Practical stress solutions for single-edge V-notched tension specimen

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of several approximate solutions reported in the literature which describe the stress field in the neighborhood of a notch with finite root radius. Finite element analyses (FEA) of single-edge V-notched tension (SEVNT) specimens with different notch depths (a) and root tip radii (ρ) were performed to investigate the accuracy of the reviewed stress equations. It is observed that the prediction accuracies of the existing stress equations are in general dependent on the normalized distance away the notch tip (x′/ρ), the notch depth over width ratio (a/W) and the root tip radius over width ratio (ρ/W). Among the reviewed solutions, the improved Filippi’s equation has the highest prediction accuracy. However, this solution is not given in closed form and requires a numerical scheme to solve a pair of integral equations containing two unknowns. Based on the FEA results, a new stress equation is proposed to predict the opening stresses (σyy) on the notch bisector. Numerical verifications suggest that the new equation has a prediction accuracy comparable to the improved Filippi’s equation. The proposed solution provides a computationally efficient scheme to compute the stresses required for the application of process-zone methodology for prediction of delayed hydride cracking.