Crack initiation at a V-notch—comparison between a brittle fracture criterion and the Dugdale cohesive model

Abstract

The cohesive zone models are an alternative to fracture criteria for the prediction of crack initiation at stress concentration points in brittle materials. We propose here a comparison between the so-called mixed criterion involving a twofold condition (energy and stress) and the Dugdale cohesive model. The predictions of the critical load leading to failure are in perfect agreement and both models conclude that the initial process is unstable except in case of a pre-existing crack. To cite this article: C. Henninger et al., C. R. Mecanique 335 (2007).