Ground fissure,as a common geo-hazard,impairs the integrity of the site soil and affects the seismic performance of engineering structures.In this paper,a finite element(FE)model for subway stations in a ground fissur...Ground fissure,as a common geo-hazard,impairs the integrity of the site soil and affects the seismic performance of engineering structures.In this paper,a finite element(FE)model for subway stations in a ground fissure area was developed and validated by using experimental results.Numerical analyses were conducted to investigate the seismic response and failure mode of subway stations in a ground fissure area with different locations.Effects of ground fissure on deformations and internal forces of a station,soil pressures and soil plastic strains were discussed.The results showed that the seismic response of the station was significantly amplified by the ground fissure,and stations in the ground fissure area displayed obvious rocking deformation during earthquakes as compared to those in the area without fissures.It also was found that the soil yielding around the station,the dislocation occurring in the ground fissure area,and the dynamic amplification effect were more significant under vertical ground motion,which weakened the station’s ductility and accelerated its destruction process.展开更多
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles(AUVs)are pivotal for deep-sea exploration and resource exploitation,yet their reliability in extreme underwater environments remains a critical barrier to widespread deployment.Through s...Autonomous Underwater Vehicles(AUVs)are pivotal for deep-sea exploration and resource exploitation,yet their reliability in extreme underwater environments remains a critical barrier to widespread deployment.Through systematic analysis of 150 peer-reviewed studies employing mixed-methods research,this review yields three principal advancements to the reliability analysis of AUVs.First,based on the hierarchical functional division of AUVs into six subsystems(propulsion system,navigation system,communication system,power system,environmental detection system,and emergency system),this study systematically identifies the primary failure modes and potential failure causes of each subsystem,providing theoretical support for fault diagnosis and reliability optimization.Subsequently,a comprehensive review of AUV reliability analysis methods is conducted from three perspectives:analytical methods,simulated methods,and surrogate model methods.The applicability and limitations of each method are critically analyzed to offer insights into their suitability for engineering applications.Finally,the study highlights key challenges and research hotpots in AUV reliability analysis,including reliability analysis under limited data,AI-driven reliability analysis,and human reliability analysis.Furthermore,the potential of multi-sensor data fusion,edge computing,and advanced materials in enhancing AUV environmental adaptability and reliability is explored.展开更多
The oil and gas stored in deep and ultra-deep carbonate reservoirs is the focus of future exploration and development.Conical PDC(Polycrystalline Diamond Compact)cutter,which is a new kind of PDC cutter,can significan...The oil and gas stored in deep and ultra-deep carbonate reservoirs is the focus of future exploration and development.Conical PDC(Polycrystalline Diamond Compact)cutter,which is a new kind of PDC cutter,can significantly improve the rate of penetration(ROP)and extend PDC bit life in hard and abrasive formations.However,the breakage characteristics and failure mode of the conical PDC cutter cutting carbonate rock is still masked.In this paper,a series of single-cutter cutting tests were carried out with the conical and conventional PDC cutters.The cutting force,rock-breaking process,surface morphology of cutting grooves and cuttings characteristic were analyzed.Based on the derived formula of the brittle fracture index,the failure model of carbonate rock was quantitatively analyzed under the action of conical and conventional cutter.The results show that the average cutting force of the conical cutter is less than that of the conventional cutter,which means greater stability of the cutting process using the conical cutter.Carbonate rock with calcite as the main component tends to generate blocky rock debris by conical cutter.The height of the cuttings generated by the conical cutter is 0.5 mm higher than that generated by the conventional cutter.The conical cutter exhibits enhanced penetration capabilities within carbonate rock.The accumulation of rock debris in front of the conventional cutter is obvious.Whereas,the conical cutter facilitates the cuttings transport,thereby alleviating drilling stickiness slip.At different cutting depths,the conical cutter consistently causes asymmetric jagged brittle tensile fracture zones on both sides of the cutting groove.Calculations based on the brittle fracture index demonstrate that the brittle fracture index of the conical cutter generally doubles that of the conventional cutter.For carbonate rock,the conical cutter displays superior utilization of brittle fracture abilities.The research findings of this work offer insights into the breakage process and failure mode of carbonate rock by the conical cutter.展开更多
With the change of the main influencing factors such as structural configuration and impact conditions,reinforced concrete slabs exhibit different mechanical behaviors with different failure patterns,and the failure m...With the change of the main influencing factors such as structural configuration and impact conditions,reinforced concrete slabs exhibit different mechanical behaviors with different failure patterns,and the failure modes are transformed.In order to reveal the failure mode and transformation rule of reinforced concrete slabs under impact loads,a dynamic impact response test was carried out using a drop hammer test device.The dynamic data pertaining to the impact force,support reaction force,structural displacement,and reinforcement strain were obtained through the use of digital image correlation technology(DIC),impact force measurement,and strain measurement.The analysis of the ultimate damage state of the reinforced concrete slab identified four distinct types of impact failure modes:local failure by stamping,overall failure by stamping,local-overall coupling failure,and local failure by punching.Additionally,the influence laws of hammerhead shape,hammer height,and reinforcement ratio on the dynamic response and failure mode transformation of the slab were revealed.The results indicate that:(1)The local damage to the slab by the plane hammer is readily apparent,while the overall damage by the spherical hammer is more pronounced.(2)In comparison to the high reinforcement ratio slabs,the overall bending resistance of the low reinforcement ratio slabs is significantly inferior,and the slab back exhibits further cracks.(3)As the hammer height increases,the slab failure mode undergoes a transformation,shifting from local failure by stamping and overall failure by stamping to local-overall coupling failure and local failure by punching.(4)Three failure mode thresholds have been established,and by comparing the peak impact force with the failure thresholds,the failure mode of the slab can be effectively determined.展开更多
To ensure the safe implementation of underground reservoirs in abandoned coal mines,this study explores the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of coal-concrete composite structures under staged cyclic loading....To ensure the safe implementation of underground reservoirs in abandoned coal mines,this study explores the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of coal-concrete composite structures under staged cyclic loading.Specimens with coal-to-concrete height ratios ranging from 0.5:1 to 3:1 were tested,with damage evolution continuously monitored using acoustic emission techniques.Results indicate that while the peak strength of pure materials decreases by approximately 1 MPa under cyclic stress compared to uniaxial compression,composite specimens exhibit strength enhancements exceeding 5 MPa.However,the peak strength of composite specimens decreases with increasing coal height,from 30 MPa at CR0.5 to 20 MPa at CR3.0.The damage state was assessed using the dynamic elastic strain energy index and Felicity ratio,which revealed that composite specimens are more prone to early damage accumulation.Spatial acoustic emission localization further reveals distinct failure modes across specimens with varying height ratios.To elucidate these differences,interfacial effects were incorporated into a modified twin-shear unified strength theory.The refined model accurately predicts the internal strength distribution and failure characteristics of the composite structures.These findings provide a theoretical basis for the structural design and safe operation of underground reservoir dams.展开更多
