No abstract

Using the quasi-linear viscoelastic model proposed by Fung for the description of the viscoelastic properties of soft biological tissues, the parameters governing their time-dependent behavior are commonly estimated from relaxation experiments. Exact quantification is possible from the response to a step change in the strain. Since it is physically impossible to realize a true step change in the strain, in practice the response to a steplike strain change is used. In the present study the discrepancies between the exact and the estimated parameter values are investigated using a hypothetical quasi-linear viscoelastic material. The parameter τ1, governing the fast viscous phenomena, is found to be subject to the largest errors. Methods for obtaining better estimates of τ1 are outlined in a number of special cases.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the subcritical crack growth (SCG) behavior of alumina-glass dental composites. Alumina-glass composites were fabricated by infiltrating molten glass to porous alumina preforms. Rectangular bars of the composite were subject to dynamic loading in air, with stressing rates ranging from 0.01 MPa/s to 2 MPa/s. The SCG parameter n was determined to be 22.1 for the composite, which is substantially lower than those of high-purity dense alumina. Investigations showed that glass phases are responsible for the low n value as cracks propagate preferentially within glass phases or along the interface between glass phases and alumina phases, due to the fact that glasses are more vulnerable to chemical attacks by water molecules under stress corrosion conditions. The SCG behavior of the infiltration glass was also investigated and the SCG parameter n was determined to be 18.7.

The variation of the fracture toughness of MnZn ferrite ceramics with varying loading rate and humidity was determined with the aid of the single edge notched beam (SENB) test. A strong decrease with increasing humidity and decreasing loading rate was observed. A model for subcritical crack growth incorporating kinetic and adsorption effects was formulated to analyze the data. The value of the adsorptioncontrolled fracture toughness was determined independently by double torsion experiments and agreed favorably with the values as determined from the SENB data using the model. The strength of the material was determined, and analysis showed a strength behavior similar to the fracture toughness behavior, as predicted by the model. The analysis presented can be used to assess the subcritical crack growth behavior using a limited number of SENB specimens. a) Present address:

Near net-shape fabrication of hydroxyapatite (HA) glass composites has been attempted by infiltrating a glass into porous HA performs. Main efforts were put to develop glasses that are chemically compatible with HA at elevated temperatures. After extensive investigations in the phosphate and borosilicate systems, glasses of (50-55)SiO2-(20-25)B203-(10-20)Li2O-(0-6)CaO (wt%) composition were successfully developed. The glass shows good chemical compatibility with HA at elevated temperatures. Dense HA/glass composites can be fabricated at 850-950 degress C by the melt infiltration process. Investigations demonstrated a good near net-shape capability of the process, where the linear shrinkage induced by the infiltration process is less than 0.1%. Preliminary mechanical tests showed that the fracture strength and toughness of the infiltrated HA/glass composite are comparable with dense HA.