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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
251

Porovnání nosných struktur obráběcích strojů z tradičního a netradičního materiálu / Comparison of machine tool structures from traditional and non-traditional materials

Tichý, Antonín January 2019 (has links)
The topic of this diploma thesis is compare materials in machine tool structures. The introduction part is about literature retrieval in field of constructional components in machine frames. There are discribe the indiviual parts of machine structures their properties and influence, witch affect their static toughness, stabilty and accuracy of the whole milling machine. The most important part is focused to the materials witch constructions of machine are made from. The main of this thesis is a practical part, where is designed the own model of milling machine solved on the basis of experiences gain. The important choose was appropriate topology and materials witch the machine frame was made.
252

Zur Beurteilung der Sprödbruchgefährdung gelochter Stahltragwerke aus Flussstahl

Sieber, Lars 26 September 2016 (has links)
Bei der Beurteilung der Sicherheit bestehender Konstruktionen aus altem Baustahl (i. A. Flussstahl) und der Entscheidung über notwendige Instandsetzungs- und Verstärkungsmaßnahmen ist der Nachweis ausreichender Werkstoffzähigkeit (der Sicherheit gegen ein sprödes Versagen) von wesentlicher Bedeutung. Die in DIN EN 1993-1-10 normativ geregelten Nachweismethoden zur Beurteilung der Sprödbruchgefährdung wurden basierend auf umfangreichen bruchmechanischen Untersuchungen entwickelt. Sie gelten für Schweißkonstruktionen und „Stähle aus neuerer Zeit“ mit in der Regel hohen Zähigkeitswerten. Die Quantifizierung der Zähigkeit in Werkstoffnormen erfolgt durch Kerbschlagbiegeversuche. Die Beziehung zwischen der Übergangstemperatur der Kerbschlagarbeit und der Referenztemperatur der Bruchzähigkeit wird durch die modifizierte Sanz-Korrelation hergestellt, die nur für diese Stähle abgeleitet wurde. Das in der Norm verankerte Verfahren ist für alte Flussstahlkonstruktionen mit Lochschwächung durch Niet- und Schraubenverbindungen nicht geeignet. Einerseits unterscheiden sich Kerbwirkung und Eigenspannungszustand von geschweißten und genieteten Konstruktionen und damit die Zähigkeitsanforderungen wesentlich voneinander. Auf der anderen Seite unterliegen die Zähigkeitseigenschaften von Flussstählen deutlich größeren Streuungen. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden experimentelle und rechnerische Untersuchungen zum Sprödbruchverhalten gelochter Konstruktionen aus altem Flussstahl vorgestellt. Wesentlicher Bestandteil sind dabei die umfangreichen Werkstoffanalysen zur Ermittlung der bruchmechanischen Werkstoffzähigkeit im spröd-duktilen Übergangsbereich nach dem Master-Curve-Konzept (ASTM E1921). Die Auswertungen belegen, dass in Abhängigkeit des Herstellungsverfahrens unterschiedliche Werkstoffgüten definiert werden können. Um den Einfluss des Stanzens von Löchern auf das Sprödbruchverhalten alter Flussstähle zu beurteilen, werden Gefügeuntersuchungen und Mikrohärtemessungen durchgeführt. Ausgehend von einer umfassenden Analyse typischer Konstruktionsformen bestehender Tragwerke des Stahlhochbaus erfolgen bruchmechanische FE-Berechnungen an Anschlüssen von Winkelprofilen zur Bestimmung der Zähigkeitsanforderungen. Die dabei gewonnenen Ergebnisse des Spannungsintensitätsfaktors werden durch Modifikation bekannter Lösungen aus der Fachliteratur für die weitere Anwendung aufbereitet. Darauf aufbauend wird für die untersuchten Konstruktionsdetails im Rahmen einer bruchmechanischen Sicherheitsanalyse ein praxisgerechtes Verfahren zur Beurteilung der Sprödbruchgefährdung genieteter und geschraubter Bauteile abgeleitet. Mit Hilfe statistischer Methoden werden Streuungen der Festigkeits- und Zähigkeitskennwerte der Flussstähle erfasst und nach der Verifizierung durch Bauteilversuche in ein semi-probabilistisches Nachweiskonzept überführt.
253

