiated cladding. In this study, we developed an automated process to generate a pixel-based finite element model by separating the hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and interfaces using an image segmentation method. The appropriate element size was selected to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of a crack propagation simulation. The load-displacement curves and strain energies from RCT were compared and analyzed with the simulation results of different element sizes. The finalized RCT simulation model can be used to establish the failure criterion of fuel rods under pinch loading. The advantages and limitations of the proposed method are fully discussed here.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.160-169
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• 1998

The purpose of this study for the prediction of fatigue crack propagation behavior, Stress Intensity Factor(F) of round bar with 3-Dimensional half circular, semi-elliptical icro surface crack under rotary bending stress for the variable aspect, size, rotation angle was analyzed by Boundary Element Method (BEM). It is predicted that behavior of crack growth is half circular or circular crack (b/a.geq.1) and propagate to b/a.leq.0.85.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2010

Non-contacting, laser-based resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (L-RUS) was applied to characterize the microstructure of a material. L-RUS is widely used by virtue of its many features. Firstly, L-RUS can be used to measure mechanical damping which related to the microstructural variations (grain boundary, grain size, precipitation, defects, dislocations etc). Secondly, L-RUS technology can be applied to various areas, such as the noncontact and nondestructive quality test for precision components as well as noncontact and nondestructive materials characterization. In addition, L-RUS technology can measure the whole field resonant frequency at once. In this paper, we evaluated material characteristics such as resonant frequency, nonlinear propagation characteristic through the development of Laser-Based Resonant Ultrasound spectroscopy (Laser-RUS) System for the detection of Micro Crack in Materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.05e
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• pp.85-88
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• 2003

In this study, porcelain insulator samples which have a different alumina composition were manufactured in order to test electrical and mechanical properties and make an analysis of the propagation phenomena of micro cracks on porcelain body. From XRD quantitative analysis the crystalline phases were different with alumina composition, sample C and D which have about 17wt% Corundum phase without the Cristobalite phase shows better electrical and mechanical properties than sample A and 8 which have the Cristobalite phase. In dielectrics test on porcelain samples with below 17wt% alumina composition, it was found that the amount of glass phase$(SiO_2)$have an main effect to decrease the dielectric loss$(tan{\delta})$, and the dielectric breakdown voltage of aluminous porcelain insulators was largely affected by its relative density. As a micro cracks analysis, HRS were measured, then the intensity of HRS increased with the amount of alumina composition. On the other hand, the propagation behaviors of cracks was fairly influenced by the distribution of pores.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.353-359
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• 2004

In this study. porcelain insulator samples which have a different alumina composition were manufactured in order to test electrical and mechanical properties and make an analysis of the propagation phenomena of micro cracks on porcelain body. From XRD quantitative analysis the crystalline phases were different with alumina composition, sample C and D which have about l7wt％ Corundum phase without the Cristobalite phase shows better electrical and mechanical properties than sample A and B which have the Cristobalite phase. In dielectrics test on porcelain samples with below l7wt％ alumina composition, it was found that the amount of glass phase(SiO$_2$) have an main effect to decrease the dielectric loss(tan$\delta$), and the dielectric breakdown voltage of aluminous porcelain insulators was largely affected by its relative density. As a micro tracks analysis, HRB were measured, then the intensity of HRB increased with the amount of alumina composition. On the other hand, the propagation behaviors of cracks was fairly influenced by the distribution of pores.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.313-323
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• 2020

Non-destructive tests are commonly used in construction industry to access the quality and strength of concrete. However, till date there is no non-destructive testing method that can be adopted to evaluate the bond condition of reinforced concrete beams. In this regard, the presented research work details the use of ultra-sonic pulse velocity test method to evaluate the bond condition of reinforced concrete beam. A detailed experimental research was conducted by testing four identical reinforced concrete beam samples. The samples were loaded in equal increments till failure and ultra-sonic pulse velocity readings were recorded along the length of the beam element. It was observed from experimentation that as the cracks developed in the sample, the ultra-sonic wave velocity reduced for the same path length. This reduction in wave velocity was used to identify the initiation, development and propagation of internal micro-cracks along the length of reinforcement. Using the developed experimental methodology, researchers were able to identify weak spots in bond along the length of the specimen. The proposed method can be adopted by engineers to access the quality of bond for steel reinforcement in beam members. This allows engineers to carryout localized repairs thereby resulting in reduction of time, cost and labor needed for strengthening. Furthermore, the methodology to apply the proposed technique in real-world along with various challenges associated with its application have also been highlighted.