Purpose:To evaluate the effects of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA)on the prevention of deep venous thrombosis(DVT)in elderly patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery.Methods:Eighty elderly patien...Purpose:To evaluate the effects of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA)on the prevention of deep venous thrombosis(DVT)in elderly patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery.Methods:Eighty elderly patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery who did not apply FMEA in Suzhou BenQ Medical Center from June 1,2022 to May 31,2023 were selected as the control group.According to the equal group experiment method,80 elderly patients who were managed using FMEA from June 1,2023 to May 31,2024 were selected as the FMEA group.The control group received traditional nursing management,while the FMEA group applied FMEA to analyze failure causes,calculate Risk Priority Numbers(RPNs),identify failure modes with higher RPNs,analyze the influencing factors,develop improvement measures,and optimize processes.The RPN values and the incidence of DVT,as well as nursing satisfaction scores,were compared in the two groups.Results:Compared with the control group,the total RPN values of the FEMA group decreased significantly,with a reduction rate of 87.0%.Besides,the incidence of DVT was 1.3%in the FMEA group,lower than 10.0%in the control group(8/80).What’s more,the patients in the FMEA group were more satisfied with the nursing service compared with the patients in the control group.Conclusion:The application of the FMEA in elderly patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery has demonstrated its potential to prevent the incidence of DVT,lower RPN values,and improve nursing satisfaction.展开更多
Multi-layer slopes are widely found in clay residue receiving fields.A generalized horizontal slice method(GHSM)for assessing the stability of multi-layer slopes that considers the energy dissipation between adjacent ...Multi-layer slopes are widely found in clay residue receiving fields.A generalized horizontal slice method(GHSM)for assessing the stability of multi-layer slopes that considers the energy dissipation between adjacent horizontal slices is presented.In view of the upper-bound limit analysis theory,the energy equation is derived and the ultimate failure mode is generated by comparing the sliding surface passing through the slope toe(mode A)with that below(mode B).In addition,the influence of the number of slices on the stability coefficients in the GHSM is studied and the stable value is obtained.Compared to the original method(Chen’s method),the GHSM can acquire more precise results,which takes into account the energy dissipation in the inner sliding soil mass.Moreover,the GHSM,limit equilibrium method(LEM)and numerical simulation method(NSM)are applied to analyze the stability of a multi-layer slope with different slope angles and the results of the safety factor and failure mode are very close in each case.The ultimate failure modes are shown to be mode B when the slope angle is not more than 28°.It illustrates that the determination of the ultimate sliding surface requires comparison of multiple failure modes,not only mode A.展开更多
Forests play an important role in controlling the formation and movement processes of debris flows.They contribute to soil stabilization,regulation of soil water content,and act as robust structures impeding the downs...Forests play an important role in controlling the formation and movement processes of debris flows.They contribute to soil stabilization,regulation of soil water content,and act as robust structures impeding the downstream progression of debris flows.On the positive side,trees,to some extent,can intercept debris flows and effectively mitigate their velocity by increasing flow resistance.On the negative side,trees may suffer damage from debris-flow hazards,characterized by the generation of substantial quantities of wood fragments and consequential ramifications such as river channel blockage,resulting in backwater rise.In extreme cases,this blockage collapse can lead to instantaneous discharge amplification,thereby adversely impacting urban safety and impeding sustainable development.Therefore,in order to grasp the effects of tree characteristics on tree failure modes,the tree failure modes and corresponding parameters,diameters at breast height(DBH)and root-soil plate size,were identified and recorded through the post-event field investigation in Keze Gully,a region prone to debrisflow events in Sichuan,China,respectively.To investigate the impact of spatial variability in tree root distribution on tree failure modes,the root crosssectional area ratio(RAR),root density(RD),root length density(RLD)and soil detachment rate(SDR)were obtained.The findings indicated that:(1)Tree characteristics reflect the interactions of debris flows and trees,and influence the tree failure modes ultimately.The root distribution characteristics influence the size and shape of the root-soil plate to affect the resistance of trees.(2)Compared to burial and abrasion,stem breakage and overturning are the predominant modes of tree failure in debris-flow hazards.Trees with a smaller DBH primarily experience stem breakage and bending,and trees with a larger DBH mostly experience overturning.(3)The root-soil plate shapes of overturned trees,affected by the root architecture and root growth range,are generally semielliptical or semicircular,and the horizontal and vertical radii increase with DBH,but the correlation between the root-soil plate’s breadth-depth ratio and DBH is low.(4)The biomass and RAR decrease with distance.The RAR distribution exhibit the order of upslope direction>downslope direction>lateral direction.The coarse root biomass significantly increases with DBH,but no clear trend in fine root biomass.(5)The roots can significantly enhance the soil erosion resistance,but the erosion resistance of coarse roots is not as significant as that of fine roots.The erosion resistance increases with DBH,and follows the order of upslope direction>downslope direction>lateral direction.The results could provide new insights into the influences of tree and root distribution characteristics on tree failure modes during debris flows.展开更多
Structural instability in underground engineering,especially in coal-rock structures,poses significant safety risks.Thus,the development of an accurate monitoring method for the health of coal-rock bodies is crucial.T...Structural instability in underground engineering,especially in coal-rock structures,poses significant safety risks.Thus,the development of an accurate monitoring method for the health of coal-rock bodies is crucial.The focus of this work is on understanding energy evolution patterns in coal-rock bodies under complex conditions by using shear,splitting,and uniaxial compression tests.We examine the changes in energy parameters during various loading stages and the effects of various failure modes,resulting in an innovative energy dissipation-based health evaluation technique for coal.Key results show that coal bodies go through transitions between strain hardening and softening mechanisms during loading,indicated by fluctuations in elastic energy and dissipation energy density.For tensile failure,the energy profile of coal shows a pattern of “high dissipation and low accumulation” before peak stress.On the other hand,shear failure is described by “high accumulation and low dissipation” in energy trends.Different failure modes correlate with an accelerated increase in the dissipation energy before destabilization,and a significant positive correlation is present between the energy dissipation rate and the stress state of the coal samples.A novel mathematical and statistical approach is developed,establishing a dissipation energy anomaly index,W,which categorizes the structural health of coal into different danger levels.This method provides a quantitative standard for early warning systems and is adaptable for monitoring structural health in complex underground engineering environments,contributing to the development of structural health monitoring technology.展开更多
