Coefficients of the crack tip asymptotic field for a standard compact tension specimen

Abstract

The coefficients of the crack tip asymptotic field of a standard compact tension (CT) specimen are computed using a hybrid crack element (HCE). It allows the direct calculation (without post-processing) of not only the stress intensity factor (SIF) but also the coefficients of higher order terms of the crack tip asymptotic field. Approximate closed-form expressions for the first five terms for the CT specimen that are accurate for shallow to very deep cracks are obtained by fitting the computed data. The SIF formula proposed by Brown and Srawley (1966) is shown to be accurate when the crack length to depth ratio (α) ranges from 0.35 to 0.75. The formula proposed by Newman (1974) and Srawley (1976) is accurate for α≥0.15. However, the accuracy of available formulas for the second T-term in the literature is quite disappointing. Numerical results also show that, unlike the notched three-point bend beam and the wedge splitting specimen, the second T-term of the CT specimen is always positive.