MATS16102

One and a half hours

Non-programmable electronic calculators may be used, provided that they cannot store text.

Graph paper available on request.

UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

BSc DEGREE, FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION

MEng DEGREE, FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION

MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR

21 May 2019

09:45 - 11:15

Answer ALL of Section A

15 Multiple choice questions.

All questions have only ONE correct answer. Circle the correct answer on the question paper.
Correct answers score 2 marks. ½ of a mark will be lost for each individual WRONG answer.
If more than one answer is circled you will score 0 for that question.

You are recommended to spend no more than 30 minutes on questions 1–15. Please make
sure your ID Number is entered on all pages and your question paper is handed in along with
answer booklets for section B.

Answer THREE questions from Section B

Answer each question from Section B in a separate answer book.

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 MATS16102

SECTION B

ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS FROM THIS SECTION

1. An engineering component is characterised by a bulk modulus of 210 GPa and a shear

modulus of 240 GPa. During service, the measurement of the elastic strains yields the
following values:
11 = -0.203  10-3; 12 = 21 = -0.236  10-3; 13 = 31 = 0.026  10-3; 22 = 0.015  10-3;
23 = 32 = 0.133  10-3; 33 = 0.317  10-3

(a) Calculate:

(i) The volumetric strain. (2 marks)

(ii) The deviatoric strain tensor. (3 marks)
(iii) The hydrostatic stress. (2 marks)
(iv) The total stress tensor. (4 marks)

(b) The design of this component predicted a yield stress of 340 MPa. Use the von
Misses yield criterion to determine if the component will have undergone yielding
under the stress state determined in (a)-(iv). (4 marks)

(c) Calculate the stored elastic energy per unit volume, and also the elastic energy if
in that state the component geometry is characterised by a circular cross section of
radius 10.8 mm and a length of 150.4 mm, assuming that the stress is uniform
throughout the component. (5 marks)

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2. Long glass fibres (Young’s modulus of 80 GPa, Poisson’s ratio of 0.25) are added as a
reinforcement to a polymeric matrix (Young’s modulus of 1 GPa, Poisson’s ratio of
0.30) in order to produce an advanced composite material. The volume fraction of fibres
is 20%. The fibres are aligned along the longitudinal direction of the composite.

(a) Calculate the Young’s modulus of the composite material along its longitudinal
and transverse direction. (5 marks)

(b) Calculate the longitudinal and transverse strain in the composite material, when a
stress of 400 MPa is applied along the longitudinal direction of the composite. At
that stress level, the material remains in the elastic regime. (7 marks)

(c) Calculate the stored elastic energy per unit volume in the matrix and in the fibres
at that level of stress. (8 marks)

3.

(a) Explain why metals plastically deform at a stress many times lower than their
theoretical strength. (3 marks)

(b) Discuss how metal crystals can be strengthened by alloying elements in solid
solution and why in certain alloys (e.g. carbon steel) this can lead to a ‘yield
drop’. (5 marks)

(c) Explain the stages of strain hardening, in terms of the characteristic stress-strain
curve response seen for each stage and the dislocation interactions that give rise to
this response. (7 marks)

(d) If there is no recovery, show that the increase in flow stress due to stage II strain
hardening can be described approximately by:

𝛥𝜏 = 𝛼 𝐺𝑏 𝛾 0.5

where; Δτ is the increase in shear resistance due to strain hardening, G is the shear
modulus, b is the Burger’s vector, 𝛼 is a constant, and γ is the shear strain.
(5 marks)

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 MATS16102

4.

(a) In the Griffith model for fast fracture of an ideal brittle material the expressions
for energy release, Urel and absorption, Uab during crack growth are given by:
𝜎2
𝑈rel = 𝜋𝑎2 𝑡 and 𝑈ab = 4𝑎𝑡𝛾
𝐸

Where σ is the applied stress, a, is the crack length, t, is the plate thickness, γ, is
surface energy and, E, is Young’s modulus.

By using these relationships, and drawing an energy diagram, show there is a

critical stress for fast fracture, given by:

2𝛾𝐸
𝜎crit = √
𝜋𝑎

(7 marks)

(b) Explain why engineers prefer to use the critical stress intensity factor, KC, to
predict the fracture stress in components. (2 marks)

(c) Two materials, a nickel alloy and a ceramic silicon carbide composite, are being
considered for a safety critical rotating disc application in a jet turbine engine.

(i) Using the information below, calculate the critical crack length, ac, for the two
materials, if the design stress is 300 MN m-2. (6 marks)
(ii) Discuss, demonstrating your materials engineering knowledge, which material
you would chose and why? (5 marks)
Fracture toughness is given by: 𝐾1C = 𝜎crit √𝜋𝑎.
For Sic: K1C = 12 MN m-3/2, density  = 3.2 g cm-3 and for the nickel alloy: K1C =
80 MN m-3/2, density 8.2 g cm-1.

END OF EXAMINATION

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