Strain energy release rates for a straight-fronted edge crack in a circular bar subject to bending

Abstract

The strain energy release rate for a straight-fronted edge crack in a bar of circular cross section subjected to pure bending is determined. The cracked bar is modelled with two-dimensional plane-stress finite elements and strain energy release rates, determined from this model, are shown to be in close agreement with existing results for a bar subjected to three-point bending in which strain energy release rates were determined by measuring the compliance of the bar experimentally. The strain energy release rates for a crack in the circular cross section bar are found to be lower than those in a rectangular cross section bar having the same relative crack length and subjected to the same bending moment. Previously determined results for uniform tension are superimposed to obtain strain energy release rates for a circular cross section bar which is subjected simultaneously to a tensile load and a bending moment.