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Article
Publication date: 4 December 2017

Michal Jan Smolnicki, Michal Ptak and Grzegorz Lesiuk

The combined numerical-experimental approach has been presented. The purpose of this paper is to determine the critical rupture load of the notched components based on the…

Abstract

Purpose

The combined numerical-experimental approach has been presented. The purpose of this paper is to determine the critical rupture load of the notched components based on the cohesive zone modeling (CZM).

Design/methodology/approach

The 42CrMo4 steel (in normalized state) state has been tested and modeled using an eXtended finite element method (xFEM) philosophy with the CZM approach. In order to validate the numerically obtained critical load forces the experimental verification was performed.

Findings

The critical loads were determined for various notch configurations. The numerical and experimental values were compared. Based on this, a good agreement between experimental and numerical data is achieved. The relative error does not exceed 7 percent.

Practical implications

The presented procedure and approach is effective and simple for engineering applications. It is worth to underline that the obtained critical load values for notched components require only the static tensile test results and implementation of the presented route in numerical FEM, xFEM environment.

Originality/value

The presented methodology is actual and still developed. The scientific and engineering value of the presented numerical procedure is high.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 8 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 June 2018

Halyna Krechkovska, Oleksandra Student, Grzegorz Lesiuk and José Correia

The purpose of this paper is to assess the technical state of old and repair steels of Shukhov’s tower elements after operation during ~ 110 and 70 years of the water tower in…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the technical state of old and repair steels of Shukhov’s tower elements after operation during ~ 110 and 70 years of the water tower in Nikolaev, basing on their mechanical tests, metallography and fractography investigations.

Design/methodology/approach

For their certification, the fractographic and structural features and mechanical properties (hardness, strength, plasticity and impact toughness) were analyzed. Both the steels under consideration were characterized by low values of hardness and brittle fracture resistance. The mechanical characteristics of the old steel are lower compared with the repair one. It cannot be only explained by the quality of metal rolling. Moreover, the plasticity characteristics of both steels, defined in synthetic acid rain environment, are lower than in the air. Using fractography investigation, the operational damages in the bulk metal in the form of the elements of cleavage fracture in the central part of the fracture surfaces of specimens tested at the hydrogenation condition by synthetic acid rain environment were revealed.

Findings

The results of this study suggested a degradation of steels’ characteristics caused by the development of scattering damages during their operation. Higher relative elongation of the old steel at lower hardness and impact toughness were also evidenced in that. The metallography and fractography investigations also supported this finding.

Originality/value

This original study aimed at characterizing the microstructural and mechanical degradation of mild steels that was collected from Shukhov’s tower structural elements.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 December 2017

Aleksandra Królicka, Grzegorz Lesiuk and Mikołaj Katkowski

The purpose of this paper is to present a case of fatigue damaging of the attacking roller of the WRC class car. Fatigue fractures are a very essential source of cognitive and…

191

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a case of fatigue damaging of the attacking roller of the WRC class car. Fatigue fractures are a very essential source of cognitive and usable information about the cause of damage of various engineering components. Microfractography allows extending considerations about the main mechanism of initiation and growth of fatigue cracks. The presented research procedure allowed establishing the root cause analysis of the premature fatigue failure of the pinion shaft.

Design/methodology/approach

The specimen for metallographic investigation was extracted from failures pinion shaft. According to the light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study, the detailed observations of microstructure were performed. Fracture surface of pinion shaft and teeth were examined using SEM. The presence of the extraordinary mechanical notch was found as a potential failure root cause.

Findings

The potential cause of premature failure pinion shaft assembly has been found. The microstructural causes were excluded due to correctly performed heat treatment. The main reason of failure was improper mechanical machining of the pinion shaft due to large mechanical notch.

Originality/value

A detailed metallographic expertise route is presented. The usefulness of fractographic analysis is confirmed in case of the failure analysis of premature pinion shaft. The root cause was found and the concluding remarks are included in this paper.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 8 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 June 2018

Grzegorz Lesiuk, Mikolaj Katkowski, José Correia, Abilio M.P. de Jesus and Wojciech Blazejewski

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to observe an influence of different Composite Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) patches, whose application to metals is very easy, in…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to observe an influence of different Composite Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) patches, whose application to metals is very easy, in suppling and significantly elongating the service time; and second, the numerical calculation of the reduced stress intensity factor (SIF) range for strengthened cracked steel specimens.

