Abstract
Scaling effects on the creep crack growth behaviour are investigated by analyzing the results of compact tension (CT) tests on different-sized notched steel specimens appearing in the literature. Creep crack growth rate data are correlated to the elastic stress-intensity factor in terms of a Paris-type law, da∕dt = C 0 K q , where C 0 turns out to be a crack-size dependent coefficient of proportionality. Considering specimens with the same loading configuration (CT) and the same thickness, the observed crack-size effect on the creep crack growth rate is discussed on the basis of self-similarity considerations, and geometrically interpreted in terms of fractal tortuosity of the crack profile. A size-independent formulation of the creep crack growth law correlating renormalized quantities is finally deduced and confirmed by the experimental results.
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