Fracture toughness of void-site-filled skutterudites

Eilertsen, James S. 07 December 2011 (has links)
Thermoelectric materials are playing an increasingly significant role in the global effort to develop sustainable energy technologies. Consequently, the demand for materials with greater thermoelectric efficiency has stimulated the development of state-of-the-art interstitially doped skutterudite-based materials. However, since intermetallics are often embrittled by interstitial substitution, optimal skutterudite-based device design, manufacture, and operation require thorough assessment of the fracture toughness of interstitially doped skutterudites. This research determines whether the fracture toughness of skutterudites is sacrificed upon interstitial doping. Both pure and interstitially doped cobalt antimonide skutterudites were synthesized via a solid-state technique in a reducing atmosphere with antimony vapor. Their crystal structures were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, and then sintered by hot uniaxial pressing into dense pellets. The electronic properties of the sintered samples were characterized. Fracture toughness of the pure Co₄Sb₁₂ and interstitially doped In₀.₁Co₄Sb₁₂ samples was evaluated by the Vicker's indentation technique and by loading beam-shaped singe-edge vee-notched bend specimens (SEVNB) in 4-point flexure. The intrinsic crack-tip toughness of both materials was determined by measuring the crack-tip opening displacements (COD's) of radial cracks introduced from Vicker's indentations. The intrinsic crack-tip toughness of both pure Co₄Sb₁₂ and interstitially doped In₀.₁Co₄Sb₁₂ were found to be similar, 0.523 and 0.494 MPa√m, respectively. The fracture toughness of both pure and interstitially doped skutterudites, derived from SEVNB specimens in 4-point flexure were also found to be statistically identical, 0.509 and 0.574 MPa√m , respectively, and are in agreement with the intrinsic crack-tip toughness values. However, the magnitude of the toughness was found to be much lower than previously reported. Moreover, fracture toughness values derived from Vickers's indentations were found to be misleading when compared to the results obtained from fracture toughness tests carried out on the micronotched (SEVNB) specimens loaded in 4-point flexure. / Graduation date: 2012
254

The Relationship of Motivated Strategies for Learning, Mental Toughness, and Grit to Developmental Math Student Success in an Adaptive Learning Technology Environment

Vanderheiden Guney, Stacey Lynn 08 1900 (has links)
The importance of the study is grounded in the need to increase the success rates at community colleges, which is critical for meeting national goals for college attainment and promoting upward social mobility. The majority of community college students arrive unprepared for college-level math and are placed into developmental math. A drive to increase math performance has focused on course redesigns incorporating adaptive learning technologies. While adept at adapting subject matter to students' individual needs, there remains the need to understand the role of student metacognition in the learning process. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between specific learner attributes and academic success in developmental math for students who are acquiring their skills through an adaptive learning technology environment. The Motivated Strategies of Learning Questionnaire, GRIT, and Mental Toughness Questionnaires were used to uncover relationships and differences between measured traits, student success, and demographic items such as age, gender, race, amount of time spent in paid work, and previous credits. Survey results were analyzed using a correlation research design and demonstrated significant relationships between time and gender, topics mastered and race, time and Motivated Strategies for Learning, time and self-regulation, and grade and emotional control. The study makes recommendations about how to best develop and leverage adaptive learning technologies in the future.
255

Toughness enhancement in transition metal nitrides

Sangiovanni, Davide Giuseppe January 2011 (has links)
Toughness enhancements can be induced in cubic-B1 transition metal nitride alloys by an increased occupation of the d-t2g metallic states. In this Licentiate Thesis I use density functional theory to investigate the mechanical properties of TiN and VN and of the ternaries obtained by replacing 50% of Ti and V atoms with M (M = V, Nb, Ta, Mo, and W) to form ordered structures with minimum number of inter-metallic bonds. The calculated values of elastic constants and moduli show that ternary alloys with high valence electron concentrations (M = Mo and W), have large reductions in shear moduli and C44 elastic constants, while retaining the typically high stiffness and incompressibility of ceramic materials. These results point to significantly improved ductility in the ternary compounds. This important combination of strength and ductility, which equates to material toughness, stems from alloying with valence electron richer dmetals. The increased valence electron concentration strengthens metal–metal bonds by filling metallic d-t2g states, and leads to the formation of a layered electronic configuration upon shearing. Comprehensive electronic structure calculations demonstrate that in these crystals, stronger Ti/V – N and weaker M – N bonds are formed as the valence electron concentration is increased. This phenomenon ultimately enhances ductility by promoting dislocation glide through the activation of an easy slip system.
256