Design/methodology/approach

One of the successful strengthening methods is the CFRP patching along the fatigue crack paths. The presented approach has been studied and discussed in this paper on the background of the numerical and experimental data. As it was expected, the proposed strengthening method is efficient and promising in case of the “immediate” repairs of critical members with cracks. The manufacturing process of specimens and test methodology as well as numerical approach to calculate SIFs for various reinforcements of steel specimens are presented. For this purpose, the Extended Finite Element Method was involved and described.

Findings

The main mechanism of fatigue crack growth retardation is associated with local ΔK reduction due to CFRP patches; any type of reinforcement results in an increase in af and a significant decrease in SIF values. The beach-marking method is described as a good, reliable and comprehensive method to capture the crack propagation in structures consisting of various materials and could be applied successfully for mixed mode testing.

Originality/value

A detailed experimental-numerical approach for fatigue crack growth in long-term operated structures made of steel is presented. The strengthening methodology is presented with consideration of the various CFRP patches configurations.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 November 2019

Michał Smolnicki, Mateusz Cieciura, Grzegorz Lesiuk, José Correia and Paweł Stabla

Engineered stone is a material which can be described as an artificial stone. The exemplary application area is sink production. There are very few research projects about this…

Abstract

Purpose

Engineered stone is a material which can be described as an artificial stone. The exemplary application area is sink production. There are very few research projects about this type of material. In fact, most of them are research conducted by the manufacturing company, which are limited to the basic properties of the material. However, knowledge about fracture mechanic of this material may be crucial in terms of usage. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of the inside structure was made using an optical microscope as well as SEM. In the paper, methods which can be used to obtain data about fracture behaviour of material are presented. Using eXtended Finite Element Method and experimental data from three-point bending of notched specimens stress intensity factors (SIFs) for I and II load modes were obtained. Finally, a comparison between the fracture initiation angle in the function of the ration of SIFs for I/II load modes and maximum tangential stress hypothesis prediction was presented.

Findings

Analysis of the inside structure proves that this type of material has an uneven distribution of particle size. This can follow to void and micronotches formation and, later, to the failure of the material. A method of obtaining stress intensity factors for the discussed type of material and specimens can be successfully applied to other similar material, as proposed in this work. Standard crack angle propagation criteria are not sufficient for this type of material.

Originality/value

There are very few research papers about this type of material. The subject of fracture mechanic is not properly discovered, despite the fact that IT is important in terms of the application area of these materials.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 12 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 June 2018

Grzegorz Lesiuk, Monika Maria Duda, José Correia, Abilio M.P. de Jesus and Rui Calçada

For nowadays construction purposes, it is necessary to define the life cycle of elements with defects. As steels 42CrMo4 and 41Cr4 are typical materials used for elements working…

Abstract

Purpose

For nowadays construction purposes, it is necessary to define the life cycle of elements with defects. As steels 42CrMo4 and 41Cr4 are typical materials used for elements working under fatigue loading conditions, it is worth to know how they will behave after different heat treatment. Additionally, typical mechanical properties of material (hardness, tensile strength, etc.) are not defining material’s fatigue resistance. Therefore, it is worth to compare, except mechanical properties, microstructure of the samples after heat treatment as well. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples of normalized 42CrMo4 (and 41Cr4) steel were heat treated under three different conditions. All heat treatments were designed in order to change microstructural properties of the material. Fatigue tests were carried out according to ASTM E647-15 standard using compact tension specimens. Later on, based on obtained results, coefficients C and m of Paris’ Law for all specimens were estimated. Similar procedure was performed for 41Cr4 steel after quenching and tempering in different temperatures.

Findings

The influence of heat treatment on the fatigue crack growth rates (42CrMo4, 41Cr4 steel) has been confirmed. The higher fatigue crack growth rates were observed for lower tempering temperatures.

Originality/value

This study is associated with influence of microstructural properties of the material on its’ fatigue fracture. The kinetic fatigue fracture diagrams have been constructed. For each type of material (and its heat treatment), the Paris law constants were determined.

Details

International Journal of Structural Integrity, vol. 9 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9864

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing and Special Equipment, vol. 4 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2633-6596

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