Gap Test Consequences for Fracture Mechanics of Quasibrittle Materials and Plastic-Hardening Metals

Hoang Thai Nguyen, Ahmet Abdullah Dönmez, Zdeněk P. Bažant*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

In a new type of fracture experimental setup, which was developed in 2020 and usually referred to as gap test, we use the size effect method to identify the interaction between crack-parallel compressive stresses σxx, σzz, and σxz on the material primary fracture energy Gf and on the characteristic size of the fracture process zone (FPZ) cf. For quasibrittle materials, previous tests showed that σxx could either enhance or reduce Gf to almost zero. In this paper, we adapt the gap tests to study the effect of σxx on fracture of plastic-hardening metals. First, the scaling law of structural strength for this type of material is re-examined and found to be different, showing a transition from the micrometer-scale FPZ through millimeter-scale yielding zone (YZ) to small-scale yielding fracture of large structures. This transition has been formulated by means of asymptotic matching approximations. Next, the gap tests are performed on aluminum alloy using scaled notched three-point-bend beams of depths D = 12–96 mm at three different levels of σxx. Our findings reveal that a crack-parallel stress σxx = 40% of the yield strength will roughly double the fracture energy and triple the size of the YZ.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationFracture, Fatigue, Failure and Damage Evolution, Volume 3 - Proceedings of the 2022 Annual Conference on Experimental and Applied Mechanics
EditorsAllison Beese, Ryan B Berke, Garrett Pataky, Shelby Hutchens
PublisherSpringer
Pages39-41
Number of pages3
ISBN (Print)9783031174667
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023
EventSEM Annual Conference and Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, 2022 - Pittsburgh, United States
Duration: 13 Jun 202216 Jun 2022

Publication series

NameConference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series
ISSN (Print)2191-5644
ISSN (Electronic)2191-5652

Conference

ConferenceSEM Annual Conference and Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, 2022
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPittsburgh
Period13/06/2216/06/22

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc.

Keywords

  • Crack-parallel stress
  • Ductile fracture
  • Elastic-hardening plastic materials
  • Quasibrittle fracture
  • Scaling

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