SEDL / STP / STP791-EB / STP37076S

Stress-Intensity Distributions for Natural Cracks Approaching Benchmark Crack Depths in Remote Uniform Tension

Smith, CW
Professor and graduate research assistant, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Kirby, GC
Professor and graduate research assistant, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1983

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Abstract

A series of frozen stress photoelastic experiments on large flat plates containing surface cracks was conducted during which cracks were grown to depths approximating those prescribed as benchmark depths in uniform remote tension. Crack shapes and stress-intensity distributions were obtained and compared with analytical results. It was found that (1) cracks grown in uniform remote tension retain their semielliptic shape but exhibit nonself-similar flaw growth, (2) stress-intensity factor (SIF) distributions compare favorably with results from finite element models, and (3) benchmark geometries cannot be obtained from cracks grown under uniaxial loading.