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Abstract: The article proposes an improvement over the widely used sequentially linear solution procedure often utilized for fracture simulations. In the classical secant version of this method, a partial solution of a step is scaled to reach a stress limit in exactly one element and the mechanical properties of the critical element are reduced. Non-proportional loading is generally unfeasible due to avalanches of ruptures caused by stress redistribution. Because only one loading vector can be scaled at a time, all others have to remain constant during the step. However, the constant load vectors do not allow proper determination of the critical element. A modified procedure based on redistribution of released stresses is developed here. It preserves the linearity of each step. After rupture of the critical element, a sequentially linear redistribution process of stress release takes place until a static equilibrium state is reached. During the redistribution, other elements may break. The proposed enhanced sequential procedure is also compared with another recently published “event-by-event” linear method for non-proportional loading. It is shown here, with the help of simple examples, that the proposed redistribution method yields correct results for non-proportional loading, unlike the other methods under comparison. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The accuracy of the multi-parameter approximation of the stress fields in a cracked body is studied in the paper. This approximation, which uses the Williams power series expansion (WE), is intended to be used to estimate the extent of the nonlinear zone, which plays a significant role within tensile failure and the fatigue assessment of non-brittle materials. The characteristics of this zone could be potentially incorporated into methods of determining the true values of fracture parameters and the fatigue behaviour descriptors of materials exhibiting nonlinear failure. Considering the fact that in the case of elastic–plastic and especially quasi-brittle materials the size of this zone is substantial in comparison to specimen dimensions, it is necessary to consider a large region around the crack tip for this task. An automatic routine implemented as a Java application was created to determine the values of coefficients of the higher order terms of the WE that describe crack-tip fields. These values are calculated using the Over-Deterministic Method (ODM), which is applied to the results of the finite element (FE) analysis of an arbitrary mode I test geometry. Furthermore, another Java application developed by the authors provides an analytical reconstruction of the crack-tip stress field by means of the truncated WE, and enables detailed analysis of the crack-tip stress field approximation. The developed procedures simplify the analysis of the description of mechanical fields at a greater distance from the crack tip considerably. The presented research is focused on the optimisation of the selection of FE nodal results entering the ODM procedure used to determine the values of coefficients of the higher order terms of the WE. The aim is to improve the accuracy of the approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine-grained cement-based composites used in civil engineering and construction industry are usually made of cement-based matrix and natural aggregate (such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, etc.). Red ceramic waste aggregate is considered as a perspective replacement of a part of natural aggregate in modern environmentally oriented building materials. Fine-grained cement composite with natural aggregate partially replaced by ceramic waste aggregate usually show different mechanical fracture characteristics from ordinary fine-grained concrete. The specimens were tested at six different ages. This was the reason for conducting the research programme. Altogether, 6 fine-grained cement mixtures with various proportions of natural and red ceramic waste aggregate were prepared. The aim of this paper is to present and compare mechanical fracture properties obtained from static and fatigue tests. Bulk density, flexural and compressive cube strength, fracture toughness and fatigue properties (S-N - Wöhler curve) were of special interest. All of these tests are important for a practical application of concrete with ceramic aggregate for structures. All the results were statistically analysed and they showed that the fatigue and mechanical fracture properties were improved or at least kept up with the increasing levels of red ceramic waste aggregate. Environmental impact of application in construction industry of composites in question is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For wedge splitting test specimens, the stress and displacement fields both in the vicinity and also in larger distance from the crack tip are investigated by means of numerical methods. Several variants of boundary conditions were modeled. The stress intensity factor K, T-stress and even higher-order terms of William series were determined and subsequently utilized for analytical approximation of the stress field. A good fit between the analytical and numerical solution in dependence on the distance from the crack tip was shown, compared and discussed. Presented approach is considered as suitable for estimation of the fracture process zone extent in silicate composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the possibilities of determining the range of stresses preceding the critical destruction process in cement composites with the use of micro-events identified by means of a sound spectrum. The presented test results refer to the earlier papers in which micro-events (destruction processes) were identified but without determining the stress level of their occurrence. This paper indicates a correlation of 2/3 of the stress level corresponding to the elastic range with the occurrence of micro-events in traditional and quasi-brittle composites. Tests were carried out on beams (with and without reinforcement) subjected to four-point bending. In summary, it is suggested that the conclusions can be extended to other test cases (e.g., compression strength), which should be confirmed by the appropriate tests. The paper also indicates a need for further research to identify micro-events. The correct recognition of micro-events is important for the safety and durability of traditional and quasi-brittle cement composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]