Análise microestrutural, tenacidade à fratura e vida em fadiga das AA7050-T7451 e AA2050-T84 (Al-Li) / Microstructural analysis, fracture toughness and fatigue life of AA7050-T7451 and AA2050-T84 (Al-Li) alloys

Pascoal Júnior, Fernando Antonio 23 February 2015 (has links)
No presente trabalho foi realizado um estudo comparativo entre as ligas AA7050- T7451 e AA2050-T84, bem como entre as direções L-T e T-L para analisar o comportamento das ligas, quando submetidos à temperatura ambiente e criogênica. Para realizar a análise comparativa entre as ligas e entre as direções, foram utilizados corpos de prova tipo C(T) (Compacto Tension), pré-trincados em fadiga. A análise comportamental das ligas foram avaliadas através dos ensaios de tenacidade à fratura, KIC, Curva KR, fadiga, da/dN. A microestrutura foi caracterizada através da microscopia ótica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microscopia eletrônica de transmissão. Foi observado que na direção L-T há uma maior resistência à propagação da trinca em relação à direção T-L, no que diz respeito à Curva KR, tanto para temperatura ambiente quanto para temperatura criogênica. Quando comparou-se as duas ligas na direção L-T em temperatura ambiente, ambas apresentaram um fator de intensidade de tensão similar. Os resultados dos ensaios de fadiga mostraram que a direção T-L é mais sensível à razão de carga. Analisando os resultados entre as direções L-T e T-L, observou-se que as duas ligas apresentaram comportamento anisotrópico. / A comparative study was made of the AA7050-T7451 and AA2050-T84 alloys and of the L-T and T-L directions to analyze the behavior of the alloys when subjected to room and cryogenic temperatures. The comparative analyses of the alloys and directions were performed using fatigue-precracked compact tension (CT) test specimens. The behavior of the alloys was analyzed based on fracture toughness, KIC, KR curve, fatigue, and da/dN tests. Their microstructure was characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The KR curve indicated that resistance to crack propagation was higher in the L-T direction than in the T-L direction at both room and cryogenic temperatures. In a comparison of the two alloys in the L-T direction at room temperature, they were found to present a similar stress intensity factor. The results of the fatigue tests demonstrated that the T-L direction is more sensitive to the load ratio. An analysis of the results in the L-T and T-L directions indicated that the two alloys exhibited anisotropic behavior.
257

Sinterização e caracterização mecânica e microestrutural de cerâmicas de SiC aditivadas com misturas de AIN/Dy2O3 e AIN/Yb2O3 / Sintering, mechanical and microstructural characterization of SiC ceramics with AlN/Dy2O3 and AlN/Yb2O3 additives

Santos, Aline Corecha 23 October 2015 (has links)
A obtenção de cerâmicas de SiC pela sinterização com a presença de aditivos que promovam a formação de uma fase líquida (SFL) durante o processo tem sido uma forma adequada para garantir a menor temperatura de sinterização. Pelo fato de o SiC ser frágil, a busca por melhores propriedades mecânicas e avaliação correta das mesmas, para ser aplicado em ambientes agressivos, é contínua. Com base nisso, na primeira etapa, foram estudados, quanto à molhabilidade sobre o SiC, os sistemas AlN/Re2O3 (Re = Dy, Yb) para serem utilizados como aditivos. Os ângulos de contato medidos foram menores que 10° e considerados adequados para a SFL. O SiC sinterizado com esses aditivos permitiu produzir microestruturas diferentes com o aumento da temperatura. Na segunda etapa, foram sinterizadas amostras na forma de pastilhas em várias temperaturas, cujas condições que apresentaram os melhores resultados de massa específica real e densidade relativa foram tomadas como referência para a sinterização na forma de barras prismáticas. Na terceira etapa, essas amostras foram avaliadas quanto à sua tenacidade à fratura (KIC) pelo método da barra entalhada em V, dureza e resistência à flexão. O comportamento de KIC foi avaliado em função da profundidade e raio de curvatura dos entalhes. Os valores variaram entre 2,59 e 3,64 MPam1/2. Verificou-se que os valores de KIC confiáveis foram aqueles encontrados com pequeno raio de curvatura na ponta do entalhe. Quando o raio foi grande, o mesmo não manteve a singularidade da raiz quadrada da ponta do entalhe, e forneceu valores de KIC superestimados. Foram realizados testes para determinar KIC em ar atmosférico e em água, cujos resultados foram menores em água que em ar, com queda entre 2,56 e 11,26%. A maior resistência sob flexão determinada em 4 pontos foi de 482 MPa. Observou-se correlação direta do tamanho dos grãos nos valores de KIC, dureza e módulo de ruptura das cerâmicas de SiC. / Obtaining SiC ceramics by sintering in the presence of additives that promote a liquid phase formation (LPS) during the process has been a proper manner to ensure the lowest sintering temperature. Because SiC is brittle, an ongoing search for better mechanical properties and proper evaluation of these properties for application in aggressive environments maintained. Thus, in the first stage we studied AlN/Re2O3 systems (Re = Dy, Yb), as to their wettability on SiC, for use as additives. The measured contact angles were smaller than 10° and considered suitable for the LPS. The sintered SiC with these additives allowed the production of different microstructures with the increase in temperature. In the second stage, pellet-shaped samples were sintered at various temperatures, and the conditions showing the best density results were taken as reference for sintering prism-shaped bars. In the third stage, these samples were evaluated for toughness (KIC) by single edge V-notched beam method, hardness, and flexural strength. The behavior of KIC was assessed for notch depth and notch radius of curvature. Values ranged between 2.59 and 3.64 MPa/m1/2. The reliable values of KIC were those found with small radius of curvature at the notch tip. When the radius was large, it did not maintain the singularity of the square root of notch tip and provided overestimated KIC values. Tests were performed to determine KIC in atmospheric air and water, and results were lower in water than in air, dropping between 2.56 and 11.26%. The greatest strength under the 4-point bending test was 482 MPa. We observed a direct correlation of grains size in KIC values, hardness and bending strength of SiC ceramics.
258