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the short-circuit failure mechanisms in commercial 1.2 kV planar sili-con carbide(SiC)metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors(MOSFETs)under 400 and 800 V bu...This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the short-circuit failure mechanisms in commercial 1.2 kV planar sili-con carbide(SiC)metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors(MOSFETs)under 400 and 800 V bus voltage conditions.The study compares two products with varying short-circuit tolerances,scrutinizing their external characteristics and intrinsic fac-tors that influence their short-circuit endurance.Experimental and numerical analyses reveal that at 400 V,the differential ther-mal expansion between the source metal and the dielectric leads to cracking,which in turn facilitates the infiltration of liquid metal and results in a gate–source short circuit.At 800 V,the failure mechanism is markedly different,attributed to the ther-mal carrier effect leading to the degradation of the gate oxide,which impedes the device's capacity to switch off,thereby trig-gering thermal runaway.The paper proposes strategies to augment the short-circuit robustness of SiC MOSFETs at both volt-age levels,with the objective of fortifying the device's resistance to such failures.展开更多
BACKGROUND Utilizing failure mode and effects analysis(FMEA)in operating room nursing provides valuable insights for the care of patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery.AIM To evaluate the impact of FMEA on...BACKGROUND Utilizing failure mode and effects analysis(FMEA)in operating room nursing provides valuable insights for the care of patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery.AIM To evaluate the impact of FMEA on the risk of adverse events and nursing-care quality in patients undergoing radical surgery.METHODS Among 230 patients receiving radical cancer surgery between May 2019 and May 2024,115 were assigned to a control group that received standard intraoperative thermoregulation,while the observation group benefited from FMEA-modeled operating room care.Clinical indicators,stress responses,postoperative gastroin-testinal function recovery,nursing quality,and the incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Significant differences were observed in bed and hospital stay durations between the groups(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss or postoperative body temperature(P>0.05).Stress scores improved in both groups post-nursing(P<0.05),with the observation group showing lower stress scores than the control group(P<0.05).Gastrointestinal function recovery and nursing quality scores also differed significantly(P<0.05).Additionally,the incidence of adverse events such as stress injuries and surgical infections varied notably between the groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Incorporating FMEA into operating room nursing significantly enhances patient care by improving safety,expediting recovery,and reducing healthcare-associated risks.展开更多
Failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA)is a preven-tative risk evaluation method used to evaluate and eliminate fail-ure modes within a system.However,the traditional FMEA method exhibits many deficiencies that pose ch...Failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA)is a preven-tative risk evaluation method used to evaluate and eliminate fail-ure modes within a system.However,the traditional FMEA method exhibits many deficiencies that pose challenges in prac-tical applications.To improve the conventional FMEA,many modified FMEA models have been suggested.However,the majority of them inadequately address consensus issues and focus on achieving a complete ranking of failure modes.In this research,we propose a new FMEA approach that integrates a two-stage consensus reaching model and a density peak clus-tering algorithm for the assessment and clustering of failure modes.Firstly,we employ the interval 2-tuple linguistic vari-ables(I2TLVs)to express the uncertain risk evaluations provided by FMEA experts.Then,a two-stage consensus reaching model is adopted to enable FMEA experts to reach a consensus.Next,failure modes are categorized into several risk clusters using a density peak clustering algorithm.Finally,the proposed FMEA is illustrated by a case study of load-bearing guidance devices of subway systems.The results show that the proposed FMEA model can more easily to describe the uncertain risk information of failure modes by using the I2TLVs;the introduction of an endogenous feedback mechanism and an exogenous feedback mechanism can accelerate the process of consensus reaching;and the density peak clustering of failure modes successfully improves the practical applicability of FMEA.展开更多
To reveal the drop failure modes of the wafer level chip scale packages （WLCSPs） with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joints, board level drop tests were performed according to the JEDEC standard. Six failure modes were iden...To reveal the drop failure modes of the wafer level chip scale packages （WLCSPs） with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joints, board level drop tests were performed according to the JEDEC standard. Six failure modes were identified, i.e., short FR-4 cracks and complete FR-4 cracks at the printing circuit board （PCB） side, split between redistribution layer （RDL） and Cu under bump metallization （UBM）, RDL fracture, bulk cracks and partial bulk and intermetallic compound （IMC） cracks at the chip side. For the outmost solder joints, complete FR-4 cracks tended to occur, due to large deformation of PCB and low strength of FR-4 dielectric layer. The formation of complete FR-4 cracks largely absorbed the impact energy, resulting in the absence of other failure modes. For the inner solder joints, the absorption of impact energy by the short FR-4 cracks was limited, resulting in other failure modes at the chip side.展开更多
The failure modes of rock and soil under compression are complex phenomena that have not been explained in a mechanical perspective. However, large amounts of studies indicate that the failure modes of rock and soil s...The failure modes of rock and soil under compression are complex phenomena that have not been explained in a mechanical perspective. However, large amounts of studies indicate that the failure modes of rock and soil samples can be categorized into eight types. In this work, the inner tensile stress and the dissipation and conversion of energy of rock and soil under compression are analyzed, then the effective conversion coefficient of energy is deduced, thus the tensile failure criterion of rock and soil under compression is established. Combined with the shear strength criterion of Mohr–Coulomb, a tensile joint shear strength criterion for rock and soil under compression is built. Therefore, a mechanical criterion model concerning the failure modes of rock and soil under compression is established and verified by tests. This model easily explains the test results in the existing literature and many natural phenomena, such as collapse.展开更多
To analysis the early failures of machining centers,the failure mode effect and criticality analysis( FMECA) method was used. Based on the failure data collected from production lines in test run,all the failure modes...To analysis the early failures of machining centers,the failure mode effect and criticality analysis( FMECA) method was used. Based on the failure data collected from production lines in test run,all the failure modes of machining centers were summarized and criticality of all subsystems is figured out. And the process of FMECA was improved. The most critical subsystem was manipulator subsystem. The most critical failure mode was impacted manipulator. Reasons and effect of some important failure modes were analyzed. And some suggestions to solve failures were given.展开更多
