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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

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NASA NTRS1974

Application of ERTS-1 imagery to fracture related mine safety hazards in the coal mining industry

The author has identified the following significant results. New fracture detail of Indiana has been observed and mapped from ERTS-1 imagery. Studies so far indicate a close relationship between the directions of fracture traces mapped from the imagery, fractures measured on bedrock outcrops, and fractures measured in the underground mines. First hand observations and discussions with underground mine operators indicate good correlation of mine hazard maps prepared from ERTS-1/aircraft imagery and actual roof falls. The inventory of refuse piles/slurry ponds of the coal field of Indiana has identified over 225 such sites from past mining operations. These data will serve the State Legislature in making tax decisions on coal mining which take on increased importance because of the energy crisis.

Wier, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Plane-stress fracture of compact and notch-bend specimens

Thin-gaged or high toughness materials containing cracks usually fail in a ductile manner with nominal failure stresses approaching the ultimate strength of the material. For such materials, a two-parameter fracture criterion was developed. An equation which related the linear elastic stress-intensity factor, elastic nominal stress, and two material parameters was previously derived and has been used as a fracture criterion for surface- and through-cracked specimens under tensile loading. This two-parameter fracture criterion was rederived in a more general form and was extended to compact and notch-bend fracture specimens. A close correlation was found between experimental and predicted failure stresses.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Fracture toughness testing data: A technology survey and bibliography

Announced survey includes reports covering fracture toughness testing for various structural materials including information on plane strain and developing areas of mixed mode and plane strain test conditions. Bibliography references cite work and conclusions in fracture toughness testing and application of fracture toughness test data, and in fracture mechanics analysis.

Stuhrke, W. F.↗

NASA NTRS1974

The surface geometry of inherited joint and fracture trace patterns resulting from active and passive deformation

Hypothetical models are considered for detecting subsurface structure from the fracture or joint pattern, which may be influenced by the structure and propagated to the surface. Various patterns of an initially orthogonal fracture grid are modeled according to active and passive deformation mechanisms. In the active periclinal structure with a vertical axis, fracture frequency increased both over the dome and basin, and remained constant with decreasing depth to the structure. For passive periclinal features such as a reef or sand body, fracture frequency is determined by the arc of curvature and showed a reduction over the reefmound and increased over the basin.

Podwysocki, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Fracture mechanics data for 2024-T861 and 2124-T851 aluminum

The fracture toughness and fatigue flaw growth characteristics of 2024-T861 and 2124-T851 aluminum were evaluated under plane stress conditions. Center cracked tension specimens were employed to evaluate these properties under a number of different test conditions which included variations in specimen thickness, specimen orientation, test environment, and initial flaw size. The effect of buckling was also investigated for all tests of thin gage specimens, and the effect of frequency and stress ratio was evaluated for the cyclic tests. Fracture toughness test results were analyzed and presented in terms of fracture resistance curves; fatigue flaw growth data was analyzed using empirical rate models. The results of the study indicate that both fracture toughness and resistance to fatigue crack growth improve with increasing temperature and decreasing thickness. The presence of buckling during testing of thin gage panels was found to degrade the resistance to fatigue flaw growth only at elevated temperatures.

Pionke, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Investigation of the plastic fracture of high-strength aluminum alloys

In a study of plastic fracture in five high-strength aluminum alloys (2014, 2024, 2124, 7075, and 7079), it has been shown that fracture toughness is affected primarily by the size and volume fraction of the larger (2 to 10 microms) second-phase particles. Certain of these particles crack at small plastic strains, nucleating voids which, with further plastic strain, coalesce to cause fracture. Not all second-phase particles crack at small plastic strains, and qualitative analysis of those which are primarily responsible for void nucleation shows that they contain iron or silicon or both. This result suggests that a reduction in the iron and silicon impurity content of the alloys should improve fracture toughness without loss of strength.

