Experimental and Numerical Investigation on the Tensile Fracture of Compacted Clay

This paper performed flexural test and numerical simulation of clay-beams with different water contents to study the tensile fracture of clay soil and the relevant mechanisms.The crack initiation and propagation process and the accompanied strain localization behaviors were all clearly observed and analyzed.The exponential cohesive zone model was proposed to simulate the crack interface behavior of the cohesive-frictional materials.The experimental results show that the bending capacity of clay-beams decrease with the water content,while those of the crack mouth opening displacement,crack-tip strain and the strain localization range increase.The numerical predictions successfully reproduce the evolving tensile cracks and the strain localization phenomenon of the clay beams with different fracture ductility,which demonstrates the validity of the proposed cohesive zone model in modelling clay fractures.

Tensile fracture behavior of AA7075 alloy produced by thixocasting

Tensile fracture behaviors of thixocast, artificially aged thixocast （thixocast＋T6） and as-extruded AA7075 alloys were investigated. The microstructural and fractographic observations were carried out using optical microscope （OM） and scanning electron microscope （SEM）. Experimental studies showed that as-extruded and thixocast＋T6 specimens exhibited considerably more excellent mechanical properties than as-thixocast AA7075 specimen. T6 artificial heat treatment with prolonged solution treatment significantly improved the tensile properties of the thixocast AA7075 alloy. The tensile properties of as-extruded and thixocast＋T6 specimens were close to each other. In as-thixocast specimen having remarkable micro-cracks, fracture was intergranular brittle type. The ductile fracture surfaces were observed in as-extruded and thixocast＋T6 specimens. In as-thixocast specimens, decohesion started between the eutectic-matrix interfaces and propagated through grains. Micro-void coalescence was the dominant form of fracture in thixocast＋T6 heat treated specimens. The micro-voids nucleation was initiated at the interface between the matrix and multinary eutectic structure.

Nanoscale Morphology in Tensile Fracture of a Brittle Amorphous Ribbon

The paper reports on the observation of nanoscale morphology on the tensile fracture surface of a brittle amorphous Fe-based ribbon. The formation of nanoscale damage cavity structure is a main characteristic morphology on the fracture surfaces. Approaching the ribbon boundary, these damage cavities assemble and form the nanoscale periodic corrugations, which are neither Wallner lines nor crack front waves. The periodic corrugations result from the interactions between the reflected elastic waves by the boundaries of amorphous ribbon and the stress fields of the crack tip.

Simulation Test for Evolution Laws of Tensile Fractures in a Coal Mining Area

In order to study evolution laws of tensile fractures in a coal mining area, based on the classification of the fractures formed by mining, a physical simulation test was carried out to simulate the dynamic evolution process of tensile fractures in coal mining areas. The results showed that after the coal in the mining area was mined, the mining area underwent obvious movement and deformation and forms tensile fractures. As the min-ing working face was advanced, the tensile fractures underwent the dynamic process of generation, development and closure. The changing curves of density of tensile fractures with the increase of mining length of the working face liked a ladder （it increased slowly and then rapidly） and then had two peaks （the second peak was higher than the first peak）.

Effect laws and mechanisms of different temperatures on isothermal tensile fracture morphologies of high-strength boron steel

The fracture behaviour and morphologies of high-strength boron steel were investigated at different temperatures at a constant strain rate of 0.1 s-1 based on isothermal tensile tests. Fracture mechanisms were also analyzed based on the relationship between microstructure transformation and continuous cooling transformation(CCT) curves. It is found that 1) fractures of the investigated steel at high temperatures are dimple fractures; 2) the deformation of high-strength boron steel at high temperatures accelerates diffusion transformations; thus, to obtain full martensite, a higher cooling rate is needed; and 3) the investigated steel has the best plasticity when the deformation temperature is 750 °C.