In this study, three rapid repair techniques are proposed to retrofit circular bridge piers that are severely damaged by the flexural failure mode in major earthquakes. The quasi-static tests on three 1：2.5 scaled ci...In this study, three rapid repair techniques are proposed to retrofit circular bridge piers that are severely damaged by the flexural failure mode in major earthquakes. The quasi-static tests on three 1：2.5 scaled circular pier specimens are conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed repair techniques. For the purpose of rapid repair, the repair procedure for all the specimens is conducted within four days, and the behavior of the repaired specimens is evaluated and compared with the original ones. A finite element model is developed to predict the cyclic behavior of the repaired specimens and the numerical results are compared with the test data. It is found that all the repaired specimens exhibit similar or larger lateral strength and deformation capacity than the original ones. The initial lateral stiffness of all the repaired specimens is lower than that of the original ones, while they show a higher lateral stiffness at the later stage of the test. No noticeable difference is observed for the energy dissipation capacity between the original and repaired pier specimens. It is suggested that the repair technique using the early-strength concrete jacket confined by carbon fiber reinforced polymer （CFRP） sheets can be an optimal method for the rapid repair of severely earthquake-damaged circular bridge piers with flexural failure mode.展开更多
Data obtained from accelerated life testing （ALT） when there are two or more failure modes, which is commonly referred to as competing failure modes, are often incomplete. The incompleteness is mainly due to censori...Data obtained from accelerated life testing （ALT） when there are two or more failure modes, which is commonly referred to as competing failure modes, are often incomplete. The incompleteness is mainly due to censoring, as well as masking which might be the case that the failure time is observed, but its corresponding failure mode is not identified. Because the identification of the failure mode may be expensive, or very difficult to investigate due to lack of appropriate diagnostics. A method is proposed for analyzing incomplete data of constant stress ALT with competing failure modes. It is assumed that failure modes have s-independent latent lifetimes and the log lifetime of each failure mode can be written as a linear function of stress. The parameters of the model are estimated by using the expectation maximum （EM） algorithm with incomplete data. Simulation studies are performed to check＇model validity and investigate the properties of estimates. For further validation, the method is also illustrated by an example, which shows the process of analyze incomplete data from ALT of some insulation system. Because of considering the incompleteness of data in modeling and making use of the EM algorithm in estimating, the method becomes more flexible in ALT analysis.展开更多
Two loosely coupled single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems were used to model the flexural and direct shear responses of one-way reinforced concrete slabs subjected to explosive loading. Blast test results show that ...Two loosely coupled single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems were used to model the flexural and direct shear responses of one-way reinforced concrete slabs subjected to explosive loading. Blast test results show that the SDOF systems are accurate in predicting the failure mode of the slab under blast loads by incorporating the effects of the strain rate effect caused by rapid load application. Based on different damage criteria, pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams of the two failure modes were analyzed with the SDOF systems. The effects of span length, concrete strength, and reinforcement ratio of the slab on the P-I diagram were also investigated. Results indicate that a slab tends to fail in direct shear mode when it is of a smaller span length and tends to fail in flexure mode when it is of a larger span length. With the increase of the concrete strength or reinforced ratio, both the flexure and shear capacity increase. Based on numerical results, a simplified method and a semi analytical equation for deriving the P-I diagram are proposed for different failure modes and damage levels.展开更多
Combining the advantages of the stratified sampling and the importance sampling, a stratified importance sampling method （SISM） is presented to analyze the reliability sensitivity for structure with multiple failure...Combining the advantages of the stratified sampling and the importance sampling, a stratified importance sampling method （SISM） is presented to analyze the reliability sensitivity for structure with multiple failure modes. In the presented method, the variable space is divided into several disjoint subspace by n-dimensional coordinate planes at the mean point of the random vec- tor, and the importance sampling functions in the subspaces are constructed by keeping the sampling center at the mean point and augmenting the standard deviation by a factor of 2. The sample size generated from the importance sampling function in each subspace is determined by the contribution of the subspace to the reliability sensitivity, which can be estimated by iterative simulation in the sampling process. The formulae of the reliability sensitivity estimation, the variance and the coefficient of variation are derived for the presented SISM. Comparing with the Monte Carlo method, the stratified sampling method and the importance sampling method, the presented SISM has wider applicability and higher calculation efficiency, which is demonstrated by numerical examples. Finally, the reliability sensitivity analysis of flap structure is illustrated that the SISM can be applied to engineering structure.展开更多
The fatigue strength of a high V alloyed powder metallurgy tool steel with two different inclusion size levels, tempered at different temperatures, was investigated by a series of high cycle fatigue tests. It was show...The fatigue strength of a high V alloyed powder metallurgy tool steel with two different inclusion size levels, tempered at different temperatures, was investigated by a series of high cycle fatigue tests. It was shown that brittle inclusions with large sizes above 30μm prompted the occurrence of subsurface crack initiation and the reduction in fatigue strength. The fracture toughness and the stress amplitude both exerted a significant influence on the fish-eye size. A larger fish-eye area would form in the sample with a higher fracture toughness subjected to a lower stress amplitude. The stress intensity factor of the inclusion was found to lie above a typical value of the threshold stress intensity factor of 4 MPa.m^1/2. The fracture toughness of the sample with a hardness above HRC 56 could be estimated by the mean value of the stress intensity factor of the fish-eye. According to fractographic evaluation, the critical inclusion size can be calculated by linear fracture mechanics.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.52108473Project of Shaanxi Engineering Technology Research Center for Urban Geology and Underground Space under Grant No.2025KT-03Key Project of Education Department of Shaanxi Province under Grant No.23JY042。
文摘Ground fissure,as a common geo-hazard,impairs the integrity of the site soil and affects the seismic performance of engineering structures.In this paper,a finite element(FE)model for subway stations in a ground fissure area was developed and validated by using experimental results.Numerical analyses were conducted to investigate the seismic response and failure mode of subway stations in a ground fissure area with different locations.Effects of ground fissure on deformations and internal forces of a station,soil pressures and soil plastic strains were discussed.The results showed that the seismic response of the station was significantly amplified by the ground fissure,and stations in the ground fissure area displayed obvious rocking deformation during earthquakes as compared to those in the area without fissures.It also was found that the soil yielding around the station,the dislocation occurring in the ground fissure area,and the dynamic amplification effect were more significant under vertical ground motion,which weakened the station’s ductility and accelerated its destruction process.
