Notch constraint effects on the dynamic fracture toughness of an unaged beta titanium alloy

Abstract

The influence of notch included angle and root radius on the apparent dynamic fracture toughness of an unaged metastle beta titanium alloy, Ti3Al8V6Cr4Zr4Mo, has been examined. The apparent fracture toughness, K Id ( p), increases with both notch radius, ϱ, and included angle, ω. These results have been compared with the theoretical predictions of Tetelman et al. and Smith. The comparisons show that neither theory accurately describes the effect of varying notch constraint on the apparent dynamic fracture toughness. Although preliminary considerations indicate that qualitative descriptions of notch acuity effects may be given by recent finite element analysis of the stress and strain distributions below a notch root, there is at present no quantitative basis for determining the true dynamic fracture toughness of materials from the results of blunt notch experiments.