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Published on: November 1, 2018
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Toughness of Network Materials: Structural Parameters Controlling Damage Accumulation.
1Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180.
Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
|December 30, 2022
Summary
This study investigates fiber network rupture, finding ductile failure occurs at a constant energy release rate. Increased network regularity leads to brittle failure, highlighting mechanical heterogeneity
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Biophysics
Background:
- Network materials, characterized by fiber networks, are crucial in engineering and biology.
- Understanding their strength, toughness, and rupture mechanisms is essential for material design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rupture mechanism of stochastic model fiber networks without pre-existing cracks.
- To identify parameters controlling energy release rate and failure modes (brittle vs. ductile).
- To extend the Lake-Thomas theory to networks with distributed damage.
Main Methods:
- Stochastic modeling of fiber networks.
- Analysis of material softening due to fiber or crosslink failure.
- Calculation of energy release rate as the strain derivative of specific energy released.
Main Results:
- Ductile failure observed at a constant energy release rate in networks without pre-existing cracks.
- Ductile to brittle failure transition occurs with increasing network affineness (reduced heterogeneity).
- Network strength scales linearly with bond strength and crosslink density.
Conclusions:
- The study extends the Lake-Thomas theory to networks failing via distributed damage accumulation.
- Mechanical heterogeneity plays a key role in the ductile-to-brittle failure transition.
- Provides a physical model for failure in stochastic network materials.
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