A lifetime prediction scheme is proposed based on the assumption that the lifetime (time to failure) of rocks under load is governed by the growth of microstructual defects (microcracks). The numerical approach is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics. The numerical calculation scheme is implemented as a cellular automat, where each cell contains a microcrack with length and orientation following certain distributions. The propagation of the microcrack is controlled by the Charles equation, based on subcritical crack growth. The zone inside the numerical model fails if the microcrack has reached the zone dimension or the stress intensity factor of the crack reached the fracture toughness. Macroscopic fractures are formed by these coalesced propagating microcracks, and finally lead to failure of the model. In the numerical approaches, elasto-plastic stress redistributions take place during the forming of the macroscopic fractures. Distinct microcrack propagation types have been programmed and applied to the proposed numerical models. These numerical models are studied under different loading conditions. Numerical results with excellent agreement with the analytical solutions are obtained with respective to predicted lifetime, important parameters for the microcracks, fracture pattern and damage evolution. Potential applications of the proposed numerical model schemes are investigated in some preliminary studies and simulation results are discussed. Finally, conclusions are drawn and possible improvements to the numerical approaches and extensions of the research work are given. / 本文认为微结构缺陷（微裂纹）的扩展决定了受力岩石的寿命（破坏时间）。基于此假设，提出了岩石寿命预测方法。利用线弹性断裂力学理论，通过FLAC进行了数值模拟。数值模型中每个单元定义一条初始裂纹，其长度与方向服从特定分布。基于亚临界裂纹扩展理论，由Charles方程决定微裂纹的扩展（速度）。如微裂纹发展至单元边界，或应力强度系数到达断裂韧度，则单元破坏。宏观裂纹由微裂纹所联合形成，并最终贯穿模型导致破坏。在形成宏观裂纹的过程中，发生弹塑性应力重分布。在数值模型中，编制了不同类型的微裂纹扩展方式，并在不同的受力条件下加以分析。数值模型的岩石寿命，裂纹形状，破坏方式以及一些重要的参数的数值模拟结果与解析解有较好的一致性。对本文所提出的数值模型的初步实际应用进行了分析，并讨论了计算结果。最后讨论了本文所提出的岩石寿命预测方法的可能改良与发展，并对进一步的研究工作给出建议。

Water-assisted crack growth at an epoxy/glass interface was measured as a function of applied strain energy release rate, G, and temperature using a wedge test geometry. The specimens consist of two glass plates bonded with a thin layer of proprietary epoxy adhesive. The crack fronts along the epoxy/glass interfaces were measured using an optical stereomicroscope. The relationship between G and the debonding rate, v, can be measured using this method, and the threshold value of strain energy release rate, Gth, can be determined from the measured data. Two types of testing procedures were conducted in this study: ex situ, i.e., pre-conditioned wedge tests and in situ ones, in which wedges were applied before the specimens were submerged into water. A preliminary model was developed based on the thermal activation barrier concept, and allows the prediction of Gth for the temperatures beyond the testing region. Changes in interfacial strain energy release rate caused by thermal residual stresses in a triple-layered specimen were analyzed in Chapter Three. The method is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics and simple beam theory. The curvature of a bimaterial strip was chosen to characterize the residual stress in the specimen, and the strain energy release rate, caused by both tensile and compressive residual stresses in the adhesive, was derived for an asymmetric double cantilever beam (ADCB) geometry. The contribution of the thermal residual and mechanical stress to the global energy release rate was analyzed. The thermally induced energy release rate, GT, is found to be independent of crack length, but is a function of residual stress level and geometric and material parameters of the specimen. The adhesion of films and coatings to rigid substrates is often measured using blister geometries, which are loaded either by an applied pressure or a central shaft. The measurement will be affected if there are residual stresses that make a contribution to the energy release rate. This effect is investigated using analytical solutions based on the principle of virtual displacements. A geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis is conducted for comparison. Furthermore, the relationships among strain energy release rate, load, deflection, and fracture radius are discussed in detail in Chapter Four. Both analytical solutions and numerical results reveal that uniform tensile residual stresses reduce a specimen's deflection if it experiences plate behavior under small loads. However, this effect diminishes when membrane behavior is dominant. The mechanics of a single-lap joint with different boundary conditions subjected to tensile loading are investigated. Closed-form solutions are obtained for a specimen configuration considering different clamping methods. Based on the approach pioneered by Goland and Reissner, the solutions reported in this paper provide a simple but useful way to understand the effects of boundary conditions on this test geometry. The solutions in this study suggest that different grip configurations mainly affect the response of the specimens if the grip position is close to the joint edge or the loads are small. Generally, the influence caused by different gripping methods is only limited to the boundary region, and the behavior of the joint part subjected to tensile loading is almost the same as that for a simply-supported case. / Ph. D.

