Measuring method of dynamic fracture toughness of mode I crack under blasting using a rectangle specimen with a crack and edge notches

Abstract

In order to study fracture toughness of mode I crack under blast load, a new specimen of a rectangle plate with a crack and edge notches (RPCEN) was proposed in this study. The PMMA was selected to prepare the RPCEN specimens. The testing system consists of a dynamic strain amplifier, an oscilloscope, a constant source, strain gauges and crack propagation gauges. The strain gauges and crack propagation gauges (CPGs) were used to measure the blast load and crack propagation speed, respectively. The scanning electron microscope was applied in studying the property of fracture surface. The explicit dynamic software AUTODYN was applied in simulating crack dynamic propagation behavior. The JWL equation of state (EOS) was applied to the explosive detonation products, and a linear EOS was used to describe the relationship between pressure and density of PMMA. A modified principle stress failure criterion was employed to assess the material state. The experimental-numerical method was used to determine the dynamic initiation and propagation toughness of the PMMA. The dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) were calculated by the finite element code ABAQUS. The experimental and numerical results show that: (1) The RPCEN specimen proposed in this paper has the function to minimize the reflected tensile stress waves; (2) During crack propagation the fracture surface roughness and the nucleation rate increase with crack propagation speed; (3) Crack propagation speed is not a constant, and propagation toughness is related to the crack propagation speed.