Fracture Mechanics

Ref: Prashant Kumar, Elements of Fracture

Mechanics, Tata McGraw Hill

Griffiths Theory
Analytical Solution Inglis (1913)
At A,
For a Circular hole:
For an Elliptical hole with a>>b:
Ref: 1

Very large!
For a sharp crack:
Even a crack of small length will instantaneously grow
Contradiction!!!
and break the component

Griffiths Theory
Surface Energy
Interior atoms

attraction or repulsion more or

less uniform in all directions
Atom on free surface no neighboring atoms on one
side
results in different equilibrium
Energy is required to form new surface Surface Energy

Griffiths Theory
Energy Release
Energy release parts adjacent to the
cracked surfaces
Assumption energy release from the
triangular area
Energy released:

Ref: 1

Griffiths Theory
Surface Energy Required
= Surface energy / unit area / unit surface

Energy required:
At
For an increase in crack
length,

For a crack to become

critical,

Ref: 1

Griffiths Theory
Critical crack length
Substituting for ER and ES,
in
Critical crack length
Stress required to
advance a crack
Material

Surface Energy (J/sq.m)

Copper

0.98

Mild Steel

1.20

Aluminum

0.60

1J energy will raise the temperature of one teaspoon of water by 0.05 degree Celcius only

Irwin and Orowan

Energy Release Rate, G : Energy release per unit increase in
area during crack growth
Crack Resistance, R

: Energy required for a crack to grow

per unit area

Crack growth takes place only when,

Energy Release Rate

Conservation of energy

Energy available for crack growth

Work done by the external forces
Increase in strain energy within the body

Energy Release Rate

Constant load case

Work is done on the system

Ref: 1

Flexure of cantilever absorbs part of the work done

Potential energy

Energy Release Rate

Constant load test

C - Compliance

Energy Release Rate

Fixed Grip case

Ref: 1

No Work is done as the crack advances

Release of strain energy as the crack advance
Potential energy

Energy Release Rate

Fixed Grip case

Energy Release Rate

General case

Ref: 1

Energy Release Rate

HW:
Determine the energy release rate of DCB specimen
loaded in a tensile testing machine.

Other approaches
Energy Release Rate, G
:
Energy based
for brittle or less brittle materials

Stress Intensity factor, K

:
Stress based
for brittle or less brittle materials
Crack Tip Opening Displacement, CTOD:

J- Integral, J

Displacement
based

for ductile materials