Search results for "brittleness"
showing 10 items of 93 documents
Mechanical properties of macroscopic magnetocrystals
2019
Abstract We studied experimentally and by numerical simulations the mechanical response of arrays of macroscopic magnetic spheres when an external stress is applied. First, the tensile strength of single chains and ribbons was analyzed. Then, simple cubic (cP), hexagonal (Hx) and hybrid (cP-Hx) structures, called here magnetocrystals , were assembled and subjected to tensile stress, bending stress and torsion until failure was reached. Atomistic crystalline structures are isotropic, but in the case of magnetocrystals, even when geometric isotropy is obeyed, dipolar magnetic interactions introduce a physical anisotropy which modifies, in a non-usual manner, the structures response to the kin…
Development of branching brittle and ductile shear zones: A numerical study
2017
Continental collision zones are usually associated with large-scale strike-slip shear zones. In most cases these shear zones are complex and consist of multiple strands, varying in width, length, and total displacement. Here we present 2-D numerical models to simulate the formation of such shear zones at different depth levels within the crust, under either brittle (frictional/plastic) or ductile conditions. Localization of shear zones is initiated by a material contrast (heterogeneity) of the material parameters. We systematically test the rate of strain-weakening in brittle and in ductile regimes to understand its influence on the development of shear zone networks. Our simulations sugges…
Collapse of a two-dimensional brittle granular column: Implications for understanding dynamic rock fragmentation in a landslide
2015
We investigate numerically the failure, collapse and flow of a two-dimensional brittle granular column over a horizontal surface. In our discrete element simulations, we consider a vertical monolayer of spherical particles that are initially held together by tensile bonds, which can be irreversibly broken during the collapse. This leads to dynamic fragmentation within the material during the flow. Compared to what happens in the case of a non-cohesive granular column, the deposit is much rougher, and the internal stratigraphic structure of the column is not preserved during the collapse. As has been observed in natural rockslides, we find that the deposit consists of large blocks laying on …
Melange: A viscoelastic lattice-particle model applicable to the lithosphere
2012
[1] This article introduces the software Melange, a 3D lattice-particle hybrid model. The software was specifically designed in order to simulate ductile visco-elasto-plastic deformation and can be used to study tectonic processes in the lithosphere from the micro to the macro scale. Melange is under an open source license. The code takes both relevant yield mechanisms for the deformation of lithospheric material into account: dynamic brittle failure and ductile creep, where ductile creep is modeled as viscoelasticity. The software considers effects of the local geology, of the inherent disorder of geomaterials, of rheological layering of the lithosphere and applies repulsion when the mater…
Benchmarking numerical models of brittle thrust wedges
2016
International audience; We report quantitative results from three brittle thrust wedge experiments, comparing numerical resultsdirectly with each other and with corresponding analogue results. We first test whether the participatingcodes reproduce predictions from analytical critical taper theory. Eleven codes pass the stable wedgetest, showing negligible internal deformation and maintaining the initial surface slope upon horizontaltranslation over a frictional interface. Eight codes participated in the unstable wedge test that examinesthe evolution of a wedge by thrust formation from a subcritical state to the critical taper geometry. Thecritical taper is recovered, but the models show two…
Influence of microporosity distribution on the mechanical behavior of oolithic carbonate rocks.
2015
Abstract The mechanical behavior of oolithic carbonate rocks was investigated for selected rocks with two different microstructural attributes: uniform (UP) and rimmed (RP) distribution of microporosity within ooids. These oolithic carbonate rocks are from the Oolithe Blanche formation, a deep saline aquifer in the Paris Basin, and a possible target for CO2 sequestration and geothermal production. Samples of similar physical properties (porosity, grain diameter, cement content) but different microporosity textures were deformed under triaxial configuration, in water saturated conditions, at 28 MPa of confining pressure, 5 MPa of pore pressure and at a temperature of 55 °C. During the experi…
Microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar Ti/Nb/Cu/steel laser joints
2020
Abstract The absence of intermetallic phases in Fe/Cu, Cu/Nb and Nb/Ti binary systems opens the possibility to obtain reliable joints between titanium alloys and steels by using a multimaterial copper/niobium insert. Continuous Yb:YAG laser welding of 1 mm thick titanium and 316L stainless steel plates through niobium/copper multimaterial insert was performed. The use of a 100 µm laser beam allowed producing isolated molten zones and thus completely avoiding the formation of brittle intermetallic phases, according to SEM and XRD analysis. The effect of energy per unit length applied to the niobium/copper welds on the mixing process and mechanical properties of the joints was investigated. A…
Reclaimed asphalt binders and mortars fatigue behaviour
2017
Fatigue cracking is one of the most important failure mechanisms occurring in asphalt pavements, especially when mixtures incorporate considerable amount of rReclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). In fact, aged binders contained in RAP generally make asphalt more brittle and specifically reduce fatigue resistance of the resulting asphalt mixtures. Binders and mortars play a key role in this phenomenon, considering fatigue cracking usually starts within these asphalt components. However, performance-related tests and specifications commonly regard binders and there are no sound methodologies allowing the use of mortars to predicting fatigue performance of asphalts containing RAP. For this reason,…
Brittle reactivation of ductile shear zones in NW Namibia in relation to South Atlantic rifting
2015
Rifting has occurred worldwide along preexisting mobile belts, which are therefore thought to control rift orientation on a large scale. On a smaller scale, shear zones within mobile belts are reactivated as rift faults. In NW Namibia, shear zones of the Neoproterozoic Kaoko Belt run subparallel to the present-day continental passive margin and are inferred to have been reactivated during the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean. However, the extent of this reactivation and the influence of the reactivated shear zones on South Atlantic rifting are largely unknown. A combined remote sensing and field study was conducted to quantify offsets that are a direct function of shear zone reactivation…
The use of steel angles for the connection of laminated glass beams: Experiments and modelling
2012
Abstract In the present paper the experimental results relative to three-point bending tests on multilayer glass beams and on semi-rigid connections realised with stainless double web angles are presented and discussed. Small and medium size glass beams were tested and load–deflection curves and crack patterns at failure were recorded. The laminated glass specimens, of equal cross-section, were characterised by three different combinations of annealed float and fully thermally tempered glass plies and different interlayers. Steel joints constituted by double web angles to connect two glass beams were tested adopting several geometrical configurations and using stainless steel bolts preloade…