• Advances in materials Research
• /
• 제13권4호
• /
• pp.299-319
• /
• 2024

Due to higher strength-to-weight ratio of composite laminates, they find uses in many weight-sensitive applications like aerospace, automobile and marine structures. From a reliability point of view, accurate prediction of failure of these structures is important. Due to the complexities in the manufacturing processes of composite laminates, there is a variation in the material properties and geometric parameters. Hence stochastic aspects are important while designing the composite laminates. Many existing works of composite laminate failure analysis are based on the deterministic approach but it is important to consider the randomness in the material properties, geometry and loading to predict accurate failure loads. In this paper the statistics of the ultimate failure load of the [0/θ]_s laminated composite plate (LCP) containing the edge crack and voids subjected to the tensile loading are presented in terms of the mean and coefficient of variance (COV). The objective is to better the efficacy of laminate failure by predicting the statistics of the ultimate failure load of LCP with random material, geometric and loading parameters. The stochastic analysis is done by using the extended finite element method (XFEM) combined with the second-order perturbation technique (SOPT). The ultimate failure load of the LCP is obtained by ply-by-ply failure analysis using the ply discount method combined with the Tsai-Wu failure criterion. The aim is to know the effect of the stacking sequence, crack length, crack angle, location of voids and number of voids on the mean and corresponding COV of the ultimate failure load of LCP is investigated. The results of the ultimate failure load obtained by the present method are in good agreement with the existing experimental and numerical results. It is observed that [0/θ]_s LCPs are very sensitive to the randomness in the crack length, applied load, transverse tensile strength of the laminate and modulus of elasticity of the material, so precise control of these parameters is important. The novelty of the present study is, the stochastic implementation in XFEM for the failure prediction of LCPs containing crack and voids.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제38권4호
• /
• pp.443-457
• /
• 2011

The loss of strength in a structure as a result of cyclic loads over a period of life time is an important phenomenon for the life-cycle analysis. Service loads are accentuated at the areas of stress concentration, mainly at the connection of components. Structural components unavoidably are affected by defects such as surface scratches, surface roughness and weld defects of random sizes, which usually occur during the manufacturing and handling process. These defects are shown to have an important effect on the fatigue life of the structural components by promoting crack initiation sites. The value of equivalent initial flaw size (EIFS) is calculated by using the back extrapolation technique and the Paris law of fatigue crack growth from results of fatigue tests. We try to analyze the effect of EIFS distribution in a multiple site damage (MSD) specimen by using the extended finite element method (XFEM). For the analysis, fatigue tests were conducted on the centrally-cracked specimens and MSD specimens.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제35권2호
• /
• pp.215-235
• /
• 2020

Cracks and defects may occur anywhere in a plate under tension. Cracks can affect the buckling stability performance and even the failure mode of the plate. A search of the literature reveals that the reported research has mostly focused on the study of plates with central and small cracks. Considering the effectiveness of cracks on the buckling behavior of plates, this study intends to investigate the effects of some key parameters, i.e., crack size and location as well as the plate aspect ratio and support conditions, on the buckling behavior, stress intensity factor (SIF), and the failure mode (buckling or fracture) in cracked plates under tension. To this end, a sophisticated mathematical code was developed using MATLAB in the frame-work of extended finite element method (XFEM) in order to analyze the buckling stability and collapse of numerous plate models. The results and findings of this research endeavor show that, in addition to the plate aspect ratio and support conditions, careful consideration of the crack location and size can be quite effective in buckling behavior assessment and failure mode prediction as well as SIF evaluation of the cracked plates subjected to tensile loading.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• 제8권4호
• /
• pp.269-276
• /
• 2019

