• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.375-401
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• 2014

It is generally accepted that material heterogeneity has a great influence on the deformation, strength, damage and failure modes of rock. This paper presents numerical simulation on rock failure process based on the characterization of rock heterogeneity by using a digital image processing (DIP) technique. The actual heterogeneity of rock at mesoscopic scale (characterized as minerals) is retrieved by using a vectorization transformation method based on the digital image of rock surface, and it is imported into a well-established numerical code Rock Failure Process Analysis (RFPA), in order to examine the effect of rock heterogeneity on the rock failure process. In this regard, the numerical model of rock could be built based on the actual characterization of the heterogeneity of rock at the meso-scale. Then, the images of granite are taken as an example to illustrate the implementation of DIP technique in simulating the rock failure process. Three numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the impact of actual rock heterogeneity due to spatial distribution of constituent mineral grains (e.g., feldspar, quartz and mica) on the macro-scale mechanical response, and the associated rock failure mechanism at the meso-scale level is clarified. The numerical results indicate that the shape and distribution of constituent mineral grains have a pronounced impact on stress distribution and concentration, which may further control the failure process of granite. The proposed method provides an efficient tool for studying the mechanical behaviors of heterogeneous rock and rock-like materials whose failure processes are strongly influenced by material heterogeneity.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.41 no.10
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• pp.959-965
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• 2017

In recent years, major airplane manufacturers have been using the laminate failure theory to estimate the strain of composite structures for airplanes. The laminate failure theory uses the failure strain of the laminate to analyze composite structures. This paper describes a procedure for the experimental assessment of laminate tensile failure characteristics. Regression analysis was used as the experimental assessment method. The regression analysis was performed with the response variable being the laminate failure strain and with the regressor variables being two-ply orientation ($0^{\circ}$ and ${\pm}45^{\circ}$) variables. The composite material in this study is a carbon/epoxy unidirectional (UD) tape that was cured as a pre-preg at $177^{\circ}C(350^{\circ}F)$. A total of 149 tension tests were conducted on specimens from 14 distinct laminates that were laid up at standard angle layers ($0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $-45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$). The ASTM-D-3039 standard was used as the test method.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.2168-2177
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• 2006

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the specific fracture mechanics response of cracks that initiate at the stem-cement interface and propagate into the cement mantle. Two-dimensional finite element models of idealized stem-cement-bone cross-sections from the proximal femur were developed for this study. Two general stem types were considered; Rectangular shape and Charnley type stem designs. The FE results showed that the highest principal stress in the cement mantle for each case occurred in the upper left and lower right regions adjacent to the stem-cement interface. There was also a general decrease in maximum tensile stress with increasing cement mantle thickness for both Rectangular and Charnley-type stem designs. The cement thickness is found to be one of the important fatigue failure parameters which affect the longevity of cemented femoral components, in which the thinner cement was significantly associated with early mechanical failure for shot-time period.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.577-596
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• 2016

FRP-concrete interfacial mechanical properties determine the strengthening effect of RC beams strengthened with FRP. In this paper, the model experiments were carried out with eight specimens to study the failure modes and the strengthening effect of RC beams strengthened with FRP. Then a theoretical model based on interfacial performances was proposed and interfacial mechanical behaviors were studied. Finite element analysis confirmed the theoretical results. The results showed that RC beams strengthened with FRP had three loading stages and that the FRP strengthening effects were mainly exerted in the Stage III after the yielding of steel bars, including the improvement of the bearing capacity, the decreased ultimate deformation due to the sudden failure of FRP and the improvement of stiffness in this stage. The mechanical formulae of the interfacial shear stress and FRP stress were established and the key influence factors included FRP length, interfacial bond-slip parameter, FRP thickness, etc. According to the theoretical analysis and experimental data, the calculation methods of interfacial shear stress at FRP end and FRP strain at midspan were proposed. When FRP bonding length was shorter, interfacial shear stress at FRP end was larger that led to concrete cover peeling failure. When FRP was longer, FRP reached the ultimate strain and the fracture failure of FRP occurred. The theoretical results were well consistent with the experimental data.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2018

Participants in the Asia Pacific Conference of the Prognostics and Health Management Society 2017 (PHMAP 2017) Data Challenge were given measured vibration signals from motor-driven gearboxes used in pulverizers. Using this information, participants were requested to predict failure dates and the faulty components. The measured signals were affected by significant noise and disturbance, as the pulverizers in the provided data worked under actual operating conditions. This paper thus presents a fault prediction method for a motor-driven gearbox in a pulverizer system that can perform under external noise and disturbance conditions. First, two fault features, an RMS value in the higher frequency zones (HRMS) and an amplitude of a period for high-speed shaft in the quefrency domain ($QA_{HSS}$), were extracted based on frequency analysis using the higher and lower sampling rate data. The two features were then applied to each pulverizer based on results of frequency responses to impact loadings. Then, a regression analysis was used to predict the failure date using the two extracted features. A weighted regression analysis was used to compensate for the imbalance of the features in the given period. In addition, the faulty components in the motor-driven gearboxes were predicted based on the modulated frequency components. The score predicted by the proposed approach was ranked first in the PHMAP 2017 Data Challenge.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.721-724
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• 2016