Relationship between fracture spacing and bed thickness in sedimentary rocks:Approach by means of Michaelis-Menten equation

Fractures occur in nearly all rocks at the Earth’s surface and exert essential control on the mechanical strengths of rock masses and permeability.The fractures strongly impact the stability of geological or man-made structures and flow of water and hydrocarbons,CO_(2) and storing waste.For this,the dependence of opening mode fracture spacing(s)on bed thickness(t)in sedimentary basins(reservoirs)is studied in this context.This paper shows that the MichaeliseMenten equation can provide an algebraic expression for the nonlinear s-t relationship.The two parameters have clear geological meanings:a is the maximum fracture spacing which can no longer increase with increasing t,and b is the characteristic bed thickness when s=0.5a.The tensile fracture strength(C)of the brittle beds during the formation of tensile fractures can be estimated from the two parameters.For sandstones of 16 areas reported in the literature,C ranges from 2.7 MPa to 15.7 MPa with a mean value of 8 MPa,which lies reasonably within the range of tensile strengths determined experimentally.This field-based approach by means of MichaeliseMenten equation provides a new method for estimating the tensile fracture strength of rock layers under natural conditions.

Intelligent method to experimentally identify the fracture mechanism of red sandstone

Tensile and shear fractures are significant mechanisms for rock failure.Understanding the fractures that occur in rock can reveal rock failure mechanisms.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)has been widely used to analyze tensile and shear fractures of rock on a mesoscopic scale.To quantify tensile and shear fractures,this study proposed an innovative method composed of SEM images and deep learning techniques to identify tensile and shear fractures in red sandstone.First,direct tensile and preset angle shear tests were performed for red sandstone to produce representative tensile and shear fracture surfaces,which were then observed by SEM.Second,these obtained SEM images were applied to develop deep learning models(AlexNet,VGG13,and SqueezeNet).Model evaluation showed that VGG13 was the best model,with a testing accuracy of 0.985.Third,the features of tensile and shear fractures of red sandstone learned by VGG13 were analyzed by the integrated gradient algorithm.VGG13 was then implemented to identify the distribution and proportion of tensile and shear fractures on the failure surfaces of rock fragments caused by uniaxial compression and Brazilian splitting tests.Results demonstrated the model feasibility and suggested that the proposed method can reveal rock failure mechanisms.

The effect of different high pressure die casting parameters on 3D microstructure and mechanical properties of AE44 magnesium alloy

To understand the relationship between the process-microstructure-mechanical properties of the high-pressure die-casting(HPDC) AE44 magnesium alloy, 3D reconstruction and 2D characterization were carried out on the HPDC castings produced with different process parameters(low slow-shot speed, fast slow-shot speed, solidification pressure). Microstructural characterization revealed that the formation of shrinkage pores are closely related to ESCs, which were mainly controlled by the low slow-shot speed in shot sleeve(ESCs growth time) and fast slow-shot speed into the die cavity(distribution of ESCs). In addition, solidification pressure can significantly reduce the shrinkage porosity in the center by improving the feeding capacity of liquid metal. Tensile fracture revealed that the tearing ridge is mainly evolved from the slip band of ESCs. The quantity and distribution of ESCs determine the fracture mode of castings. The relationship between mechanical properties of castings and the morphology of ESCs and porosity is also statistically discussed.

Cretaceous-Cenozoic regional stress field evolution from borehole imaging in the southern Jinzhou area, western Liaoning, North China Craton

The Mesozoic Yanshanian Movement affected the tectonic evolution of the North China Craton(NCC).It is proposed that Mesozoic cratonic destruction peaked~125 Ma,possibly influenced by subduction of the western Pacific Plate beneath the Euro-Asian Plate in the Early Cretaceous.The southern Jinzhou area in the eastern block of the NCC preserves clues about the tectonic events and related geological resources.Studies of the regional stress field evolution from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic can enhance our understanding of the tectonics and dynamics of the NCC.Borehole image logging technology was used to identify and collect attitudes of tensile fractures from 11 boreholes;these were subdivided into four groups according to dip direction,i.e.,NNW-SSE,NWW-SEE,W-E and NE-SW.The development of these fractures was controlled primarily by the regional tectonic stress field;temperature,lithology,and depth contributed to some extent.In 136-125 Ma in the Early Cretaceous,the area was characterized by extension that was oriented NNW-SSE and NWW-SEE;from 125-101 Ma the extension was oriented W-E;after 101 Ma it was NE-SW.This counterclockwise trend has persisted to the present,probably related to oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate,and is characterized by ongoing extension that is nearly N-S-oriented and NEE-SWW-oriented compression.