The cracking and spalling caused by fracture of concrete lining have adverse impacts on serviceability and durability of the tunnel, and the subsequent maintenance work for damaged structure needs to be specific to the damaging causes. In this paper, a particular case study of an operational tunnel structure is presented for the serious cracking and spalling behaviours of concrete lining, focusing on the multi-factors inducing lining failure. An integrated field investigation is implemented to characterize the spatial distribution of damages and detailed site situations. According to results of nondestructive inspection, insufficient lining thickness and cavity behind lining are the coupled-inducement of lining failure bahaviors. To further understanding of the lining structure performance influenced by these multiple construction deficiencies, a reliable numerical simulation based on extended finite element method (XFEM) is performed by using the finite element software. The numerical model with 112 m longitudinal calculation, 100 m vertical calculation and 43 m vertical depth, and the concrete lining with 1450 solid elements are set enrichment shape function for the aim of simulating cracking behavior. The numerical simulation responses are essentially in accordance with the actual lining damaging forms, especially including a complete evolutionary process of lining spalling. This work demonstrates that the serious lining damaging behaviors are directly caused by a combination of insufficient thickness lining and cavity around the surrounding rocks. Ultimately, specific maintenance work is design based on the construction deficiencies, and that is confirmed as an efficient, time-saving and safe maintenance method in the operational railway tunnel.

• 한국항공우주학회지
• /
• 제42권11호
• /
• pp.919-926
• /
• 2014

본 논문에서는 재료의 물성에 따른 파괴 거동을 응집영역모델과 확장유한요소법을 이용하여 예측하였다. 중앙에 경사진 초기 균열을 가지는 직사각형 시편 형상에 대해 평면응력요소로 모델링하고 인장하중을 가하여 균열의 전파 거동을 모사하였다. 파손 진전이 예측되는 지역에 대해 응집영역모델링 해석에서는 모든 일반 요소들 사이에 응집요소를 삽입하였고, 확장유한요소해석에서는 요소확장영역으로 지정하였다. 취성과 소성 재료에 대해 파괴 형태를 예측하고 파괴 강도를 계산하였다. 시편의 두께가 매우 얇은 경우에 기하학적 비선형 후좌굴해석 기법으로 주름변형을 고려하였고 주름이 파괴 거동에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제69권2호
• /
• pp.221-230
• /
• 2019

In this paper, shear behavior of non-persistent joint surrounded in concrete and gypsum layers has been investigated using experimental test and numerical simulation. Two types of mixture were prepared for this study. The first type consists of water and gypsum that were mixed with a ratio of water/gypsum of 0.6. The second type of mixture, water, sand and cement were mixed with a ratio of 27%, 33% and 40% by weight. Shear behavior of a non-persistent joint embedded in these specimens is studied. Physical models consisting of two edge concrete layers with dimensions of 160 mm by 130 mm by 60 mm and one internal gypsum layer with the dimension of 16 mm by 13 mm by 6 mm were made. Two horizontal edge joints were embedded in concrete beams and one angled joint was created in gypsum layer. Several analyses with joints with angles of $0^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, and $60^{\circ}$ degree were conducted. The central fault places in 3 different positions. Along the edge joints, 1.5 cm vertically far from the edge joint face and 3 cm vertically far from the edge joint face. All samples were tested in compression using a universal loading machine and the shear load was induced because of the specimen geometry. Concurrent with the experiments, the extended finite element method (XFEM) was employed to analyze the fracture processes occurring in a non-persistent joint embedded in concrete and gypsum layers using Abaqus, a finite element software platform. The failure pattern of non-persistent cracks (faults) was found to be affected mostly by the central crack and its configuration and the shear strength was found to be related to the failure pattern. Comparison between experimental and corresponding numerical results showed a great agreement. XFEM was found as a capable tool for investigating the fracturing mechanism of rock specimens with non-persistent joint.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제48권1호
• /
• pp.125-150
• /
• 2013

This paper intends to present an application of isogeometric analysis in crack problems. An isogeometric formula is developed based on NURBS basis functions - enriched and adopted via X-FEM enrichment functions. The proposed method which is represented by the combination of the two above-mentioned methods, first by using NURBS functions models the geometry exactly and then by defining level set function on domain, identifies available discontinuity in elements. Additional DOFs are allocated to elements containing the crack and X-FEM enrichment functions enrich approximate solution. Moreover, a subelement refinement technique is used to improve the accuracy of integration by the Gauss quadrature rule. Finally, several numerical examples are illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness, robustness and accuracy of the proposed method during calculation of crack parameters.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.227-242
• /
• 2023

