• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.602-615
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• 1996

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the microstructural effect on the R-curve behavior in three aluminas with different grain size distributions by analyzing the bridging stress distribution. The crack opening displacement (COD) according to the distance behind the stationary crack tip was measured using an in situ SEM fracture method. The measured COD values in the fine-grained alumina agreed well with Wiederhorn's sollution while they deviated from Wiederhorn's solution in the two coarse-grained aluminas because of the increase of the crack closure due to the grain interface bridging in the crack wake. A numerical fitting procedure was conducted by the introduction of the power-law relation and the current theoretical model together with the measured COD's in order to obtain the bridging stress distribution. The results indicated that the bridging stress function and the R-curve computed by the current model were consistent with those computed by the power-law relation providing a reliable evidence for the bridging stress analysis of the current model. The strain-softening exponent in the power-law relation n, was calculated to be in the range from 2 to 3 and was closely related to the grain size distribution. Thus it was concluded from the current theoretical model that the grain size distribution affected greatly the bridging stress distribution thereby resulting in the quantitative analysis of microfracture of polycrystalline aluminas through correlating the local-fracture-cont-rolling microstructure.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.76-83
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• 1997

Blends of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP) with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were prepared by the coprecipitation from a common solvent. The blends were processed through a capillary die at $287^{\circ}C$ to produce a monofilament. Morphology and mechanical, thermal properties of blends and composites were examined by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), tensile test, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Crystallization kinetics of the blends were investigated by the isothermal DSC method. The Avrami analyses were applied to obtain the information on the crystal growth geometry and factors controlling the rate of crystallization. In the blends, liquid crystalline phase did not reveal any significant macrophase separation and thermal degradation at the processing temperature. From scanning electron micrographs of cryogenic fracture surfaces of extruded fibers, the TLCP domains were found to be more or less finely dispersed with $0.1{\mu}m$ to $0.2{\mu}m$ in size. Interfacial adhesion between the TLCP and matrix polymer was excellent. Tensile strength and modulus of TLCP/PET in-situ fiber composites were enhanced with increasing draw ratio and LCP content.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.741-750
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical responses of a high-speed railway shield tunnel subjected to impact by a derailed train, with emphasis on the protective effect of the secondary lining. To do so, the extended finite element method was used to develop two numerical models of a shield tunnel including joints and joint bolts, one with a cast-in-situ concrete secondary lining and one without such a lining. The dynamic responses of these models upon impact were analyzed, with particular focus on the distribution and propagation of cracks in the lining structures and the mechanical responses of the joint bolts. The numerical results showed that placing a secondary lining significantly constricted the development of cracking in the segmental lining upon the impact load caused by a derailed train, reduced the internal forces on the joint bolts, and enhanced the safety of the segmental lining structure. The outcomes of this study can provide a numerical reference for optimizing the design of shield tunnels under accidental impact loading conditions.