Engineering topics

Chen, E. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Chen, E. P..

9 records

NASA NTRS1982

Moving cracks in layered composites

A three-layered composite with a crack spreading in the center layer has been analytically examined to evaluate the effect of material nonhomogeneity on a constant velocity crack. Two different loading characteristics are considered. In the first case, crack motion is maintained by uniform tensile stresses. In the other, crack deformation is caused by anti-plane shear stresses. Galilean transformation and Fourier sine and cosine transforms are used to determine dynamic crack tip stress fields. Standard Fredholm integral equations yield the dynamic stress intensity factors. The results show that the intensity of local dynamic stresses increases or decreases with crack length to layer thickness as a function of the relative magnitudes of the adjoining layer's material properties. Crack speed tends to increase the effect of material nonhomogeneity.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Sudden bending of a cracked laminate

The intensification of stresses near a through crack in the laminate that suddenly undergoes bending is investigated. A dynamic plate theory is developed which includes the effects of material inhomogeneity in the thickness direction and realistic crack edge stress singularity and distribution. Numerical examples indicate that (1) the crack moment intensity tends to decrease as the crack length to laminate thickness is increased, and (2) the average load intensity transmitted to a through crack can be reduced by making the inner layers to be stiffer than the outer layers.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Normal and shear impact of layered composite with a crack - Dynamic stress intensification

The dynamic response of a layered composite under normal and shear impact is analyzed by assuming that the composite contains an initial flaw in the matrix material. One of the objectives was to develop an analytical method for determining dynamic stress solutions which should lead to a numerical method which utilizes Fourier transform for the space variable and Laplace transform for the time variable. The time-dependent angle loading is separated into two parts: a symmetric and a skew-symmetric with reference to the crack plane. By superposition, the transient boundary conditions consist of applying normal and shear tractions to a crack embedded in a layered composite; one phase of the composite could represent the fiber while the other could be the matrix. Mathematically, these conditions reduce the problem to a system of dual integral equations solved in the transform plane for the transform of the dynamic stress-intensity factor.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Sudden stretching of a four layered composite plate

An approximate theory of laminated plates is developed by assuming that the extensioral and thickness mode of vibration are coupled. The mixed boundary value crack problem of a four layered composite plate is solved. Dynamic stress intensity factors for a crack subjected to suddenly applied stress are found to vary as a function of time and depend on the material properties of the laminate. Stress intensification in the region near the crack front can be reduced by having the shear modulus of the inner layers to be larger than that of the outer layers.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Sudden bending of cracked laminates

A dynamic approximate laminated plate theory is developed with emphasis placed on obtaining effective solution for the crack configuration where the 1/square root of r stress singularity and the condition of plane strain are preserved. The radial distance r is measured from the crack edge. The results obtained show that the crack moment intensity tends to decrease as the crack length to laminate plate thickness is increased. Hence, a laminated plate has the desirable feature of stabilizing a through crack as it increases its length at constant load. Also, the level of the average load intensity transmitted to a through crack can be reduced by making the inner layers to be stiffer than the outer layers. The present theory, although approximate, is useful for analyzing laminate failure to crack propagation under dynamic load conditions.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Effect of material nonhomogeneity on crack propagation characteristics

The influence of material nonhomogeneity on the behavior of a moving crack is investigated. The model assumes a running crack in a material whose elastic properties may differ from those of the surrounding material. Theoretical calculations showed that the energy stored in elements ahead of the crack can be raised or lowered depending on the crack velocity, the crack length and the degree of material nonhomogeneity which is associated with the ratio of the shear moduli and the distance between the crack and the neighboring material with different elastic properties. Based on the strain energy density theory, predictions are made on how material nonhomogeneity can influence the initiation and/or arrest characteristics of cracks.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Axisymmetric elastodynamic response from normal and radial impact of layered composites with embedded penny-shaped cracks

A method is developed for the dynamic stress analysis of a layered composite containing an embedded penny-shaped crack and subjected to normal and radial impact. Quantitatively, the time-dependent stresses near the crack border can be described by the dynamic stress intensity factors. Their magnitude depends on time, on the material properties of the composite and on the relative size of the crack compared to the composite local geometry. Results obtained show that, for the same material properties and geometry of the composite, the dynamic stress intensity factors for an embedded (penny-shaped) crack reach their peak values within a shorter period of time and with a lower magnitude than the corresponding dynamic stress factors for a through-crack.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Off-axis impact of unidirectional composites with cracks: Dynamic stress intensification

The dynamic response of unidirectional composites under off axis (angle loading) impact is analyzed by assuming that the composite contains an initial flaw in the matrix material. The analytical method utilizes Fourier transform for the space variable and Laplace transform for the time variable. The off axis impact is separated into two parts, one being symmetric and the other skew-symmetric with reference to the crack plane. Transient boundary conditions of normal and shear tractions are applied to a crack embedded in the matrix of the unidirectional composite. The two boundary conditions are solved independently and the results superimposed. Mathematically, these conditions reduce the problem to a system of dual integral equations which are solved in the Laplace transform plane for the transformation of the dynamic stress intensity factor. The time inversion is carried out numerically for various combinations of the material properties of the composite and the results are displayed graphically.

Sih, G. C.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Influence of specimen boundary on the dynamic stress intensity factor

The problem to be considered is the sudden appearance of a flaw or crack in a strip of material of finite height subjected to tensile loading. Stress waves are generated within the strip and are reflected from boundary to boundary. Of interest is the maximum value of the dynamic stress intensity factor at a given instance of time as the strip height to crack length ratio is varied.

Chen, E. P.↗