Polyester composites play a vital role in civil engineering applications, especially in bridge and car park structures. Therefore, the addition of waste silica-based fillers will both improve the mechanical and durability performance of composites and produce an environmentally friendly material. In this study, the mechanical performance of polyester composites was investigated experimentally and numerically by adding micro and nano-sized silica-based fillers, marble powder, silica fume and nano-silica. 24 cubes for the compression test and 18 prisms for the flexural test were produced in six different groups containing 30% marble powder, 5% silica fume and 1% nano-silica by weight. SEM/EDS testing was used to investigate the distribution of filler particles in the matrix. Experimentally collected results were used to validate tests in the Abaqus software. Additionally, the Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) was used to estimate the fracture process for the flexural test. The results show that the added silica fume, marble powder and nano silica improves the compressive strength of polyester composites by 32-38% and the flexural tensile strength by 10-60% compared to pure polyester composite. The numerically obtained results matched well with the experimental data, demonstrating the accuracy and feasibility of the calibrated finite element model.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제81권6호
• /
• pp.665-675
• /
• 2022

The safety problems of giant hydraulic structures such as dams caused by terrorist attacks, earthquakes, and wars often have an important impact on a country's economy and people's livelihood. For the national defense department, timely and effective assessment of damage to or impending damage to dams and other structures is an important issue related to the safety of people's lives and property. In the field of damage assessment and vulnerability analysis, it is usually necessary to give the damage assessment results within a few minutes to determine the physical damage (crack length, crater size, etc.) and functional damage (decreased power generation capacity, dam stability descent, etc.), so that other defense and security departments can take corresponding measures to control potential other hazards. Although traditional numerical calculation methods can accurately calculate the crack length and crater size under certain combat conditions, it usually takes a long time and is not suitable for rapid damage assessment. In order to solve similar problems, this article combines simulation calculation methods with machine learning technology interdisciplinary. First, the common concrete gravity dam shape was selected as the simulation calculation object, and XFEM (Extended Finite Element Method) was used to simulate and calculate 19 cracks with different initial positions. Then, an LSTM (Long-Short Term Memory) machine learning model was established. 15 crack paths were selected as the training set and others were set for test. At last, the LSTM model was trained by the training set, and the prediction results on the crack path were compared with the test set. The results show that this method can be used to predict the crack propagation path rapidly and accurately. In general, this article explores the application of machine learning related technologies in the field of mechanics. It has broad application prospects in the fields of damage assessment and vulnerability analysis.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.291-315
• /
• 2019

Fatigue cracks are inevitable in circumstances in which the cyclic loading exists. Therefore, many of mechanical components are in a risk of being in exposure to fatigue cracks. On the other hand, renewing the facilities or infrastructures is not always possible. Therefore, retrofitting the structures by means of the available methods, such as crack arrest methods is logical and in some cases inevitable. In this regard, this paper considers three popular crack arrest methods (e.g., drilling stop-hole, steel welded patch, and carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) patch), which have been compared by using extended finite element method (XFEM). In addition, effects in terms of the width and thickness of patches and the configuration of drilling stop holes have been evaluated. Test results indicated that among the considered methods, CFRP patches were the most effective means for arresting cracks. Besides, in the case of arresting by means of drilling stop holes, drilling two holes next to the crack-tip was more effective than blunting the crack-tip by drilling one hole. In other words, the results indicated that the use of symmetric welded metal patches could lead to a 21% increase in fatigue life, as compared to symmetric stop holes. Symmetric CFRP patches enhanced the fatigue life of cracked specimen up to 77%, as compared to drilling symmetric stop holes. In addition, in all cases, symmetric configurations were far better than asymmetric ones.