Plane Strain Crack Growth Research Articles

Plane strain crack growth in a ductile material, with particular reference to A533B pressure vessel steel

Plane strain crack growth in a ductile material, with particular reference to A533B pressure vessel steel

Continuing crack-tip deformation and fracture for plane-strain crack growth in elastic-plastic solids

Analysis of the deformation field consistent with a Prandtl stress distribution travelling with an advancing plane-strain crack reveals the functional form of the near tip crack profile in an elastic-plastic solid. The crack opening δ is shown to have the form δ ∼ r In (const./r) at a distance r from the tip. This observation coupled with data generated from finite element investigations of growing cracks in small-scale yielding permits the construction of a relation characterizing the deformation at an extending crack tip. A ductile crack-growth criterion consisting of the attainment of a critical opening at a small characteristic material distance from the tip is adopted. Predictions of the stability of a growing crack for both small-scale yielding specimens and those subject to general yielding are discussed.

Crack Growth Resistance at Low Stress Intensities

A detailed examination of the early stage of slow tear in thin section aluminum, under increasing load, is reported in this study. The relationship between plane strain fracture toughness and crack growth resistance is shown as a point on the crack growth resistance curve. The confirmation of this behavior for thin sections leads to a better understanding of the early stage of crack growth resistance. A crack line wedge loaded (CLWL) specimen was loaded in both tension and wedge loading. Good correlation was obtained between the early stage crack growth resistance for each loading mode.