Abstract
Size effects related to circular notched samples imply that the strength of the structure decreases as the hole radius increases. In this framework, Brazilian disk tests are carried out on brittle samples containing a circular hole. By considering two different polymers, namely Polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and General-purpose Polystyrene (GPPS), respectively, five different notch radii were machined and tested for each material, keeping low the hole to disk diameter ratio in order to reproduce an infinite geometry. Under this assumption, analytical relationship for the stress field and the stress intensity factor can be implemented without loss of accuracy. The coupled finite fracture mechanics (FFM) is then applied to catch the recorded failure stresses, allowing a complete description of the experimental size effects. On the contrary, the smallest radius leads to a locally negative geometry, opening the discussion on the stability of crack propagation in circularly notched plates under generic biaxial loadings.
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