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Crack formation during solid pyrolysis: evolution, pattern formation and statistical behaviour.
Yen T Nguyen1, Thomas J Pence1, Indrek S Wichman1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Proceedings. Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
|October 16, 2019
Summary
During combustion, solid materials degrade and crack. This study models crack formation, finding that the cracking threshold significantly influences crack patterns and evolution in charring materials.
Area of Science:
- Combustion Science
- Materials Science
- Computational Mechanics
Background:
- Solid materials degrade during combustion, losing structural integrity and forming defects like cracks.
- Material degradation is intrinsically linked to crack formation, impacting overall structural behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and numerically simulate a theoretical model for crack formation during the pyrolysis of charring materials.
- To investigate the influence of the cracking threshold on crack initiation, evolution, distribution, and behavior.
Main Methods:
- A theoretical model was developed to describe coupled material degradation and crack formation.
- The finite-element method was used for numerical simulation of a rubber-like material subjected to localized heat flux.
- The cracking threshold was systematically varied to analyze its effects.
Main Results:
- Crack formation is dependent on the ratio of the cracking threshold to the maximum principal stress.
- Two distinct domains of crack formation behavior were identified based on crack initiation.
- Correlations were established for crack length evolution and final crack length as functions of the stress ratio.
Conclusions:
- The cracking threshold is a critical parameter governing crack patterns and evolution in pyrolyzing materials.
- The study provides quantitative insights into crack spacing, total length, and initiation time.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for predicting material failure during combustion.
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