Numerical Study of Finite Fracture Growth in an Epoxy Resin

Abstract

In the last decades, the study of fracture mechanics has been increase as tool capable to analyze the mechanical strength for structures without the occurrence of failure. The presence of small cracks can reduce the structural strength of the component enabling, in some cases, the collapse of the structure under a lower stress than the structural ultimate strength. Currently, the use of numerical methodologies, as finite element method (FEM), that address the problem of fracture in structural components to representing the macroscopic regime of the structure has been also used becoming increasing. The goal of the article, through the analysis of fracture and grounds of FEM, determine the fracture growth for a polymeric material (epoxy resin). Through ASTM E399 were established experimental procedures for obtaining fracture toughness (GC), the mechanical fracture bending SE (B) testing was choose, for its simplicity of design and manufacture. Three different numerical models were used to analyze the behavior the material and the fracture process. The results obtained from the numerical simulation were close to the literature results, confirming the effectiveness of the numerical tool used in predicting fracture phenomena in the material and its evolution associated with the loads application.