基金The National Key R&D Program Projects(Grant No.2022YFC2803601)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Grant No.ZR2021YQ29)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province(Grant No.YQ2024E036)the Taishan Scholars Project(Grant No.tsqn202312317).
文摘Autonomous Underwater Vehicles(AUVs)are pivotal for deep-sea exploration and resource exploitation,yet their reliability in extreme underwater environments remains a critical barrier to widespread deployment.Through systematic analysis of 150 peer-reviewed studies employing mixed-methods research,this review yields three principal advancements to the reliability analysis of AUVs.First,based on the hierarchical functional division of AUVs into six subsystems(propulsion system,navigation system,communication system,power system,environmental detection system,and emergency system),this study systematically identifies the primary failure modes and potential failure causes of each subsystem,providing theoretical support for fault diagnosis and reliability optimization.Subsequently,a comprehensive review of AUV reliability analysis methods is conducted from three perspectives:analytical methods,simulated methods,and surrogate model methods.The applicability and limitations of each method are critically analyzed to offer insights into their suitability for engineering applications.Finally,the study highlights key challenges and research hotpots in AUV reliability analysis,including reliability analysis under limited data,AI-driven reliability analysis,and human reliability analysis.Furthermore,the potential of multi-sensor data fusion,edge computing,and advanced materials in enhancing AUV environmental adaptability and reliability is explored.
基金supported by the NSFC Key International(Regional)Cooperative Research Projects(No.52020105001)National Natural Science Foundation of China(52304014)+2 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project(2023M733873)the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum,Beijing(No.2462023SZBH003)General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(52374016,52274016)。
文摘The oil and gas stored in deep and ultra-deep carbonate reservoirs is the focus of future exploration and development.Conical PDC(Polycrystalline Diamond Compact)cutter,which is a new kind of PDC cutter,can significantly improve the rate of penetration(ROP)and extend PDC bit life in hard and abrasive formations.However,the breakage characteristics and failure mode of the conical PDC cutter cutting carbonate rock is still masked.In this paper,a series of single-cutter cutting tests were carried out with the conical and conventional PDC cutters.The cutting force,rock-breaking process,surface morphology of cutting grooves and cuttings characteristic were analyzed.Based on the derived formula of the brittle fracture index,the failure model of carbonate rock was quantitatively analyzed under the action of conical and conventional cutter.The results show that the average cutting force of the conical cutter is less than that of the conventional cutter,which means greater stability of the cutting process using the conical cutter.Carbonate rock with calcite as the main component tends to generate blocky rock debris by conical cutter.The height of the cuttings generated by the conical cutter is 0.5 mm higher than that generated by the conventional cutter.The conical cutter exhibits enhanced penetration capabilities within carbonate rock.The accumulation of rock debris in front of the conventional cutter is obvious.Whereas,the conical cutter facilitates the cuttings transport,thereby alleviating drilling stickiness slip.At different cutting depths,the conical cutter consistently causes asymmetric jagged brittle tensile fracture zones on both sides of the cutting groove.Calculations based on the brittle fracture index demonstrate that the brittle fracture index of the conical cutter generally doubles that of the conventional cutter.For carbonate rock,the conical cutter displays superior utilization of brittle fracture abilities.The research findings of this work offer insights into the breakage process and failure mode of carbonate rock by the conical cutter.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52078283)Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Project No.ZR2024MA094)。
文摘With the change of the main influencing factors such as structural configuration and impact conditions,reinforced concrete slabs exhibit different mechanical behaviors with different failure patterns,and the failure modes are transformed.In order to reveal the failure mode and transformation rule of reinforced concrete slabs under impact loads,a dynamic impact response test was carried out using a drop hammer test device.The dynamic data pertaining to the impact force,support reaction force,structural displacement,and reinforcement strain were obtained through the use of digital image correlation technology(DIC),impact force measurement,and strain measurement.The analysis of the ultimate damage state of the reinforced concrete slab identified four distinct types of impact failure modes:local failure by stamping,overall failure by stamping,local-overall coupling failure,and local failure by punching.Additionally,the influence laws of hammerhead shape,hammer height,and reinforcement ratio on the dynamic response and failure mode transformation of the slab were revealed.The results indicate that:(1)The local damage to the slab by the plane hammer is readily apparent,while the overall damage by the spherical hammer is more pronounced.(2)In comparison to the high reinforcement ratio slabs,the overall bending resistance of the low reinforcement ratio slabs is significantly inferior,and the slab back exhibits further cracks.(3)As the hammer height increases,the slab failure mode undergoes a transformation,shifting from local failure by stamping and overall failure by stamping to local-overall coupling failure and local failure by punching.(4)Three failure mode thresholds have been established,and by comparing the peak impact force with the failure thresholds,the failure mode of the slab can be effectively determined.
