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This paper aims to analyze the pressure behavior in dual porosity reservoirs using different techniques in an attempt to correctly characterize reservoir properties. Pressure transient tests in naturally fractured reservoirs often exhibit non-uniform responses.

The pressure transient tests in naturally fractured reservoirs were analyzed using conventional semi-log analysis, type curve matching (using commercial software) and Tiab’s direct synthesis (TDS) technique. In addition, the TDS method was applied in case of a naturally fractured formation with a vertical hydraulic fracture. These techniques were applied to a single-layer, naturally fractured reservoir under pseudosteady state matrix flow. By studying the unique characteristics of the different flow regimes appear on the pressure and pressure derivative curves, various reservoir characteristics can be obtained such as permeability, skin factor and fracture properties.

For naturally fractured reservoirs, a comparison between the results semi-log analysis, software matching and TDS method is presented. In case of wellbore storage, early time flow regime can be obscured that lead to incomplete semi-log analysis. Furthermore, the type curve matching usually gives a non-uniqueness solution, as it needs all the flow regimes to be observed. However, the direct synthesis method used analytical equation to calculate reservoir and well parameters without type curve matching. For naturally fractured reservoirs with a vertical fracture, the pressure behavior of wells crossed by a uniform flux and infinite conductivity fracture is analyzed using TDS technique. The different flow regimes on the pressure derivative curve were used to calculate the fracture half-length in addition to other reservoir properties.

The results of different field cases showed that TDS technique offers several advantages compared to semi-log analysis and type curve matching. It can be used even if some flow regimes are not observed. Direct synthesis results are accurate compared to the available core data and the software matching results. It can be used to confirm the software matching results and to give reliable reservoir characteristics when there is lack of data.

This paper gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied to the analysis of ceramics and glass materials. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations on the subject that were published between 1977‐1998. The following topics are included: ceramics – material and mechanical properties in general, ceramic coatings and joining problems, ceramic composites, ferrites, piezoceramics, ceramic tools and machining, material processing simulations, fracture mechanics and damage, applications of ceramic/composites in engineering; glass – material and mechanical properties in general, glass fiber composites, material processing simulations, fracture mechanics and damage, and applications of glasses in engineering.

To study fracture characteristics of jointed rock masses under blasting load, the RFPA2D analysis software for dynamic fracture of rocks based on the finite element method and statistical damage theory was used.

On this basis, this research simulated the fracture process of rock masses in blasting with different joint geometrical characteristics and mainly analysed the influences of distance from joints to blasting holes, the length of joints, the number of joints and joint angle on fracture of rock masses.

The calculation results show that with the constant increase of the distance from joints to blasting holes, the influences of joints on blasting effects of rock masses gradually reduced. Rock masses with long joints experienced more serious damages than those with short joints. Damages obviously increased with the changing from rock masses without joints to rock masses with joints, and when there were three joints, the further increase of the number of joints had unobvious changes on blasting effects of rock masses. Joints showed significant guidance effect on the propagation of cracks in blasting: promoting propagation of main vertical cracks deflecting to the ends of joints.

The research results are expected to provide some theoretical bases in practical application of engineering blasting.

The fracture mechanism of S-07 steel was investigated by observing the fracture surface of the specimens with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Furthermore, the overall elastic–plastic behaviors and the stress state evolution during the loading procedure of all specimens were simulated by FE analysis to obtain the local strain at crack nucleated location and the average triaxiality of each type of specimen.

Three types of tests under various stress states were performed to study the ductile fracture characteristics of S-07 high strength steel in quasi-static condition.

Under tensile and torsion loading conditions, S-07 steel exhibits two distinctive rupture mechanisms: the growth and internal necking of voids governs the rupture mechanism in tension dominated loading mode, while the change of void shape and internal shearing in the ligaments between voids dominants for shear conditions.

The failure criterion for S-07 steel considering the influence of the triaxial stress state was established.

This study aims to clarify the evolution law of stress field and fracture field during the mining process of inclined coal seam, to prevent the occurrence of roof burst water and impact ground pressure accident during the advancing process of working face.

The evolution law of stress-fracture field under different mining conditions of inclined coal seam was studied by using discrete element method and similar material simulation method.

The overburden stress at the lower end of the coal seam was mainly transmitted to the deep rock mass on the left side, and the overburden stress at the upper end was mainly transmitted to the floor direction. With the increase of the inclined length of the mining coal seam, the development of the fracture zone gradually evolves from the “irregular arch” form to the “transversely developed trapezoid” form. The development range of the fracture zone was always in the internal area of the stress concentration shell.

An original element of this paper is based on the condition that the dip angle of coal seam is 35°, and the evolution law of overburden stress-fracture field during the excavation of coal seam with different lengths was analyzed by UDEC numerical simulation software. The coupling relationship between stress shell and fracture field was proposed, and the development range of fracture zone was determined by stress. The value of this paper is to provide technical support and practical basis for the safety production of a mine working face.

This paper aims to explore the influence of the reinforcement included either glass beads (GBs) or carbon fiber (CF) on the reinforced polyamide 12 (PA12) composite samples prepared by selective laser sintering (SLS).

In this paper, the microstructure and mechanical properties are investigated, and the results are compared with those obtained for non-reinforced pure PA12 samples prepared by SLS.