Van Stone, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Comparison of fracture mechanisms for carbon-epoxy composites under tensile loading

The effects of oxidative surface treatments and differences in resin crack sensitivity on the tensile properties of carbon-epoxy composites have been investigated. A comparison of the fracture mechanisms for two different fiber batches was made in both model and engineering composites, using unmodified and modified epoxy resin. It has been observed that two distinct characteristics occur in the fracture surfaces of most engineering composites; first, fibers which fracture at the surface result in cleavage failure and, second, those which have fractured elsewhere and pulled out. A detailed discussion of these observations is contained in this paper.

Mazzio, V. F.↗

NASA NTRS1975

An investigation of the failure and fracture behavior of graphite/epoxy laminates

A fundamental investigation of the fracture behavior of fiber reinforced composites is discussed. It is suggested that experimental and analytical investigations should compliment each other. Further, it is suggested that in order to understand and mathematically model composite fracture it is necessary to explore, understand and characterize the stress-strain behavior of each type of laminate tested from initial loading to incipient fracture. That is, it is not only necessary to perform fracture studies but it is necessary to perform stress-strain characterization and failure studies as well. For this reason a literature survey is presented in which these three elements are discussed. An experimental program to determine tensile properties of unnotched and notched unidirectional and multi-directional laminates composed of Hercules AS Fiber and 3501 Resin is described. Experimental unnotched moduli and strengths are presented, discussed and compared to lamination theory predictions. It is shown that rate effects are small and that lamination theory gives good results for moduli but not for strengths.

Brinson, H. F.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Fracture angle and strain-energy-density-factor of a crack at hole at an arbitrary angle

For both the maximum stress criterion and strain-energy-density-factor (S) theory, fracture angle (the initial angle of crack growth) is predicted by using opening and sliding mode stress intensity factors. These theoretical predictions are consistent with experimental fracture angles. For the S theory, the crack spreads in the direction of the negative fracture angle in a plane for which S is a minimum. This quantity was obtained analytically. The experimental data of the critical S on plexiglass fracture specimens remains essentially constant.

Hsu, Y. C.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Floor-fractured lunar craters

Observational data concerning floor-fractured craters on the lunar near and far sides are examined, including the morphologic classification of the craters, their spatial and size distributions, and their floor, peak, and rim elevations relative to the maria. Six morphologic classes and two subclasses are delineated on the basis of fracture pattern, crater floor depth, and floor type. These data are used to reconstruct a history of crater modification which accounts for the large differences in affected crater size and age, the small peak-rim elevation differences, remnant central peaks within mare-flooded craters and ringed plains, ridged and flat-topped rim profiles of heavily modified craters and ringed plains, as well as the absence of positive gravity anomalies in most floor-fractured craters and some large mare-filled craters. The results indicate that: (1) impact craters became centers of intrusions and volcanism generally related to periods of basin inundation by mare basalts; (2) some light-plains units in the highlands may be due to both impact ejecta and extrusions of light-colored lava or ash; (3) floor-fractured craters may have become important volcanic vents that contributed to the inundation of the lunar surface by mare basalts; and (4) the lunar highlands probably did not fully escape the epochs of mare flooding.

Schultz, P. H.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Plane-stress fracture of compact and notch-bend specimens

Thin-gaged or high toughness materials containing cracks usually fail in a ductile manner with nominal failure stresses approaching the ultimate strength of the material. For such materials, a two-parameter fracture criterion was developed. An equation which related the linear elastic stress-intensity factor, elastic nominal stress, and two material parameters has previously been derived and has been used as a fracture criterion for surface- and through-cracked specimens under tensile loading. In the present paper the two-parameter fracture criterion was rederived in a more general form and was extended to compact and notch-bend fracture specimens. A close correlation was found between experimental and calculated failure stresses.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Some recent theoretical and experimental developments in fracture mechanics

Recent theoretical and experimental developments in four distinct areas of fracture mechanics research are described. These are as follows: experimental comparisons of different nonlinear fracture toughness measures, including the nonlinear energy, R curve, COD and J integral methods; the singular elastic crack-tip stress and displacement equations and the validity of the proposition of their general adequacy as indicated, for example, by the biaxially loaded infinite sheet with a flat crack; the thermodynamic nature of surface energy induced by propagating cracks in relation to a general continuum thermodynamic description of brittle fracture; and analytical and experimental aspects of Mode II fracture, with experimental data for certain aluminum, steel and titanium alloys.