Because of the inherent uncertainties caused by the manufacturing process variations, future loading conditions, and incomplete damage models, the lifetimes of mechanical structures under field conditions are significantly different from the results obtained in the laboratories. In this study, a dual sensor was developed to prognosticate the fatigue failure of structures under these uncertain conditions, and its effectiveness was demonstrated on a rectangular columnar structure under repeated uni-axial loading. The dual sensor is a slightly weaker structure embedded in the target structure, so that failure occurs in the sensor earlier than in the target structure. From the signal differences in the strain gauges in the embedded dual sensor, it is possible to differentiate between the normal status and warning status, even under variable loads.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.539-546
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• 2016

In this paper, the effect of J-R curve changes on the determination of parameters in a failure model owing to the presence or absence of a side groove in a C(T) specimen is investigated. A stress-modified fracture strain model is implemented for FE damage simulations. C(T) specimens were taken from SA508 grade 1a low-alloy steel piping material, and some of them were processed with a side groove. Fracture toughness tests were performed at room temperature and at $316^{\circ}C$. The parameters of the failure model were determined by damage simulations using the J-R curves obtained from the tests. Finally, the results show that the determination of failure model parameters is not affected by variations in J-R curves owing to the presence or absence of a side groove.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.152-162
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• 2005

Coolant rubber hoses for automobile radiators can be degraded and thus failed due to the influence of contacting stresses of air and coolant liquid under the thermal and mechanical loadings. In this study, test analysis was carried out for evaluating the degradation and failure mechanisms of coolant hose materials. Two kinds of EPDM rubber materials applicable to the hoses were adopted: commonly-used ethylene-propylene diene monomer(EPDM) rubbers and EPDM rubbers with high resistance against electro-chemical degradation (ECD). An increase of surface hardness and a large reduction of failure strain were shown due to the formation of oxidation layer for the specimens which had been kept in a high temperature air chamber. Coolant ageing effects took place only by an amount of pure thermal degradation. The specimens degraded by ECD test showed a swelling behavior and a considerable increase in weight on account of the penetration of coolant liquid into the skin and interior of the rubber specimens. The ECD induced material softening as well as drastic reduction in strength and failure strain. However EPDM rubbers designed for high resistance against ECD revealed a large improvement in reduction of failure strain and weight. This study finally established a procedure for reliability analysis and evaluation of the degradation and failure mechanisms of EPDM rubbers used in coolant hoses for automobile radiators.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.281-291
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• 2022

Complex rock masses include various joint planes, bedding planes and other weak structural planes. The existence of these structural planes affects the mechanical properties, deformation rules and failure modes of jointed rock masses. To study the influence of the parameters of a nonpersistent joint network on the mechanical properties and failure modes of jointed rock masses, synthetic rock mass (SRM) technology based on discrete elements is introduced. The results show that as the size of the joints in the rock mass increases, the compressive strength and the discreteness of the rock mass first increase and then decrease. Among them, the joints that are characterized by "small but many" joints and "large and clustered" joints have the most significant impact on the strength of the rock mass. With the increase in joint density in the rock mass, the compressive strength of rock mass decreases monotonically, but the rate of decrease gradually decreases. With the increase in the joint dip angle in rock mass, the strength of the rock mass first decreases and then increases, forming a U-shaped change rule. In the analysis of the failure mode and deformation of a jointed rock mass, the type of plastic zone formed after rock mass failure is closely related to the macroscopic displacement deformation of the rock mass and the parameters of the joints, which generally shows that the location and density of the joints greatly affect the failure mode and displacement degree of the jointed rock mass. The instability mechanism of jointed surrounding rock is revealed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.584-594
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• 1986

Despite the multivariate improvements in tissue treatment, material, and design of prosthetic heart valves in recent years, numerous complications that may lead to valve dysfunction remain a constant threat after valve replacement. Most common indications for prosthetic valve failure are primary valve failure, infective endocarditis, paravalvular leakage, and thromboembolism. From 1977 to 1986, 15 patients underwent reoperation for prosthetic valve failure in 278 cases of valve surgery. The etiology of prosthetic valve failure were primary valve failure in 12 patients [80 %], infective endocarditis in 2 patients [13.3 %], and a paravalvular leakage [6.7 %]. The average durations of implantation were 45.5 months; 53.9 months in primary valve failure, 16 months in infective endocarditis, and 4 months in paravalvular leakage. The rate of valve failure was high under age of 30 [11/15]. Calcifications and collagen disruption of prosthesis were main cause of primary valve failure in macro- & micropathology. Prosthesis used in reoperation were 5 tissue valves and 10 mechanical valves. Operative mortality were 13.3 % [2/15], due to intractable endocarditis and ventricular arrhythmia.