Crack-tip constraint analysis of bending specimens for considering higher order terms in asymptotic solution

Abstract

In this research, a higher-order asymptotic J-A2-A4 solution was introduced for studying the effect of the bending moment on the crack-tip constraint of a specimen. The solution was applied to TPB and SENB specimens with varying bending moment loads, and compared to other methods such as FEA, HRR solution, J-A2 solution and J-A2-M solution. The results were analyzed and compared with the FEA, J-A2 theory and J-A2-M theory solutions obtained from references. The impact of global bending on the calculation of crack-tip opening stress was also investigated. The findings showed that the J-A2-A4 solution closely matched the FEA numerical results, and better accounted for the influence of global bending compared to the J-A2 method. Therefore, there is no need to modify the J-A2 method by adding a bending moment term, as suggested in the J-A2-M theory.