Abstract

There are numerous applications, of technological interest, where materials of quasi‐brittle behavior, as in the case of cement‐based composite materials, rocks and composites formed by the mixture of ceramics with other phases, are subjected to oscillating loads and suffer degradation of its properties. To develop analysis tools that allow to understand and to predict this degradation governing mechanisms is an opened problem in modern engineering. In this context, in the present work, it is used a version of the discrete element method formed by beams to explore its possibilities in simulating the degradation mechanisms that occur in quasi‐brittle materials when subjected to fatigue. Simulations over simple geometry test subjects are presented and several aspects of this problem are discussed and among the problems: it is explored the relationship between micro and macro mechanic parameters of the used model and how the scale effect is captured and influences this relationship. The presented preliminary results show the potentiality of the proposed methodology to understand the micro mechanisms of damage that occur in quasi‐brittle materials and also to predict its evolution.

Abstract

Abstract

We develop a phenomenological model of electro-mechanical ferroelectric fatigue based on a ferroelectric cohesive law that couples mechanical displacement and electric-potential discontinuity to mechanical tractions and surface-charge density. The ferroelectric cohesive law exhibits a monotonic envelope and loading–unloading hysteresis. The model is applicable whenever the changes in properties leading to fatigue are localized in one or more planar-like regions, modeled by the cohesive surfaces. We validate the model against experimental data for a simple test configuration consisting of an infinite slab acted upon by an oscillatory voltage differential across the slab and otherwise stress free. The model captures salient features of the experimental record including: the existence of a threshold nominal field for the onset of fatigue; the dependence of the threshold on the applied-field frequency; the dependence of fatigue life on the amplitude of the nominal field; and the dependence of the coercive field on the size of the component, or size effect. Our results, although not conclusive, indicate that planar-like regions affected by cycling may lead to the observed fatigue in tetragonal PZT.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

The present work shows the results obtained after rehearsing fatigue in mode III a material composed of epoxy resin with unidirectional carbon fiber reinforcement. For the execution of the tests and has used a test device that has been previously designed and whose validity has been proven. The novelty of this work is that it is the first time that a study of fatigue to fracture is carried out according to mode III in this type of materials. In addition, this fatigue has been made in two different ways. First, it has been loaded in one direction until reaching a certain angle and returning almost to the starting point and, secondly, it has been loaded both in one direction and in the opposite. Hence the first case is called asymmetric fatigue and in the second, symmetrical fatigue. The results obtained are different since the case of loading is, in both cases, substantially different. In both cases, a statistical analysis of the results has been carried out in order to be able to compare the existing differences more properly.

Abstract

Surface treatment is one of the most important issues for obtaining high quality adhesive bonding. The main objective of this treatment is the removal of surface contaminants, the modification of surface roughness and the increase of surface free energy, without damaging the surface of the composite material.

Nowadays, the treatments which are approved by the aeronautical sector for the surface preparation of CFRP prior to adhesive bonding are manual and some of them depend on the skills of the operator. Because of this, different automatable alternatives are being studied in order to substitute these traditional methods. One of these alternatives is the use of UV laser radiation.

In this work the advanced surface characterization of CFRP surfaces treated with peel ply and processed with UV laser have been performed. Advanced techniques have been used in order to evaluate the changes that occur in the surface and which can be related to adhesiveness. Thus, techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), surface free energy determination and 3D optical confocal profilometry have been used to evaluate chemical and physical properties of treated surfaces.

Obtained results show that UV laser radiation leads to surface changes which would improve the adhesiveness of the surfaces, although these changes suggest that the mechanism by which adhesion happens is different from the one which is related to peel ply.