Abstract
A numerical method has been developed to study the interaction between a crack and second phase particles in a discontinuously reinforced composite material. The simulation is achieved using a ‘dual’ boundary integral method, coupled with a maximum energy release rate criterion for determining the direction of crack propagation. The method has been applied to a composite material composed of components having the elastic properties of Aluminium (matrix) and Silicon Carbide (reinforcement). In particular, the method is used to investigate the crack trajectory and energetics as it interacts with a single particle and with clusters consisting of two particles or a random distribution of ten particles. It is found that although the energy release rate is affected by the particle(s) at relatively large distances, the crack trajectory is not substantially altered until the crack is very close to the particle(s). A pre-existing interface flaw is observed to attract the crack and substantially increase the energy release rate.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arsenault, R.J., Shi, N. and Feng, C.R. (1991). Localized deformation of SiC-Al composites. Material Science of Engineering 131, 55.
Atkinson, C. (1972). The interaction between a crack and an inclusion. International Journal of Engineering Science 10, 127–136.
Bazant, Z., Glazik, J.L. and Achenbach, J.D. (1973). Elastodynamic fields near running cracks by finite elements. Journal of Applied Mechanics 105, 232–236.
Chang, J.H. (1995). Evaluation of energy release rate for a planar crack in heterogeneous media. International Journal of Fracture 74, 163–179.
Chiou, J.-M. and Chung, D.D.L. (1991). Characterisation of metal-matrix composites fabricated by vacuum infiltration of a liquid metal under an inert gas pressure. Journal of Material Science 26, 2583.
Civelek, M.B. and Erdogan, F. (1982). Crack problems for a rectangular plate and and infinte strip. International Journal of Fracture 19, 139.
Davidson, D.L. (1991). Metal Matrix Composites: Mechanisms and Properties (Edited by R.K. Everett and R.J. Arsenault), Academic Press.
Erdogan, F. and Gupta, G.D. (1975). The inclusion problem with a crack crossing the boundary. International Journal of Fracture 11, 13–27.
Erdogan, F., Gupta, G.D. and Ratwani, M. (1974). Interaction between a circular inclusion and an arbitrarily oriented crack. Journal of Applied Mechanics 41, 1007–1013.
Faber, K.T. and Evans, A.G. (1983). Crack deflection processes. Acta Metallurgica 31, 565.
Hertzberg, R.W. (1976). Deformation and Fracture Mechanics of Engineering Materials, J. Wiley and Sons, New York.
Hwu, C., Liang, Y.K. and Yen, W.J. (1995). Interactions between inclusions and various types of cracks. International Journal of Fracture 73, 229–245.
Karandikar, P.G. and Chou, T.-W. (1991). Characterisation of aluminium-matrix composites made by compocasting and its variations. Journal of Materials Science 26, 2255.
Kassam, Z.H.A., Zhang, R.J. and Wang, Z. (1995). Finite element simulation to investigate interaction between crack and particulate reinforcements in metal-matrix composites. Materials Science and Engineering A203, 286–299.
Kim, B.-N., Watanabe, M., Enoki, M. and Kishi, T. (1997). 2-D Simulation of crack propagation in A12O3 matrix composites dispersed with SiC particles. Key Engineering of Materials 127, 1153–1158.
Kocer, C. and Collins, R.E. (1997). The angle of hertzian cone cracks, Journal of American Ceramics Society (in press).
Leggoe, J.W., Hu, X.Z. and Bush, M.B. (1996). Crack tip damage development and crack growth resistence in particulate reinforced metal matrix composites. Engineering of Fracture Mechanics 53, 873–895.
Levy, A. and Papazian, J.M. (1991). Elastoplastic finite element analysis of short fibre reinforced SiC/A1 composites: Effects of thermal treatment. Acta Metallurgica et Materialia 39, 2255.
Li, R. and Chudnovsky, A. (1993). Variation of the energy release rate as a crack approaches and passes through an elastic inclusion. International Journal of Fracture 59, R69–R74.
Li, R. and Chudnovsky, A. (1994). The stress intensity factor Green's function for a crack interacting with a circular inclusion. International Journal of Fracture 67, 169–177.
Mammoli, A.A. and Bush, M.B. (1995). The effects of reinforcement geometry on the elastic and plastic properties of metal matrix composites. Acta Metallurgica et Materialia 43, 3743.
Patton, E.M. and Santare, M.H. (1993). Crack path prediction near an elliptical inclusion. Engineering of Fracture Mechanics 44, 195–205.
Portela, A., Aliabadi, M.H. and Rooke, D.P. (1993). Dual boundary element integral analysis of crack propagation. Composition of Structure 46, 237–247.
Valliapan, S. and Murti, V. (1985). Automatic remeshing technique in quasi-static and dynamic crack propagation. Proceedings NUMETA '85. Swansea.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bush, M. The Interaction between a Crack and a Particle Cluster. International Journal of Fracture 88, 215–232 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007469631883
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007469631883