SEDL / STP / STP1171-EB / STP18042S

An Experimental Investigation of the T Stress Approach

Sumpter, JDG
Senior principal scientific officer, Admiralty Research Establishment, Dunfermline,

Pages: 11    Published: Jan 1993

Download this paper for $25 PDF (196K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

Many investigations have identified geometry dependence of Jc at initiation of cleavage fracture and Ji at initiation of fibrous tearing. This geometry dependence is predictable from elastic-plastic finite element analyses, which show that the crack tip stress-strain distribution is not always uniquely defined by J. This paper investigates the ability of the elastic T stress to explain experimentally observed trends in Jc with changes in specimen geometry. Data on mild steel three-point bend and center-cracked tension specimens are presented.