Homework 3

1. What is the magnitude of the maximum stress that exists at the tip of an internal crack having a radius
of curvature of 1.9 × 10–4 mm (7.5 × 10–6 in.) and a crack length of 3.8 × 10–2 mm (1.5 × 10–3 in .) when
a tensile stress of 140 MPa (20,000 psi) is applied?
2. A large plate is fabricated from a steel alloy that has a plane strain fracture toughness of 82.4 MPa
m (75.0 ksi in. ). If, during service use, the plate is exposed to a tensile stress of 345 MPa (50,000
psi), determine the minimum length of a surface crack that will lead to fracture. Assume a value of
1.0 for Y.
 
3. Compute the critical crack tip radius for a glass specimen that experiences tensile fracture at an
applied stress of 70 MPa (10,000 psi). Assume a critical surface crack length of 10 –2 mm and a
theoretical fracture strength of E/10, where E is the modulus of elasticity, which is 69 GPa for this
material.
4. Given the following data, plot the stress-strain curves for the two unknown materials on the same set
of stress-strain axes.

Density 4.43g/cm3 3.98g/cm3

E 114 GPa 380 GPa
 0.34 0.22
Yield stress (at 0.2% 830 MPa Not
strain) applicable
Ultimate tensile 900 MPa 550 MPa
strength
Failure stress 840 MPa 550 MPa
% elongation 14 Negligible
What likely types are Materials A and B?

5. A specimen of a ceramic material having an elastic modulus of 250 GPa is pulled in tension with a
stress of 750 MPa. Will the specimen fail if its “most severe flaw” is an internal crack that has a length
of 0.20 mm and a tip radius of curvature of 0.001 mm? Why or why not?

6. Some aircraft component is fabricated from an aluminum alloy that has a plane strain fracture
toughness of 40 MPa m (36.4 ksi in. ). It has been determined that fracture results at a stress of
300 MPa (43,500 psi) when the maximum (or critical) internal crack length is 4.0 mm (0.16 in.). For
this same component and alloy, will fracture occur at a stress level of 260 MPa (38,000 psi) when the

maximum internal 
crack length is 6.0 mm (0.24 in.)? Why or why not?

7. A structural component in the form of a wide plate is to be fabricated from a steel alloy that has a
plane strain fracture toughness of 98.9 MPa m (90 ksi in. ) and a yield strength of 860 MPa (125,000
psi). The flaw size resolution limit of the flaw detection apparatus is 3.0 mm (0.12 in.). If the design
stress is one-half of the yield strength and the value of Y is 1.0, determine whether or not a critical

flaw for this plate is subject to detection. 