The tensile fracture surface of the non-reinforced pure PA12 sample presents strong micro-deformation within the crack origination zone between the melted PA12 matrix and the un-melted PA12 particle cores. As a result, the pure PA12 sample exhibits the greatest maximum elongation. The maximum tensile strength is obtained for the CF reinforced sample because of the strengthening effect of CF and the relatively good bonding between CFs and the PA12 matrix. The minimum tensile strength is obtained for the GB reinforced PA12 sample because of the relatively weak bonding between GBs and the PA12 matrix.

These results demonstrate that the characteristics of the interfaces between the reinforcement and the PA12 matrix have an important influence on the fracture mechanisms and mechanical properties of PA12 composites fabricated by SLS.

The interaction between rock mass structural planes and dynamic stress levels is important to determine the stability of rock mass structures in underground geotechnical engineering. In this work, the authors aim to focus on the degradation effects of fracture geometric parameters and unloading stress paths on rock mechanical properties.

A three-dimensional Particle Flow Code (PFC3D) was used for a systematic numerical simulation of the strength failure and cracking behavior of granite specimens containing prefabricated cracks under conventional triaxial compression and triaxial unilateral unloading. The authors demonstrated the unique mechanical response of prefabricated fractured rock under two conditions. The crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence process of pre-fissured specimens were analyzed in detail.

The authors show that the prefabricated cracks and unilateral unloading conditions not only deteriorate the mechanical strength but also have significant differences in failure modes. The degrading effect of cracks on model strength increases linearly with the decrease of the dip angle. Under the condition of true triaxial unilateral unloading, the deterioration effect of peak strength of rock is very significant, and unloading plays a role in promoting the instability failure of rock after peak, making the rock earlier instability failure. Associating with the particle vector diagram and crack coalescence process, the authors find that model failure mode under unilateral loading conditions is obviously distinct from that in triaxial loading. The peak strain in the unloading direction increases sharply, resulting in a new shear slip.

This study is expected to improve the understanding of the strength failure and cracking behavior of fractured rock under unilateral unloading.

Ultrasonic cleaning is an effective aid in the removal of flux residues from surface mounted circuits. However, an over‐intensive and too extended ultrasonic load of surface‐mounted electronic circuits, on ceramic substrates, occasionally causes the fracture of component leads. In a metallurgical study, it was found that the fracture mechanism is fatigue. The fundamental cure for this problem is to limit the ultrasonic load to a level below the fatigue limit of the leads. This can be achieved by limiting the ultrasonic power input in the bath. Other beneficial measures are to limit the cleaning time and the ultrasonic frequency, and to prevent the components from coming into contact with other parts during cleaning.

The main aim of this study is to determine the fracture toughness and accordingly to predict the fracture initiation, crack propagation and mode of crack extension accurately in polypropylene subsea pipes subjected to internal pressure.

Tensile test was performed following the ISO 527–1 standard. An elastic-plastic constitutive model was developed based on the tensile test results, and it is implemented in the FEA model to describe the constitutive behaviour of the polypropylene material. Three-point bend tests with linear-elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) approach were conducted following ISO-13586 standard, from which the average fracture toughness of the polypropylene pipe material in crack-opening mode was found as KIc = 3.3 MPa√m. A numerical model of the experiments is developed based on the extended finite element method (XFEM), which showed markedly good agreement with the experimental results.

The validated XFEM modelling approach is utilised to illustrate its capabilities in predicting fracture initiation and crack propagation in a polypropylene subsea pipe subjected to an internal pressure containing a semi-elliptical surface crack, which agrees well with existing analytical solutions. The XFEM model is capable of predicting the crack initiation and propagation in the polypropylene pipe up to the event of leakage.

The methodology proposed herein can be utilised to assess the structural integrity and resistance to fracture of subsea plastic pipes subjected to operational loads (e.g. internal pressure).

Fused deposition modelling (FDM) is increasingly being explored as a commercial fabrication method due to its ability to produce net or near-net shape parts directly from a computer-aided design model. Other benefits of technology compared to conventional manufacturing include lower cost for short runs, reduced product lead times and rapid product design. High-performance polymers such as polyetherimide, have the potential for FDM fabrication and their high-temperature capabilities provide the potential of expanding the applications of FDM parts in automotive and aerospace industries. However, their relatively high glass transition temperature (215 °C) causes challenges during manufacturing due to the requirement of high-temperature build chambers and controlled cooling rates. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of ULTEM 1010, an unfilled polyetherimide grade.

In this research, mechanical properties were evaluated through tensile and flexural tests. Analysis of variance was used to determine the significance of process parameters to the mechanical properties of the specimens, their main effects and interactions. The fractured surfaces were analysed by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy and porosity was assessed by X-ray microcomputed tomography.

A range of mean tensile and flexural strengths, 60–94 MPa and 62–151 MPa, respectively, were obtained highlighting the dependence of performance on process parameters and their interactions. The specimens were found to fracture in a brittle manner. The porosity of tensile samples was measured between 0.18% and 1.09% and that of flexural samples between 0.14% and 1.24% depending on the process parameters. The percentage porosity was found to not directly correlate with mechanical performance, rather the location of those pores in the sample.

This analysis quantifies the significance of the effect of each of the examined process parameters has on the mechanical performance of FDM-fabricated specimens. Further, it provides a better understanding of the effect process parameters and their interactions have on the mechanical properties and porosity of FDM-fabricated polyetherimide specimens. Additionally, the fracture surface of the tested specimens is qualitatively assessed.