Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratio

The brick-and-mortar structure, known for its excellent mechanical properties, holds significant potential in biomimetic design. However, the effect of the interface on damage evolution and toughening mechanism remains unclear. This study employed 3D printing to fabricate brick-and-mortar structures...

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Main Authors: Tian Qiu, Chengyu Guan, Lihong Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Polymer Testing
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014294182500039X
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author Tian Qiu
Chengyu Guan
Lihong Liang
author_facet Tian Qiu
Chengyu Guan
Lihong Liang
author_sort Tian Qiu
collection DOAJ
description The brick-and-mortar structure, known for its excellent mechanical properties, holds significant potential in biomimetic design. However, the effect of the interface on damage evolution and toughening mechanism remains unclear. This study employed 3D printing to fabricate brick-and-mortar structures with different interface thickness ratios and examined their mechanical properties and damage evolution through quasi-static tensile tests and digital image correlation (DIC) technology. The results indicate that increasing the interface thickness ratio reduces yield strength, fracture strength, and elastic modulus while increasing fracture strain. Higher interface thickness ratios also intensify interface damage, increase separation length, and cause the fracture mode of the brick-and-mortar structure to transition from hard phase fracture to pull-out fracture, significantly enhancing ductility. To elucidate the effect of interface thickness on elastic modulus, theoretical models based on tension-shear chain (TSC), shear-lag (SL), and strain gradient theory based on shear-lag (SGSL) models were applied and validated with experimental data. At higher thickness ratios, tensile deformation is dominated by the hard phase, necessitating a larger aspect ratio to counteract the low modulus of the interface. To achieve optimal mechanical performance, the study introduced an optimal aspect ratio and explored the synergistic optimization of interface thickness and the aspect ratio of the hard phase. The optimal aspect ratio can effectively compensate for the low modulus of the interface, thereby optimizing the balance between mechanical strength and toughness. These findings provide a reference and basis for future biomimetic material design.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1873-2348
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Polymer Testing
spelling doaj-art-98346f42b44e4d878663dad009736e9b2025-02-03T04:16:27ZengElsevierPolymer Testing1873-23482025-02-01143108725Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratioTian Qiu0Chengyu Guan1Lihong Liang2Beijing Key Lab of Health Monitoring and Self-Recovery for High-End Mechanical Equipment, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaBeijing Key Lab of Health Monitoring and Self-Recovery for High-End Mechanical Equipment, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaCorresponding author.; Beijing Key Lab of Health Monitoring and Self-Recovery for High-End Mechanical Equipment, College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, ChinaThe brick-and-mortar structure, known for its excellent mechanical properties, holds significant potential in biomimetic design. However, the effect of the interface on damage evolution and toughening mechanism remains unclear. This study employed 3D printing to fabricate brick-and-mortar structures with different interface thickness ratios and examined their mechanical properties and damage evolution through quasi-static tensile tests and digital image correlation (DIC) technology. The results indicate that increasing the interface thickness ratio reduces yield strength, fracture strength, and elastic modulus while increasing fracture strain. Higher interface thickness ratios also intensify interface damage, increase separation length, and cause the fracture mode of the brick-and-mortar structure to transition from hard phase fracture to pull-out fracture, significantly enhancing ductility. To elucidate the effect of interface thickness on elastic modulus, theoretical models based on tension-shear chain (TSC), shear-lag (SL), and strain gradient theory based on shear-lag (SGSL) models were applied and validated with experimental data. At higher thickness ratios, tensile deformation is dominated by the hard phase, necessitating a larger aspect ratio to counteract the low modulus of the interface. To achieve optimal mechanical performance, the study introduced an optimal aspect ratio and explored the synergistic optimization of interface thickness and the aspect ratio of the hard phase. The optimal aspect ratio can effectively compensate for the low modulus of the interface, thereby optimizing the balance between mechanical strength and toughness. These findings provide a reference and basis for future biomimetic material design.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014294182500039X3D printingBrick-and-mortar structureOptimal aspect ratioInterfacePolymer
spellingShingle Tian Qiu
Chengyu Guan
Lihong Liang
Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratio
Polymer Testing
3D printing
Brick-and-mortar structure
Optimal aspect ratio
Interface
Polymer
title Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratio
title_full Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratio
title_fullStr Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratio
title_full_unstemmed Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratio
title_short Damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick-and-mortar structure: Essential role of interface thickness ratio
title_sort damage evolution and toughening mechanism in brick and mortar structure essential role of interface thickness ratio
topic 3D printing
Brick-and-mortar structure
Optimal aspect ratio
Interface
Polymer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014294182500039X
work_keys_str_mv AT tianqiu damageevolutionandtougheningmechanisminbrickandmortarstructureessentialroleofinterfacethicknessratio
AT chengyuguan damageevolutionandtougheningmechanisminbrickandmortarstructureessentialroleofinterfacethicknessratio
AT lihongliang damageevolutionandtougheningmechanisminbrickandmortarstructureessentialroleofinterfacethicknessratio