Determinação da tenacidade à fratura da região da solda de um tubo de aço ferrítico ASTM A 335 Gr.P22 através do Deslocamento da Abertura da Ponta da Trinca (CTOD) / Determination of fracture toughness in welds in a ferritic ASTM A 335 Gr.P22 steel pipe by Crack Tip Open Displacement (CTOD) method

Zampieri Júnior, Carlos Roberto 26 September 2014 (has links)
Aços ferríticos ligados ao cromo e molibdênio, como o ASTM A335 P22, são largamente utilizados nos geradores de vapor em plantas termoelétricas ao redor do mundo e podem apresentar trincas por fadiga durante sua operação. A montagem dos componentes dos geradores de vapor em campo é realizada através de técnicas manuais de soldagem e tem sido apontada como um fator crítico para a qualidade destes equipamentos quando algum parâmetro de soldagem é negligenciado durante o processo. A região soldada de um aço ligado sofre grande influência do ciclo térmico durante a soldagem, cujos elementos de liga mesmo em pequenas quantidades presentes no aço e metal da solda aumentam a temperabilidade, e que dessa forma favorece a formação de microestruturas bainíticas ou martensíticas na região soldada. Neste estudo, uma solda realizada de acordo com o procedimento qualificado, com pré-aquecimento e alivio de tensões pós-soldagem, foi comparada com uma solda realizada sem os tratamentos de pré-aquecimento e alivio de tensões, e foi comparada ainda com uma solda realizada sem os tratamentos térmicos de pré-aquecimento e alivio de tensões e com aporte de calor acima do determinado pelo procedimento. Para isto, o desempenho de cada solda foi analisado quanto ao desempenho nos ensaios de tração, dobramento lateral (requisitos de qualificação de procedimento pelo código ASME IX), e nos ensaios complementares de resistência ao impacto charpy e tenacidade à fratura de cada região principal da solda (Material base, ZTA e Metal de adição). A tenacidade à fratura de cada uma das regiões foi determinada através da técnica da mecânica da fratura elasto-plástica do Deslocamento da Abertura da ponta da trinca, \"Crack Tip Open Displacement\" (CTOD), aplicada a materiais dúcteis. O resultado deste estudo comparativo mostra que mesmo negligenciando os limites dos parâmetros do procedimento de soldagem especificado para o aço ASTM A335 P22, com espessura de 21mm e 304,8mm de diâmetro, o procedimento teria sido aprovado nos ensaios de qualificação estabelecidos pela norma (tração e dobramento lateral). Contudo, os resultados dos ensaios de Impacto charpy e CTOD realizados nas regiões da solda, mostraram que o metal de adição apresentou tenacidade bem a baixo do que foi observado para a ZTA e para o material base. Desta forma a realização do pré-aquecimento e tratamento de alívio pós-soldagem produziu microestruturas de menor dureza, mas que não refletiu em um aumento da tenacidade do metal de adição. / Ferritic alloy steels with chromium and molybdenum, as ASTM A335 P22, are widely used in steam generators in power plants around the world and may have broken fatigue during operation. The assembly of the components of the steam generators in the field is performed by manual welding techniques and has been identified as a critical factor for the quality of these devices when some parameter is ignored during the welding process. The welded region of an alloy is influenced thermal cycle during welding, alloying elements present in the steel and weld metal increases hardenability, and thus favors the formation of bainíticas or martensitic microstructures in the welded region. In this study, a weld made according to the procedure qualified, pre-heating and post-weld relief of stress was compared with a weld treatments performed without preheating and relieving stress, and was further compared with a solder heat treatments performed without preheating and stress relief heat input and determined by the above procedure. For this, the performance of each weld was analyzed for performance in tensile tests, lateral bending (qualification requirements of ASME IX by procedure code), and testing of Charpy impact resistance and toughness of each major region of the fracture weld (base material, HAZ and weld metal). The fracture toughness of each region was determined by fracture mechanics technique of elastic-plastic fracture Crack Tip Open Displacement (CTOD) applied to ductile materials. The result of this comparative study shows that even neglecting the parameters limits of the welding procedure specified for ASTM A335 P22 with thickness of 21mm and diameter of 304.8 mm, the procedure would have passed in qualification tests established by ASME IX (tensile and lateral bending). However, the results of Charpy impact and the CTOD tests performed in weld regions showed that the weld metal had a very low tenacity than was observed in the HAZ and the base material. Thus the realization of pre-heating and post-weld treatment relief produced microstructures with lower hardness but that was not reflected in an increase in the toughness of weld metal.
259