Liebowitz, H.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Fracture modes in off-axis fiber composites

Criteria were developed for identifying, characterizing, and quantifying fracture modes in high-modulus graphite-fiber/resin unidirectional composites subjected to off-axis tensile loading. Procedures are described which use sensitivity analyses and off-axis data to determine the uniaxial strength of fiber composites. It was found that off-axis composites fail by three fracture modes which produce unique fracture surface characteristics. The stress that dominates each fracture mode and the load angle range of its dominance can be identified. Linear composite mechanics is adequate to describe quantitatively the mechanical behavior of off-axis composites. The uniaxial strengths predicted from off-axis data are comparable to these measured in uniaxial tests.

Sinclair, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Floor-fractured craters on the moon and Mars

Impact craters on the moon provided primary pathways for volcanic eruptions through shock-induced fractures that immediately or subsequently tap magma reservoirs. Evidence for this process includes unbreached lava-filled craters and fractured crater floors with associated eruptives. Over 200 craters with floor fractures have been identified on the moon. They commonly occur along the margins of irregular maria, thereby suggesting a link to this important phase of lunar volcanism. Topographic data reveal small elevation differences between the summit of the remnant central peaks and crater rim, and in many cases suggest that floor fracturing resulted from a tabular intrusion localized beneath the crater with uplift of the crater floor. A comparison of lunar and Martian crater photographs shows that some Martian craters also exhibit similar highly localized endogenic modifications.

Schultz, P. H.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Fracture modes in off-axis fiber composites

Criteria have been developed for identifying, characterizing, and quantifying fracture modes in high-modulus graphite-fiber/resin unidirectional composites subjected to off-axis tensile loading. Procedures are described which use sensitivity analyses and off-axis data to determine the uniaxial strength of fiber composites. It was found that off-axis composites fail by three fracture modes which produce unique fracture surface characteristics. The stress that dominates each fracture mode and the load angle range of its dominance can be identified. Linear composite mechanics is adequate to describe quantitatively the mechanical behavior of off-axis composites. The uniaxial strengths predicted from off-axis data are comparable to those measured in uniaxial tests.

Sinclair, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The application of fracture mechanics to failure analysis of photovoltaic solar modules

Cracking of silicon solar cells and solar module transparent cover panels such as glass or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a major cause of photovoltaic solar module failure in field service. Silicon and cover materials are brittle, and cracking of these materials is expected to result from the extension of preexisting flaws under stress. Study of the cracking mechanisms is therefore an appropriate area for the application of fracture mechanics principles. In this study, fracture mechanics techniques were employed to identify the mode of crack propagation, to examine the fracture-initiating flaw, to estimate the nature and magnitude of fracture stress in the field, and to predict analytically the service lifetime. Recommendations for corrective actions are also made.

Chen, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Mechanical Coal-Face Fracturer

Radial points on proposed drill bit take advantage of natural fracture planes of coal. Radial fracture points retracted during drilling and impacted by piston to fracture coal once drilling halts. Group of bits attached to array of pneumatic drivers to fracture large areas of coal face.

Collins, E. R., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Aspects of fracture mechanics in cryogenic model design. Part 2: NTF materials

Results of fatigue crack growth and fracture toughness tests conducted on three candidate materials are presented. Fatigue crack growth and fracture toughness tests were conducted on NITRONIC 40 at room temperature and -275 F. Fracture toughness tests were also conducted on Vascomax 200 and 250 maraging steel from room temperature to -320 F. NITRONIC 40 was used to make the Pathfinder 1 model. The fatigue crack growth rate tests were conducted at room temperature and -275 F on three-point notch bend specimens. The fracture toughness tests on the as received and stress relieved materials at -275 F were conducted on the center crack tension specimens. Toughness tests were also conducted on Vascomax CVM-200 and CVM-250 maraging steel from room temperature to -320 F using round and rectangular compact specimens.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