Abstract
Four-point bend (4PB) samples with seven notch configurations and three-point bend (3PB) samples with four notch configurations have been designed and tested in this study to evaluate the fracture behaviour of virgin Gilsocarbon graphite with simulated keyway notches. The effective stress concentration factor for Gilsocarbon graphite with simulated keyway profile notches was estimated to be around 1.2, which was much smaller compared with the FE modelled theoretical stress concentration factor of ∼ 3.4. In most times, failure occurred at the corner which was under the maximum applied principal stress. However, the large variability in the strength of Gilsocarbon graphite may result in crack initiation location not associated with a largest stress intensification, such as the flat regions of the keyway notches and the notch corners that are not under the maximum applied stress.The number of notches within the sample, combinations of notches, notch distance ratios and a distance between the edges of neighbouring notches were found to have little effect on the nominal net-section fracture strength (nominal strength) of 4PB samples (∼22 MPa). While, the smaller distance between the edges of neighbouring notches (Ln ∼ 8 mm) in 3PB sample configurations T1 and T3 resulted in a shielding effect at the inner notch corners, which in turn resulted in a slightly larger nominal strength at T1 and T3 configurations (∼24 MPa) than that of T2 and T4 configurations (∼22 MPa) where little shielding effect was observed (Ln ∼ 13 mm).
Published Version
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