基金supported by the Deep Earth Probe and Mineral Resources Exploration-National Science and Technology Major Project(No.2024ZD1003903)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52374078,U24A20616,and 52074043)+1 种基金Sichuan-Chongqing Science and Technology Project Innovation Cooperation Program(No.2024TIAD-CYKJCXX0011)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2023CDJKYJH021).
文摘To ensure the safe implementation of underground reservoirs in abandoned coal mines,this study explores the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of coal-concrete composite structures under staged cyclic loading.Specimens with coal-to-concrete height ratios ranging from 0.5:1 to 3:1 were tested,with damage evolution continuously monitored using acoustic emission techniques.Results indicate that while the peak strength of pure materials decreases by approximately 1 MPa under cyclic stress compared to uniaxial compression,composite specimens exhibit strength enhancements exceeding 5 MPa.However,the peak strength of composite specimens decreases with increasing coal height,from 30 MPa at CR0.5 to 20 MPa at CR3.0.The damage state was assessed using the dynamic elastic strain energy index and Felicity ratio,which revealed that composite specimens are more prone to early damage accumulation.Spatial acoustic emission localization further reveals distinct failure modes across specimens with varying height ratios.To elucidate these differences,interfacial effects were incorporated into a modified twin-shear unified strength theory.The refined model accurately predicts the internal strength distribution and failure characteristics of the composite structures.These findings provide a theoretical basis for the structural design and safe operation of underground reservoir dams.
文摘Purpose:To evaluate the effects of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA)on the prevention of deep venous thrombosis(DVT)in elderly patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery.Methods:Eighty elderly patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery who did not apply FMEA in Suzhou BenQ Medical Center from June 1,2022 to May 31,2023 were selected as the control group.According to the equal group experiment method,80 elderly patients who were managed using FMEA from June 1,2023 to May 31,2024 were selected as the FMEA group.The control group received traditional nursing management,while the FMEA group applied FMEA to analyze failure causes,calculate Risk Priority Numbers(RPNs),identify failure modes with higher RPNs,analyze the influencing factors,develop improvement measures,and optimize processes.The RPN values and the incidence of DVT,as well as nursing satisfaction scores,were compared in the two groups.Results:Compared with the control group,the total RPN values of the FEMA group decreased significantly,with a reduction rate of 87.0%.Besides,the incidence of DVT was 1.3%in the FMEA group,lower than 10.0%in the control group(8/80).What’s more,the patients in the FMEA group were more satisfied with the nursing service compared with the patients in the control group.Conclusion:The application of the FMEA in elderly patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery has demonstrated its potential to prevent the incidence of DVT,lower RPN values,and improve nursing satisfaction.
基金support provided by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2017YFC1501304)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42090054,41922055 and 41931295)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China University of Geosciences(Wuhan)(No.CUGGC09).
文摘Multi-layer slopes are widely found in clay residue receiving fields.A generalized horizontal slice method(GHSM)for assessing the stability of multi-layer slopes that considers the energy dissipation between adjacent horizontal slices is presented.In view of the upper-bound limit analysis theory,the energy equation is derived and the ultimate failure mode is generated by comparing the sliding surface passing through the slope toe(mode A)with that below(mode B).In addition,the influence of the number of slices on the stability coefficients in the GHSM is studied and the stable value is obtained.Compared to the original method(Chen’s method),the GHSM can acquire more precise results,which takes into account the energy dissipation in the inner sliding soil mass.Moreover,the GHSM,limit equilibrium method(LEM)and numerical simulation method(NSM)are applied to analyze the stability of a multi-layer slope with different slope angles and the results of the safety factor and failure mode are very close in each case.The ultimate failure modes are shown to be mode B when the slope angle is not more than 28°.It illustrates that the determination of the ultimate sliding surface requires comparison of multiple failure modes,not only mode A.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.41925030)the Nyingchi National Sustainable Development Experimental Zone Project (2023-SYQ-007)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Research Program of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. IMHE-ZDRW-02)the Chinese Academy of Sciences Light of West China Program
文摘Forests play an important role in controlling the formation and movement processes of debris flows.They contribute to soil stabilization,regulation of soil water content,and act as robust structures impeding the downstream progression of debris flows.On the positive side,trees,to some extent,can intercept debris flows and effectively mitigate their velocity by increasing flow resistance.On the negative side,trees may suffer damage from debris-flow hazards,characterized by the generation of substantial quantities of wood fragments and consequential ramifications such as river channel blockage,resulting in backwater rise.In extreme cases,this blockage collapse can lead to instantaneous discharge amplification,thereby adversely impacting urban safety and impeding sustainable development.Therefore,in order to grasp the effects of tree characteristics on tree failure modes,the tree failure modes and corresponding parameters,diameters at breast height(DBH)and root-soil plate size,were identified and recorded through the post-event field investigation in Keze Gully,a region prone to debrisflow events in Sichuan,China,respectively.To investigate the impact of spatial variability in tree root distribution on tree failure modes,the root crosssectional area ratio(RAR),root density(RD),root length density(RLD)and soil detachment rate(SDR)were obtained.The findings indicated that:(1)Tree characteristics reflect the interactions of debris flows and trees,and influence the tree failure modes ultimately.The root distribution characteristics influence the size and shape of the root-soil plate to affect the resistance of trees.(2)Compared to burial and abrasion,stem breakage and overturning are the predominant modes of tree failure in debris-flow hazards.Trees with a smaller DBH primarily experience stem breakage and bending,and trees with a larger DBH mostly experience overturning.(3)The root-soil plate shapes of overturned trees,affected by the root architecture and root growth range,are generally semielliptical or semicircular,and the horizontal and vertical radii increase with DBH,but the correlation between the root-soil plate’s breadth-depth ratio and DBH is low.(4)The biomass and RAR decrease with distance.The RAR distribution exhibit the order of upslope direction>downslope direction>lateral direction.The coarse root biomass significantly increases with DBH,but no clear trend in fine root biomass.(5)The roots can significantly enhance the soil erosion resistance,but the erosion resistance of coarse roots is not as significant as that of fine roots.The erosion resistance increases with DBH,and follows the order of upslope direction>downslope direction>lateral direction.The results could provide new insights into the influences of tree and root distribution characteristics on tree failure modes during debris flows.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52011530037 and 51904019)。
文摘Structural instability in underground engineering,especially in coal-rock structures,poses significant safety risks.Thus,the development of an accurate monitoring method for the health of coal-rock bodies is crucial.The focus of this work is on understanding energy evolution patterns in coal-rock bodies under complex conditions by using shear,splitting,and uniaxial compression tests.We examine the changes in energy parameters during various loading stages and the effects of various failure modes,resulting in an innovative energy dissipation-based health evaluation technique for coal.Key results show that coal bodies go through transitions between strain hardening and softening mechanisms during loading,indicated by fluctuations in elastic energy and dissipation energy density.For tensile failure,the energy profile of coal shows a pattern of “high dissipation and low accumulation” before peak stress.On the other hand,shear failure is described by “high accumulation and low dissipation” in energy trends.Different failure modes correlate with an accelerated increase in the dissipation energy before destabilization,and a significant positive correlation is present between the energy dissipation rate and the stress state of the coal samples.A novel mathematical and statistical approach is developed,establishing a dissipation energy anomaly index,W,which categorizes the structural health of coal into different danger levels.This method provides a quantitative standard for early warning systems and is adaptable for monitoring structural health in complex underground engineering environments,contributing to the development of structural health monitoring technology.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Innovation Key R&D Program of Chongqing (Grant No.2023TIADSTX0037)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.62404026)+1 种基金the General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (Grant Nos.CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0475,CSTB2024NSCQ-MSX0331)the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (Grant No.KJQN202400609).