The demand for flat glass is high and increasing significantly in the building industry as a direct result of architectural requirements for lightness, transparency and natural light. Current architectural trends require glass in curvilinear forms for smooth free-form façades. Two principal challenges arise from this: to cost-effectively produce the desired curvature and; to ensure its safe performance after exposure to ageing. The recent availability of high strength glass provides an opportunity to address the first challenge by developing cold bent glass. Cold bending involves the straining of relatively thin glass components, at ambient temperatures, and is a low energy and cost effective manner of creating curvilinear forms. However, cold bending is not yet widely established as a reliable method. The aim of this thesis is to develop the understanding of cold bent glass during the bending process and to evaluate its post-ageing performance. This thesis, firstly, investigates the mechanical response of monolithic glass plates during the cold bending process. The stability of cold bent glass is investigated experimentally by bending it in double curved anticlastic shapes. A parametric numerical analysis involves different boundary conditions, geometrical plate characteristics and bending parameters. The principal outcome is that a local instability, now termed cold bending distortion, occurs when certain displacement limits are exceeded and could degrade the optical quality of the glass. An evaluation procedure is also formulated to set limits and aid designers/manufacturers to predict the mechanical response and the optical quality of the glass. Cold bent glass is subjected to permanent bending stresses throughout its service life and therefore, its strength degradation after ageing needs to be quantified. Analytical, experimental and numerical investigations are undertaken in this thesis to identify the most effective method for estimating glass strength (evaluation of destructive tests, required number of specimens, statistical analysis methods and sub-critical crack growth). The limited availability of naturally aged toughened glass and the absence of a reliable ageing standard impede the evaluation of its aged performance. Therefore, a parametric experimental investigation of artificial ageing methods on glass is undertaken in this thesis. A procedure for the evaluation of the strength of aged glass is finally, formulated to allow the selection of artificial ageing parameters that correspond to a target level of erosion. The knowledge on artificial ageing and strength prediction acquired above is finally implemented on different types of glass to determine their strength after ageing and assess their safe use in cold bending / load bearing applications. The investigation showed that fully toughened glass has a superior performance to chemically toughened or annealed glass. Overall, the research presented in this thesis demonstrates that high quality cold bent toughened glass can be created when certain applied displacement limits are respected. These can be used as a safe, cost-effective and energy efficient replacement to the more conventional hot bent glass. However, cold bending / load bearing applications in which the stressed glass surface is exposed to ageing, require glass with a relatively high case depth such as fully toughened or bi-tempered glass.

This Ph.D. thesis was written under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Luboš Náhlík, Ph.D. and Assoc. Prof. Pavel Hutař, Ph.D. Thesis is focused mainly on application of generalized linear elastic fracture mechanics, which allows description of crack behaviour propagating from general singular stress concentrators, such as material interfaces or sharp V-notches, and verification of validity of used fracture criteria. The obtained results were used in the next part of the thesis, which deals with the issue of crack propagating in ceramic composites, where the stress distribution field is strongly influenced by the existence of material interface and presence of residual stresses, that arise during manufacturing process of composite.