Avaliação da tenacidade à fratura de soldas de alta resistência e baixa liga pelo método da integral-J. / Evaluation of high strength low alloy steel weld metal fracture toughness using the J-integral method.

Silva, Rosana Vilarim da 24 June 1998 (has links)
Foi avaliada a influência da microestrutura na tenacidade à fratura de dois grupos de aços de Alta Resistência e Baixa Liga (ARBL), soldados, com diferentes composições microestruturais. Os metais de solda designados por A1/A2 exibiram uma microestrutura composta por ferrita acicular circundada por ferrita de contorno de grão, com alguma formação de ferrita Widmanstätten e microfases, denominada de microestrutura do tipo clássica. Os metais de solda designados por B1/B2 exibiram um microestrutura composta por bainita, martensita de baixo teor de carbono e microfases, denominada de microestrutura do tipo de ripas. Estes dois tipos de microestruturas são normalmente encontradas nas soldas de alta resistência empregadas em estruturas e componentes de grande responsabilidade. A avaliação da tenacidade à fratura foi realizada pela utilização dos conceitos da integral-J e CTOD. A técnica empregada para a medida do crescimento da trinca, foi a da variação da flexibilidade elástica em corpos de prova SE[B] e C(T). Os valores da tenacidade à fratura dos dois grupos de soldas, para ambas geometrias de corpos de prova, foram determinados e comparados. As análises microestruturais, do metal de solda e das superfícies de fratura dos corpos de prova ensaiados, foram realizadas por meio de microscopia ótica e eletrônica de varredura, com o objetivo de se correlacionar os valores de tenacidade à fratura com a microestrutura dos metais de solda. Foi verificado que os metais de solda A1/A2 que possuem uma microestrutura clássica, apresentaram tenacidade superior aos metais de solda B1/B2, que possuem uma microestrutura do tipo de ripas. / The influence of the microstructure on the fracture toughness behaviour of two groups of multipass High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel weld metals, presenting different microstructure composition, was evaluated. The weld metals A1/A2 exhibited a microstructure composed by acicular ferrite, allotriomorphic ferrite, Widmanstätten ferrite and microphases, and the weld metals B1/B2 presented a microstructure composed by bainite, low carbon martensite and microphases. The fracture toughness evaluation was carried out using J-integral and CTOD concepts and the elastic compliance technique in both SE[B] and CT testpieces. The fracture toughness values for both groups of welds and testpiece geometry were determined and compared. The weld metals microstructures and fracture surfaces analysis were performed using optical and scanning electronic microscope techniques, to correlate the determined fracture toughness values, with the local microstructure around the fatigue crack tip. It was verified that the weld metals A1/A2 exhibited fracture toughness values superior to the ones obtained from weld metals B1/B2.
260

Métodos de mecânica da fratura aplicados a polietileno de média densidade destinado à extrusão de tubos. / Fracture mechanics methods applied to medium density polyethylene designed for extrusion of pipes.