文摘This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the short-circuit failure mechanisms in commercial 1.2 kV planar sili-con carbide(SiC)metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors(MOSFETs)under 400 and 800 V bus voltage conditions.The study compares two products with varying short-circuit tolerances,scrutinizing their external characteristics and intrinsic fac-tors that influence their short-circuit endurance.Experimental and numerical analyses reveal that at 400 V,the differential ther-mal expansion between the source metal and the dielectric leads to cracking,which in turn facilitates the infiltration of liquid metal and results in a gate–source short circuit.At 800 V,the failure mechanism is markedly different,attributed to the ther-mal carrier effect leading to the degradation of the gate oxide,which impedes the device's capacity to switch off,thereby trig-gering thermal runaway.The paper proposes strategies to augment the short-circuit robustness of SiC MOSFETs at both volt-age levels,with the objective of fortifying the device's resistance to such failures.
文摘BACKGROUND Utilizing failure mode and effects analysis(FMEA)in operating room nursing provides valuable insights for the care of patients undergoing radical gastric cancer surgery.AIM To evaluate the impact of FMEA on the risk of adverse events and nursing-care quality in patients undergoing radical surgery.METHODS Among 230 patients receiving radical cancer surgery between May 2019 and May 2024,115 were assigned to a control group that received standard intraoperative thermoregulation,while the observation group benefited from FMEA-modeled operating room care.Clinical indicators,stress responses,postoperative gastroin-testinal function recovery,nursing quality,and the incidence of adverse events were compared between the two groups.RESULTS Significant differences were observed in bed and hospital stay durations between the groups(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss or postoperative body temperature(P>0.05).Stress scores improved in both groups post-nursing(P<0.05),with the observation group showing lower stress scores than the control group(P<0.05).Gastrointestinal function recovery and nursing quality scores also differed significantly(P<0.05).Additionally,the incidence of adverse events such as stress injuries and surgical infections varied notably between the groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Incorporating FMEA into operating room nursing significantly enhances patient care by improving safety,expediting recovery,and reducing healthcare-associated risks.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(22120240094)Humanities and Social Science Fund of Ministry of Education China(22YJA630082).
文摘Failure mode and effect analysis(FMEA)is a preven-tative risk evaluation method used to evaluate and eliminate fail-ure modes within a system.However,the traditional FMEA method exhibits many deficiencies that pose challenges in prac-tical applications.To improve the conventional FMEA,many modified FMEA models have been suggested.However,the majority of them inadequately address consensus issues and focus on achieving a complete ranking of failure modes.In this research,we propose a new FMEA approach that integrates a two-stage consensus reaching model and a density peak clus-tering algorithm for the assessment and clustering of failure modes.Firstly,we employ the interval 2-tuple linguistic vari-ables(I2TLVs)to express the uncertain risk evaluations provided by FMEA experts.Then,a two-stage consensus reaching model is adopted to enable FMEA experts to reach a consensus.Next,failure modes are categorized into several risk clusters using a density peak clustering algorithm.Finally,the proposed FMEA is illustrated by a case study of load-bearing guidance devices of subway systems.The results show that the proposed FMEA model can more easily to describe the uncertain risk information of failure modes by using the I2TLVs;the introduction of an endogenous feedback mechanism and an exogenous feedback mechanism can accelerate the process of consensus reaching;and the density peak clustering of failure modes successfully improves the practical applicability of FMEA.
基金Projects(51475072,51171036)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘To reveal the drop failure modes of the wafer level chip scale packages （WLCSPs） with Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu solder joints, board level drop tests were performed according to the JEDEC standard. Six failure modes were identified, i.e., short FR-4 cracks and complete FR-4 cracks at the printing circuit board （PCB） side, split between redistribution layer （RDL） and Cu under bump metallization （UBM）, RDL fracture, bulk cracks and partial bulk and intermetallic compound （IMC） cracks at the chip side. For the outmost solder joints, complete FR-4 cracks tended to occur, due to large deformation of PCB and low strength of FR-4 dielectric layer. The formation of complete FR-4 cracks largely absorbed the impact energy, resulting in the absence of other failure modes. For the inner solder joints, the absorption of impact energy by the short FR-4 cracks was limited, resulting in other failure modes at the chip side.
