Fracture Behavior of Crop Circle Ceramic Tiles: Experimental and Numerical Study

Abstract

This research investigates the effect of three-dimensional (3D) bee-crop-circle tiles on load deformation, initial cracking and propagation, and stress redistribution. Experimental tests provide limited data due to the small specimen size and brittle nature of the material. A finite element (FE) model is constructed and validated by laboratory data to analyze the stress-strain responses and failure mode. The model enables a detailed description of stress patterns, stress propagation, and redistribution of layers beneath the bee design. The study concludes that a 3D crop circle-inspired design significantly influences the ultimate load-carrying capacity and stress-related behavior. The load-deformation response is nonlinear, and the coloring influences the thickness of coatings, further affecting the ultimate load and initial stiffness. Furthermore, designs with convex details result in an arc action, deviating the stress concentrations away from the line of loading. The FE model slightly overestimates the initial stiffness but represents the ultimate load and load-displacement response with high accuracy.