• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제80권5호
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• pp.553-562
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• 2021

In this paper, a hybrid scaled boundary finite element and finite volume method (SBFEM-FVM) is proposed for simulating hydraulic-fracture propagation in brittle concrete materials. As a semi-analytical method, the scaled boundary finite element method is introduced for modelling concrete crack propagation under both an external force and water pressure. The finite volume method is employed to model the water within the crack and consider the relationship between the water pressure and the crack opening distance. The cohesive crack model is used to analyse the non-linear fracture process zone. The numerical results are compared with experimental data, indicating that the F-CMOD curves and water pressure changes under different loading conditions are approximately the same. Different types of water pressure distributions are also studied with the proposed coupled model, and the results show that the internal water pressure distribution has an important influence on crack propagation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.1726-1746
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• 2022

This paper presents fracture mechanics analysis results for various cracks located at pressurized water reactor pressure vessel nozzle crotch corners taking into consideration constraint effect. Technical documents such as the ASME B&PV Code, Sec.XI were reviewed and then a fracture mechanics analysis procedure was proposed for structural integrity assessment of various nozzle crotch corner cracks under normal operation conditions considering the constraint effect. Linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis was performed by conducting finite element analysis with the proposed analysis procedure. Based on the evaluation results, elastic-plastic fracture mechanics analysis taking into account the constraint effect was performed only for the axial surface crack of the reactor pressure vessel outlet nozzle with cladding. The fracture mechanics analysis result shows that only the axial surface crack in the reactor pressure vessel outlet nozzle has the stress intensity factor exceeding the low bound of upper-shelf fracture toughness irrespectively of considering the constraint effect. It is confirmed that the J-integral for the axial crack of the outlet nozzle does not exceed the ductile crack initiation toughness. Hence, it can be ensured that the structural integrity of all the cracks is maintained during the normal operation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.609-620
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• 2009

In this paper the results of a series of experimental tests upon three-point bending specimens made of polystyrene and containing re-entrant corners are firstly described. Tests involved different notch angles, different notch depths and finally different sizes of the samples. All the specimens broke at the defect, as expected because of the material brittleness and, hence, the generalized stress intensity factor was expected to be the governing failure parameter. Recorded failure loads are then compared with the predictions provided by a fracture criterion recently introduced in the framework of Finite Fracture Mechanics: fracture is assumed to propagate by finite steps, whose length is determined by the contemporaneous fulfilment of energy balance and stress requirements. This fracture criterion allows us to achieve the expression of the generalized fracture toughness as a function of the tensile strength, the fracture toughness and the notch opening angle. Comparison between theoretical predictions and experimental data turns out to be more than satisfactory.

• Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.31-50
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• 1996

In this paper, a finite element analysis based on the local approach concept to fracture in the continuum damage mechanics is performed to analyze ductile fracture in two dimensional quasi-static state. First an isotropic damage model based on the generalized concept of effective stress is proposed for structural materials in the context of large deformation. In this model, the stiffness degradation is taken as a measure of damage and so, the fracture phenomenon can be explained as the critical deterioration of stiffness at a material point. The modified Riks' continuation technique is used to solve incremental iterative equations. Crack propagation is achieved by removing critically damaged elements. The mesh size sensitivity analysis and the simulation of the well known shearing mode failure in plane strain state are carried out to verify the present formulation. As numerical examples, an edge cracked plate and the specimen with a circular hole under plane stress are taken. Load-displacement curves and successively fractured shapes are shown. From the results, it can be concluded that the proposed model based on the local approach concept in the continuum damage mechanics may be stated as a reasonable tool to explain ductile fracture initiation and crack propagation.

• 한국윤활학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국윤활학회 1999년도 제29회 춘계학술대회
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• pp.297-302
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• 1999

Finite element analysis is peformed about the crack propagation in half-space due to sliding contact. The analysis is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics and stress intensity factor concept. The crack location is fixed and the friction coefficient between asperity and half-space is varied to analyze the effect of surface friction on stress Intensity factor for horizontal crack. The crack propagation direction is predicted based on the maximum range of shear and tensile stress intensity factor.

• 한국콘크리트학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국콘크리트학회 1994년도 가을 학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.279-284
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• 1994

Fracture mechanics does work for concrete, provided that one used a proper, nonlinear form of fracture mechanics in which a finite nonlinear zone at fracture front is being considered. The fracture process zone is a region ahead of a traction-free crack, in which two major mechanisms, microcracking and bridging, play important rules. The toughness due to bridging is dominant compared to the toughness induced by the microcracking, so that the bridging is the dominant mechanism governing the fracture process of concrete. In this paper the bridging zone, which is a part of extended macrocrck with stresses transmitted by aggregates in concrete, is modelled by a Dugdale-Barenblatt type model with lenear tension-softening curve for the analyses of crack growth in concrete Finite element technique is shown for inplementation of the model.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.569-585
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• 2014

In this paper, a four-layer road structure consisting of an edge transverse crack is simulated using three-dimensional finite element method in order to capture the influence of a single-axle wheel load on the crack propagation through the asphalt concrete layer. Different positions of the vehicular load relative to the cracked area are considered in the analyses. Linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is used for investigating the effect of the traffic load on the behavior of a crack propagating within the asphalt concrete. The results obtained show that the crack front experiences all three modes of deformation i.e., mode I, mode II and mode III, and the corresponding stress intensity factors are highly affected by the crack geometry and the vehicle position. The results also show that for many loading situations, the contribution of shear deformation (due to mode II and mode III loading) is considerable.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.91-112
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• 2004

Concrete is a composite material and at meso-level, may be assumed to be composed of three phases: aggregate, mortar-matrix and aggregate-matrix interface. It is postulated herein that although non-linear material parameters are generally used to model this composite structure by finite element method, linear elastic fracture mechanics principles can be used for modelling at the meso level, if the properties of all three phases are known. For this reason, a novel meso-mechanical approach for concrete fracture which uses the composite material model with distributed-phase for elastic properties of phases and considers the size effect according to linear elastic fracture mechanics for strength properties of phases is presented in this paper. Consequently, the developed model needs two parameters such as compressive strength and maximum grain size of concrete. The model is applied to three most popular fracture mechanics approaches for concrete namely the two-parameter model, the effective crack model and the size effect model. It is concluded that the developed model well agrees with considered approaches.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제60권3호
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• pp.405-412
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• 2016

Bone is a living material with a complex hierarchical structure that gives it remarkable mechanical properties. Bone constantly undergoes mechanical. Its quality and resistance to fracture is constantly changing over time through the process of bone remodeling. Numerical modeling allows the study of the bone mechanical behavior and the prediction of different trauma caused by accidents without expose humans to real tests. The aim of this work is the modeling of the femur fracture under static solicitation to create a numerical model to simulate this element fracture. This modeling will contribute to improve the design of the indoor environment to be better safe for the passengers' transportation means. Results show that vertical loading leads to the femur neck fracture and horizontal loading leads to the fracture of the femur diaphysis. The isotropic consideration of the bone leads to bone fracture by crack propagation but the orthotropic consideration leads to the fragmentation of the bone.

• 한국전산구조공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전산구조공학회 1990년도 가을 학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.3-8
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• 1990

A new finite element technology based on p-version of F.E.M. is discussed with reference to its potential for application to stress intensity factor computations. In linear elastic fracture mechanics, especially cracked cylindrical shells. It is shown that the p-version nutlet is far better suited for computing the stress intensity factors than the conventional h-version models with the help of three test problems. The main advantage of this technology is that the accuracy of approximation can be established without mesh refinement or the use of special procedures.