Abstract
This paper presents experimental evidence of the process zone occuring as a cloud of unconnected microcracks around and ahead of a Mode I macrocrack. Results show that as the loading increases, a long and narrow process zone develops ahead of the main crack tip. Its length is at least 15.2 cm during the main crack movement. As the load increases and the main crack starts moving, the process zone widens and reaches a width of up to 6 cm in its wake. The measured changes in the characteristics of the process zone have been related to the change in specimen toughness. Influence of specimen geometry on the process zone dimensions and specimen toughness has also been assessed. Microcrack data were collected through direct material observation by means of a scanning electron microscope.
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