Impact tensile fracture testing of a brittle polymer

Abstract

The fracture behavior of a brittle polymer, methylmethacrylate–butadiene–styrene resin, under impact tensile loading was studied using single-edge-cracked specimens. The dynamic load and displacement were measured with a Piezo sensor and a high-speed extensometer, respectively. The load and displacement diagram, i.e., the external work, U ex, applied to the specimen was used to determine the elastic energy, E e, and non-elastic energy, E n, due to viscoelastic and plastic deformation, and the fracture energy, E f, for creating new fracture surface, A s. The energy-release rates were then estimated using G t= U ex/ A s and G f= E f/ A s. The values of G t and G f were correlated with the fracture loads and the mean crack velocities determined from the load and time relationships.