Peres, Fabiano Moreno 25 June 2009 (has links)
O polietileno de média densidade (PEMD) é um polímero termoplástico parcialmente cristalino, cujo uso tem crescido bastante em aplicações de engenharia, como em tubos plásticos para sistemas de distribuição de água e de gás. Sob carga constante, entretanto, este material pode eventualmente apresentar fratura por fluência, por meio de um mecanismo de crescimento lento de trincas, provocando acentuadas perdas por vazamento nos sistemas. Os métodos atuais empregados pela indústria para estimar a durabilidade dos tubos são caros, demorados, pouco práticos e imprecisos. Busca-se o desenvolvimento de técnicas mais eficientes, sendo que os métodos da mecânica da fratura são promissores no sentido de descrever a etapa de propagação da trinca. Ensaios de mecânica da fratura, entretanto, requerem a introdução de pré-trincas nos corpos de prova. Sabe-se que as técnicas artificiais de introdução de pré-trincas causam algum tipo de dano na matriz polimérica, que pode ou não afetar os resultados dos ensaios, dependendo dos eventos que ocorrerem após o carregamento inicial. A principal propriedade requerida de um método de introdução de pré-trinca, portanto, é reprodutibilidade. Neste estudo foram aplicados três importantes métodos de mecânica da fratura ao PEMD e investigados os efeitos de diferentes técnicas de introdução de pré-trincas sobre os resultados dos ensaios e sobre as estruturas de deformação na matriz do material na ponta da trinca. Os ensaios de tenacidade à fratura no estado plano de deformação - KIc - foram realizados em condições criogênicas, em vista do comportamento dúctil do material à temperatura ambiente, sendo que a estratégia mostrou-se satisfatória. Os resultados dos ensaios de Integral-J sugerem que o método pode não ser aplicável ao PEMD, devido ao peculiar mecanismo de fratura do material. O método do trabalho essencial de fratura - EWF - se aplica bem ao PEMD. Os resultados dos ensaios de KIc e EWF demonstraram que diferentes técnicas de introdução de pré-trincas provocam diferentes estruturas de deformação no material na ponta da trinca e afetam os resultados de ensaios de fratura no PEMD. Os resultados de EWF demonstraram ainda que o processamento também afeta as propriedades de fratura do material. É proposta uma nova técnica para a introdução de pré-trincas, com características mais naturais, a qual requer estudos complementares para seu aperfeiçoamento. / Medium density polyethylene (MDPE) is a semicrystalline thermoplastic polymer that has been increasingly used in engineering applications, as plastic pipes for water and gas distribution systems. Under constant load, however, this material may occasionally present creep failure, by means of a mechanism of slow crack growth, leading to leakage losses in the systems. Current methods used by industry to estimate durability of pipes are expensive, time consuming, non practical and inaccurate. The development of more efficient methods is a common target and fracture mechanics methods are promising in describing the crack propagation stage. Fracture mechanics testing methods, however, require the introduction of pre-cracks into the specimens. It is known that artificial methods of introducing pre-cracks produce some damage on the polymeric matrix, which may or not affect the results of tests, depending on the events that occur after the initial loading. Main propriety required of a pre-crack introducing method, therefore, is reproducibility. In this study three important fracture mechanics methods were applied to MDPE and the effects of different methods of pre-cracking over test results and over deformation structures of material matrix at the crack tip were investigated. Plane-strain fracture toughness - KIc tests were performed under cryogenic conditions, in view of the ductile behavior of material at room temperature and this strategy was well succeed. Results of Integral-J tests suggest that this method may not be applicable to MDPE, due to the peculiar fracture mechanism of the material. The essential work of fracture method EWF is well suited to study MDPE. The results of KIc and EWF tests showed that different pre-cracking methods cause different deformation structures in the material at the crack tip and affect the fracture tests with MDPE. EWF results showed also that the processing affect the fracture properties of materials too. It is proposed a new method for introducing pre-cracks, with more natural characteristics that requires complementary studies for its improving.

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