SEDL / STP / STP833-EB / STP32553S

Dynamic Crack Branching—A Photoelastic Evaluation

Ramulu, M
Research Assistant Professor, Professor, and Graduate Student, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.

Kobayashi, AS
Research Assistant Professor, Professor, and Graduate Student, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.

Kang, BS-J
Research Assistant Professor, Professor, and Graduate Student, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.

Pages: 19    Published: Jan 1984

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Abstract

A necessary and sufficient condition for crack branching based on a crack branching stress intensity factor, K^Ib, accompanied by a minimum characteristic distance of r^c is proposed. This crack branching criterion is evaluated by dynamic photoelastic experiments involving crack branching of six single-edged notch specimens and six wedge-loaded rectangular double cantilever beam specimens. Consistent crack branching at K^Ib = 2.04 MPa√m and r^c = 1.3 mm verified this crack branching criterion. The crack branching angle predicted by this crack branching criterion agreed well with those measured in the crack branching experiments.