基金Projects(41572277,41402239)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2015A030313118)supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China+1 种基金Project(20120171110031)supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of ChinaProject(201607010023)supported by the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou,China
文摘The failure modes of rock and soil under compression are complex phenomena that have not been explained in a mechanical perspective. However, large amounts of studies indicate that the failure modes of rock and soil samples can be categorized into eight types. In this work, the inner tensile stress and the dissipation and conversion of energy of rock and soil under compression are analyzed, then the effective conversion coefficient of energy is deduced, thus the tensile failure criterion of rock and soil under compression is established. Combined with the shear strength criterion of Mohr–Coulomb, a tensile joint shear strength criterion for rock and soil under compression is built. Therefore, a mechanical criterion model concerning the failure modes of rock and soil under compression is established and verified by tests. This model easily explains the test results in the existing literature and many natural phenomena, such as collapse.
基金National Science and Technology Major Project of China(No.2013ZX04012071)
文摘To analysis the early failures of machining centers,the failure mode effect and criticality analysis( FMECA) method was used. Based on the failure data collected from production lines in test run,all the failure modes of machining centers were summarized and criticality of all subsystems is figured out. And the process of FMECA was improved. The most critical subsystem was manipulator subsystem. The most critical failure mode was impacted manipulator. Reasons and effect of some important failure modes were analyzed. And some suggestions to solve failures were given.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.51678150Science for Earthquake Resilience under Grant No.XH17064Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award(DECRA)
文摘In this study, three rapid repair techniques are proposed to retrofit circular bridge piers that are severely damaged by the flexural failure mode in major earthquakes. The quasi-static tests on three 1：2.5 scaled circular pier specimens are conducted to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed repair techniques. For the purpose of rapid repair, the repair procedure for all the specimens is conducted within four days, and the behavior of the repaired specimens is evaluated and compared with the original ones. A finite element model is developed to predict the cyclic behavior of the repaired specimens and the numerical results are compared with the test data. It is found that all the repaired specimens exhibit similar or larger lateral strength and deformation capacity than the original ones. The initial lateral stiffness of all the repaired specimens is lower than that of the original ones, while they show a higher lateral stiffness at the later stage of the test. No noticeable difference is observed for the energy dissipation capacity between the original and repaired pier specimens. It is suggested that the repair technique using the early-strength concrete jacket confined by carbon fiber reinforced polymer （CFRP） sheets can be an optimal method for the rapid repair of severely earthquake-damaged circular bridge piers with flexural failure mode.
基金supported by Sustentation Program of National Ministries and Commissions of China (Grant No. 203020102)
文摘Data obtained from accelerated life testing （ALT） when there are two or more failure modes, which is commonly referred to as competing failure modes, are often incomplete. The incompleteness is mainly due to censoring, as well as masking which might be the case that the failure time is observed, but its corresponding failure mode is not identified. Because the identification of the failure mode may be expensive, or very difficult to investigate due to lack of appropriate diagnostics. A method is proposed for analyzing incomplete data of constant stress ALT with competing failure modes. It is assumed that failure modes have s-independent latent lifetimes and the log lifetime of each failure mode can be written as a linear function of stress. The parameters of the model are estimated by using the expectation maximum （EM） algorithm with incomplete data. Simulation studies are performed to check＇model validity and investigate the properties of estimates. For further validation, the method is also illustrated by an example, which shows the process of analyze incomplete data from ALT of some insulation system. Because of considering the incompleteness of data in modeling and making use of the EM algorithm in estimating, the method becomes more flexible in ALT analysis.
基金Project(JC11-02-18) supported by the Scientific Foundation of National University of Defense Technology, ChinaProject(11202236) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Two loosely coupled single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems were used to model the flexural and direct shear responses of one-way reinforced concrete slabs subjected to explosive loading. Blast test results show that the SDOF systems are accurate in predicting the failure mode of the slab under blast loads by incorporating the effects of the strain rate effect caused by rapid load application. Based on different damage criteria, pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams of the two failure modes were analyzed with the SDOF systems. The effects of span length, concrete strength, and reinforcement ratio of the slab on the P-I diagram were also investigated. Results indicate that a slab tends to fail in direct shear mode when it is of a smaller span length and tends to fail in flexure mode when it is of a larger span length. With the increase of the concrete strength or reinforced ratio, both the flexure and shear capacity increase. Based on numerical results, a simplified method and a semi analytical equation for deriving the P-I diagram are proposed for different failure modes and damage levels.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (10572117,10802063,50875213)Aeronautical Science Foundation of China (2007ZA53012)+1 种基金New Century Program For Excellent Talents of Ministry of Education of China (NCET-05-0868)National High-tech Research and Development Program (2007AA04Z401)
文摘Combining the advantages of the stratified sampling and the importance sampling, a stratified importance sampling method （SISM） is presented to analyze the reliability sensitivity for structure with multiple failure modes. In the presented method, the variable space is divided into several disjoint subspace by n-dimensional coordinate planes at the mean point of the random vec- tor, and the importance sampling functions in the subspaces are constructed by keeping the sampling center at the mean point and augmenting the standard deviation by a factor of 2. The sample size generated from the importance sampling function in each subspace is determined by the contribution of the subspace to the reliability sensitivity, which can be estimated by iterative simulation in the sampling process. The formulae of the reliability sensitivity estimation, the variance and the coefficient of variation are derived for the presented SISM. Comparing with the Monte Carlo method, the stratified sampling method and the importance sampling method, the presented SISM has wider applicability and higher calculation efficiency, which is demonstrated by numerical examples. Finally, the reliability sensitivity analysis of flap structure is illustrated that the SISM can be applied to engineering structure.
基金financially supported by the National Key Technologies Research and Development Program of China (No. 2007BAE51B05)
文摘The fatigue strength of a high V alloyed powder metallurgy tool steel with two different inclusion size levels, tempered at different temperatures, was investigated by a series of high cycle fatigue tests. It was shown that brittle inclusions with large sizes above 30μm prompted the occurrence of subsurface crack initiation and the reduction in fatigue strength. The fracture toughness and the stress amplitude both exerted a significant influence on the fish-eye size. A larger fish-eye area would form in the sample with a higher fracture toughness subjected to a lower stress amplitude. The stress intensity factor of the inclusion was found to lie above a typical value of the threshold stress intensity factor of 4 MPa.m^1/2. The fracture toughness of the sample with a hardness above HRC 56 could be estimated by the mean value of the stress intensity factor of the fish-eye. According to fractographic evaluation, the critical inclusion size can be calculated by linear fracture mechanics.
