Analysis of Interface Crack in Polymer Liner Subjected to Hygrothermal Stress

Abstract

Polymeric materials such as epoxy are widely used as coating layers for the containment building of the nuclear power plant. These layers may be damaged through a hygrothermal process and residual stresses can reach significant levels near the free edges, possibly leading to interface debonding or delamination. Interfacial stress singularities induced in a laminate model consisting of the epoxy coating layer and the concrete substrate is investigated using the time-domain boundary element method. The epoxy layer is assumed to be a linear viscoelastic material and moisture effects are assumed to be analogous to thermal effects. The overall stress intensity factor for the case of a small interfacial edge crack of length a has been computed.

Study of Solid Particle Erosion on Helicopter Rotor Blades Surfaces

“…Guangyu et al [29] carried out extensive research on helicopter coatings, where such coatings can improve the erosion resistance of compressor blades [30]. Lee [31] assumed that the coating was a linear elastomer, and calculated the residual and thermal stresses therein using the boundary element method; their results showed that stress in the corners and free edges causes cracking and peeling of the coating, leading directly to coating failure. Pan et al [32] studied the combination of particles and substrates at different temperatures to determine the optimal coating method.…”