eprintid: 2044
rev_number: 6
eprint_status: archive
userid: 56
dir: disk0/00/00/20/44
datestamp: 2013-12-04 15:18:01
lastmod: 2014-10-09 09:20:24
status_changed: 2013-12-04 15:18:01
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Paggi, Marco
creators_name: Sapora, Alberto
creators_id: marco.paggi@imtlucca.it
creators_id: 
title: Numerical modelling of microcracking in PV modules induced by thermo-mechanical loads 
ispublished: pub
subjects: TJ
divisions: CSA
full_text_status: none
keywords: Photovoltaics; Thermoelasticity; Fracture Mechanics;    Contact Mechanics; Computational methods
note: This article belongs to a special issue: Proceedings of the 3rd International conference on crystalline silicon photovoltaics (SiliconPV 2013), edited by R. Brendel, A. Aberle, A. Cuevas, S. Glunz, G. Hahn, J. Poortmans, R. Sinton and A. Weeber 
abstract: Abstract Micro-cracking in polycrystalline Silicon is a serious concern for the durability of photovoltaic (PV) modules due to the resulting electrical power-loss. In this contribution, a thermo-mechanical cohesive zone model is proposed to predict the evolution of micro-cracks under the action of mechanical and thermal loads. The classical nonlinear cohesive zone approach, used in fracture mechanics to depict the phenomenon of cracking as a result of progressive breakage of atomic bonds, is extended to thermo-elastic fields. The additional thermal resistance of micro-cracks due to imperfect bonding is estimated according to an analogy with a contact mechanics formulation, where the dependency on the crack opening is suitably accounted for. A numerical example shows the applicability of the proposed approach to practical problems. 
date: 2013
date_type: published
publication: Energy Procedia
volume: 38
publisher: Elsevier
pagerange: 506 - 515
id_number: 10.1016/j.egypro.2013.07.310
refereed: TRUE
issn: 1876-6102
official_url: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610213013969
citation:   Paggi, Marco and Sapora, Alberto  Numerical modelling of microcracking in PV modules induced by thermo-mechanical loads.  Energy Procedia, 38.  506 - 515.  ISSN 1876-6102      (2013)