A specimen for determining fracture properties under combined modes,I,II,and III crack tip conditions

Abstract

Abstract

An axisymmetric, bar-type specimen, which contains conical, ‘crack-like’, external flaws, is described. The specimen can be used to obtain mixed-mode (I, II, and III) fracture data. These ‘crack-like’ flaws can be created in metallic and non-metallic materials by incorporating metal or ceramic shims in moulds used to cast the components.

Mode I and mode II crack tip conditions are created in the specimen by subjecting it to an axial load, while mode III crack tip conditions are produced by applying a torsional load. Finite element analyses are performed and results are presented which enable the K_I, K_II, and K_III values to be determined from the axial load, the torque, the bar diameter, the crack length, and the crack inclination.