Rigid line inclusion

A rigid line inclusion, also called stiffener, is a mathematical model used in solid mechanics to describe a narrow hard phase, dispersed within a matrix material. This inclusion is idealised as an infinitely rigid and thin reinforcement, so that it represents a sort of ‘inverse’ crack, from which the nomenclature ‘anticrack’ derives.

From the mechanical point of view, a stiffener introduces a kinematical constraint, imposing that it may only suffer a rigid body motion along its line.

Theoretical model

The stiffener model has been used to investigate different mechanical problems in classical elasticity (load diffusion,[1] inclusion at bi material interface [2]).

Sketch of a stiffener embedded in a matrix loaded at its boundary.

The main characteristics of the theoretical solutions are basically the following.

  1. Similarly to a fracture, a square-root singularity in the stress/strain fields is present at the tip of the inclusion.
  2. In a homogeneous matrix subject to uniform stress at infinity, such singularity only arises when a normal stress acts parallel or orthogonal to the inclusion line, while a stiffener parallel to a simple shear does not disturb the ambient field.

Experimental validation

Dog-bone shaped sample of two-component epoxy resin containing a lamellar (aluminum) inclusion.
Photoelastic experiment to validate the rigid line inclusion model. Isochromatic fringe patterns around a steel platelet in a photo-elastic two-part epoxy resin compared to analytical solution obtained in plane-strain classical elasticity. Normal stress parallel to the inclusion line is applied.

The characteristics of the elastic solution have been experimentally confirmed through photoelastic transmission experiments.[3]

Shear bands emerging at the stiffener tip

Analytical solutions obtained in prestressed elasticity show the possibility of the emergence of shear bands at the tip of the stiffener.[4][5][6][7]

References

  1. ↑ Koiter, W.T., On the diffusion of load from a stiffener into a sheet. Q. J. Mech. Appl. Math. 1955, VIII, 164–178.
  2. ↑ Ballarini, R., A rigid line inclusion at a bimaterial interface. Eng. Fract. Mech., 1990, 37, 1–5.
  3. ↑ G. Noselli, F. Dal Corso and D. Bigoni, The stress intensity near a stiffener disclosed by photoelasticity. International Journal of Fracture, 2010, 166, 91–103.
  4. ↑ Bigoni, D. Nonlinear Solid Mechanics: Bifurcation Theory and Material Instability. Cambridge University Press, 2012 . ISBN 9781107025417.
  5. ↑ F. Dal Corso, D. Bigoni and M. Gei, The stress concentration near a rigid line inclusion in a prestressed, elastic material. Part I Full-field solution and asymptotics. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2008, 56, 815–838.
  6. ↑ D. Bigoni, F. Dal Corso and M. Gei, The stress concentration near a rigid line inclusion in a prestressed, elastic material. Part II Implications on shear band nucleation, growth and energy release rate. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2008, 56, 839–857.
  7. ↑ F. Dal Corso and D. Bigoni, The interactions between shear bands and rigid lamellar inclusions in a ductile metal matrix. Proceedings of the Royal Society A, 2009, 465, 143–163.
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