• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.817-828
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• 2022

In this study, considering dissipated energy in fracture process zone (FPZ), a novel criterion based on maximum strain energy release rate (SER) for orthotropic materials is presented. General case of in-plane loading for cracks along the fibers is assumed. According to the experimental observations, crack propagation is supposed along the fibers and the reinforcement isotropic solid (RIS) concept is employed as a superior model for orthotropic materials. SER in crack initiation and propagation phases is investigated. Elastic properties of FPZ are extracted as a function of undamaged matrix media and micro-crack density. This criterion meaningfully links between dissipated energy due to toughening mechanisms of FPZ and the macroscopic fracture by defining stress intensity factors of the damaged zone. These coefficients are used in equations of maximum SER criterion. The effect of crack initiation angle and the damaged zone is considered simultaneously in this criterion and mode II stress intensity factor is extracted in terms of stress intensity factors of damage zone and crack initiation angle. This criterion can evaluate the effects of FPZ on the fracture behavior of orthotropic material. Good agreement between extracted fracture limit curves (FLC's) and available experimental data proves the ability of the new proposed criterion.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.381-396
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• 2020

Analytical investigation of the fracture of inhomogeneous beam with two parallel lengthwise cracks is performed. The thickness of the beam varies continuously along the beam length. The beam is loaded in three-point bending. Two beam configurations with different lengths of the cracks are analyzed. The two cracks are located arbitrary along the thickness of the beam. Solutions to the strain energy release rate are derived assuming that the material has non-linear elastic mechanical behavior. Besides, the beam exhibits continuous material inhomogeneity along its thickness. The balance of the energy is analyzed in order to derive the strain energy release rate. Verifications of the solutions are carried-out by considering the complementary strain energy stored in the beam configurations. The influence of the continuous variation of the thickness along the beam length on the lengthwise fracture behavior is investigated. The dependence of the lengthwise fracture on the lengths of the two parallel cracks is also studied.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2014

An interfacial penny-shaped crack between piezoelectric layer and elastic half-space subjected to mechanical and electric loads is investigated. Using Hankel transform technique, the mixed boundary value problem is reduced to a system of singular integral equations. The integral equations are further reduced to a system of algebraic equations with the aid of Jacobi polynomials. The stress intensity factor and energy release rate are determined. Numerical results reveal the effects of electric loadings and material parameters of composite on crack propagation and growth. The results seem useful for design of the piezoelectric composite structures and devices of high performance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2002

In this paper, the solution of a semi-infinite plane with one circular hole is presented. This solution is induced by repeatedly superposing the solution of an infinite plane with one circular hole and that of a semi-infinite plane without holes to cancel out the stresses arising on both boundaries. This procedure is carried out until the stresses arising on both boundaries converge. This method does not require complicated calculation procedures as does the method using stress functions defined in a bipolar coordinate system. Some numerical results are shown by graphical representations.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.441-453
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• 2018

Longitudinal fracture in a functionally graded beam configuration was studied analytically with taking into account the non-linear behavior of the material. A cantilever beam with two longitudinal cracks located symmetrically with respect to the centroid was analyzed. The material was functionally graded along the beam width as well as along the beam length. The fracture was studied in terms of the strain energy release rate. The influence of material gradient, crack location along the beam width, crack length and material non-linearity on the fracture behavior was investigated. It was shown that the analytical solution derived is very useful for parametric analyses of the non-linear longitudinal fracture behavior. It was found that by using appropriate material gradients in width and length directions of the beam, the strain energy release rate can be reduced significantly. Thus, the results obtained in the present paper may be applied for optimization of functionally graded beam structure with respect to the longitudinal fracture performance.

• Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2014

Covalent attachment of 1, 4-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) based endoperoxide forming subunits to a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) backbone has been achieved. The functionalized polymer materials prepared and characterized here can serve as biocompatible carrier systems for studying cellular uptake, intermediate storage and delayed release of singlet oxygen, which opens up new doors for optimizing a variety of medical applications of photogenerated DMN-endoperoxides such as antiviral, antibacterial, antiplasmodial and antitumor activity.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.199-211
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• 2011

Using computational modeling, we design a pair of biomimetic microcapsules that exploit chemical mechanisms to communicate and alter their local environment. As a result, these synthetic objects can undergo autonomous, directed motion. In the simulations, signaling microcapsules release "agonist" particles, while target microcapsules release "antagonist" particles and the permeabilities of both capsule types depend on the local particle concentration in the surrounding solution. Additionally, the released nanoscopic particles can bind to the underlying substrate and thereby create adhesion gradients that propel the microcapsules to move. Hydrodynamic interactions and the feedback mechanism provided by the dissolved particles are both necessary to achieve the cooperative behavior exhibited by these microcapsules. Our model provides a platform for integrating both the spatial and temporal behavior of assemblies of "artificial cells", and allows us to design a rich variety of structures capable of exhibiting complex dynamics. Due to the cell-like attributes of polymeric microcapsules and polymersomes, material systems are available for realizing our predictions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.209-221
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• 2002

In this paper a fracture criterion is proposed for cracked cylindrical samples of high-strength prestressing steels of different yield strength. The surface crack is assumed to be semi-elliptical, a geometry very adequate to model sharp defects produced by any subcritical mechanism of cracking: mechanical fatigue, stress-corrosion cracking, hydrogen embrittlement or corrosion fatigue. Two fracture criteria with different meanings are considered: a global (energetic) criterion based on the energy release rate G, and a local (stress) criterion based on the stress intensity factor $K_I$. The advantages and disadvantages of both criteria for engineering design are discussed in this paper on the basis of many experimental results of fracture tests on cracked wires of high-strength prestressing steels of different yield strength and with different degrees of strength anisotropy.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.163-175
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• 2006

In this paper, the dynamic response of a piezoelectric layer with a penny-shaped crack is investigated. The piezoelectric layer is subjected to an axisymmetrical action of both mechanical and electrical impacts. Two kinds of crack surface conditions, i.e., electrically impermeable and electrically permeable, are adopted. Based upon integral transform technique, the crack boundary value problem is reduced to a system of Fredholm integral equations in the Laplace transform domain. By making use of numerical Laplace inversion the time-dependent dynamic stress and electric displacement intensity factors are obtained, and the dynamic energy release rate is further derived. Numerical results are plotted to show the effects of both the piezoelectric layer thickness and the electrical impact loadings on the dynamic fracture behaviors of the crack tips.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.673-686
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• 2015

R-curve based on the size effect law previously developed for geometrically similar specimens (geometry type III) is extended to geometries with variable depth (geometry type I) as well as with variable notch (geometry type II), where the R-curve is defined as the envelope of the family of critical strain energy release rates from specimens of different sizes. The results show that the extended R-curve for type I tends to be the same for different specimen configurations, while it is greatly dependent on specimen geometry in terms of the initial crack length. Furthermore, the predicted load-deflection responses from the suggested R-curve are found to agree well with the testing results on concrete and rock materials. Besides, maximum loads for type II specimen are predicted well from the extended R-curve.