Failure modes and slabbing mechanisms of hard rock with different height-to-width ratios under uniaxial compression

To determine the relationship between slabbing failure and the specimen height-to-width(H/W)ratio and to analyze the conditions,characteristics,and mechanism of slabbing failure in the laboratory,uniaxial compression tests were conducted using six groups of granite specimens.The entire failure process was recorded using strain gauges and high-speed cameras.The initiation and propagation of fractures in specimens were identified by analyzing the monitoring results of stress,strain,and acoustic emission.The experimental results show that changes in the specimen H/W ratio can transform the macro failure mode.When the H/W ratio is reduced to 0.5,the macro failure mode is dominated by slabbing.Low load-bearing ability is observed in specimens with slabbing failure,and the slabbing fractures are approximately parallel to the loading direction.Moreover,the fracture propagation characteristics and acoustic emission signals of slabbing failure specimens show typical tensile failure characteristics,indicating that slabbing failure is essentially a special tensile failure.

Tensile properties and fracture behavior of friction stir welded joints of Fe-32Mn-7Cr-1Mo-0.3N steel at cryogenic temperature

This study investigates the cryogenic tensile properties and fracture behavior of fiction stir welded and post-weld heat-treated joints of 32Mn-7Cr-1Mo-0.3N steel. Cryogenic brittle fracture, which occurred in the as-welded joint, is related to the residual particles that contain tungsten in the joint band structure. Post-weld water toughening resulted in the cryogenic intergranular brittleness of the joint, which is related to the non-equilibrium segregation of solute atoms during the post-weld water toughening. Annealing at 55OC for 30rain can effectively inhibit the cryogenic intergranular brittleness of the post- weld water-toughened joint. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and uniform elongation of the annealed joint are approximately 95%, 87%, and 94% of the corresponding data of the base metal.

Microstructure and tensile behavior of 2D-C_f/AZ91D composites fabricated by liquid–solid extrusion and vacuum pressure infiltration

2D carbon fiber reinforced AZ91 D matrix composites（2D-C_f/AZ91 D composites） were fabricated by liquid–solid extrusion and vacuum pressure infiltration technique（LSEVI）. In order to modify the interface between fibers and matrix and protect the fiber, pyrolytic carbon（Py C） coating was deposited on the surface of T700 carbon fiber by chemical vapor deposition（CVD）. Microstructure observation of the composites revealed that the composites were well fabricated by LSEVI. The segregation of aluminum at fiber surface led to the formation of Mg_（17）Al_（12） precipitates at the interface. The aluminum improved the infiltration of the alloy and Py C coating protected the fibers effectively. The ultimate tensile strength of 2D-C_f/AZ91 D composites was about 400 MPa. The fracture process of 2D-C_f/AZ91 D composites was transverse fiber interface cracking–matrix transferring load–longitudinal fibers bearing load–longitudinal fibers breaking.

Estimation of the horizontal in-situ stress magnitude and azimuth using previous drilling data

Oil exploration and production,well stability,sand production,geothermal drilling,waste-water or CO_(2) sequestration,geohazards assessment,and EOR processes such as hydraulic fracturing,require adequate information about in-situ stresses.There are several methods for analyzing the magnitude and direction of in-situ stresses.The evaluation of tensile fractures and shear fractures in vertical oil and gas wellbores using image logs is one of these methods.Furthermore,when image logs are run in boreholes,they can be extremely costly and possibly stop the drilling.The data for this study were gathered from seven directional wells drilled into a strike-slip fault reservoir in southern Iran.Vertical stress,minimum horizontal stress,pore pressure,Poisson's ratio of formations,and 233 mud loss reporting points make up the entire data.This is the first time maximum horizontal stress direction has been calculated without referring to image log data.In addition,the points of lost circulation were categorized into natural and induced fracture.The results revealed that,the maximum horizontal stress direction of the reservoir was calculated at 65northeast-southwest.The error rate is roughly 10when comparing the results of this investigation to those obtained from the image log.The maximum horizontal stress direction is calculated precisely.In terms of tensile fracture pressure,the in-situ stress ratio identifies the safest as well as the most critical inclination and azimuth for each well.

The Three-Stage Model Based on Strain Strength Distribution for the Tensile Failure Process of Rock and Concrete Materials

A three-stage model is introduced to describe the tensile failure process of rock and concrete materials.Failure of the material is defined to contain three stages in the model,which include elastic deformation stage,body damage stage and localization damage stage.The failure mode change from uniform body damage to localization damage is expressed.The heterogeneity of material is described with strain strength distribution.The fracture factor and intact factor,defined as the distribution function of strain strength,are used to express the fracture state in the failure process.And the distributive parameters can be determined through the experimental stress-strain curve.