Abstract
We study a double-cantilever beam (DCB), in which either the crack-mouth opening displacement or the end rotations are prescribed, in the linear-elastic-fracture-mechanics (LEFM) limit of an infinitely stiff and brittle interface. We present a novel, yet extremely simple, derivation of the closed-form solution of this problem when the arms are modelled with Timoshenko beam theory. We remove the assumption that the cross sections of the DCB arms are assumed not to rotate (i.e. that they are clamped) at the crack tip, which is made in so-called ‘simple beam theory’ (SBT). Therefore, with our ‘enhanced simple beam theory’ (ESBT), in front of the crack tip, cross sections are allowed to rotate, although the beam axis stays undeformed. Thus, we can determine the crack-tip rotation caused by the deformation of the beam in front of the crack tip also in the LEFM limit. As a result, most of the inaccuracies of the SBT are eliminated, without the need for a crack-length correction, used in the ‘corrected beam theory’ (CBT). In this way, we can derive a very accurate data reduction formula for the critical energy release rate, Gc, which does not require the measurement of the crack length, unlike CBT. In our numerical results we show that, compared to the most effective data reduction methods currently available (including CBT), our formula is either as accurate or more accurate for the case of brittle delamination of thick composite plates, in which shear deformability can play a significant role.
Highlights
Determining the fracture resistance of adhesives or laminated composites is nowadays essential for their industrial application
Expressions for Gc were derived from linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) theory under the assumptions that the double cantilever beam (DCB) arms act as if they were Timoshenko beams clamped at the crack tip and the interface material is infinitely stiff and perfectly brittle
In this work we have presented a novel ‘enhanced simple beam theory’ (ESBT), in which a DCB is modelled using Timoshenko beam theory and LEFM assumptions
Summary
Determining the fracture resistance of adhesives or laminated composites is nowadays essential for their industrial application. Measuring the crack length is, common in all the available data reduction schemes in the current versions of American and British Standards for determining fracture resistance in modeI [2,3,4]. This is usually performed using a travelling microscope or a high-resolution camera, which can be time-consuming and prone to inaccuracy. They all use the concept of equivalent crack length and, do not require measurement of the crack length. The solution of the problem of a DCB with prescribed rotations based on ESBT assumptions and the corresponding formula for Gc are given in Appendix A
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