Fracture Mechanics
Thursday, 16 May 2024 7:21 PM
Callister's Materials Book 7th Edition: 8.1
What is the magnitude of the maximum stress that exists at the tip of an internal crack having a radius of curvature of and
a crack length of when a tensile stress of is applied?
Callister's Materials Book 7th Edition: 8.3
If the specific surface energy for aluminum oxide is 0.90 J/m2, taking modulus of elasticity 393 GPa, compute the critical stress required for
the propagation of an internal crack of length 0.40 mm.
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Callister's Materials Book 7th Edition: 8.6
Some aircraft component is fabricated from an aluminum alloy that has a plane strain fracture toughness of 40 MPa m1/2. It has been
determined that fracture results at a stress of 300 MPa when the maximum (or critical) internal crack length is 4.0 mm. For this same
component and alloy, will fracture occur at a stress level of 260 MPa when the maximum internal crack length is 6.0 mm? Why or why not?
Callister's Materials Book 7th Edition: 8.10
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 m1/2 and a yield strength of 860 MPa. The flaw size resolution limit of the flaw detection apparatus is 3.0 mm. 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.
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Conceptual Problem
A thick high strength aluminum plate contains an edge crack of length equal to 10 mm, which runs perpendicular to the appliedstress. For
this aluminum, the plain strain fracture toughness is 35 MPa m1/2, and the yield stress is 400 MPa. If the applied stress is increased steadily,
will the plate fail by brittle fracture or by general yielding? If the edge crack length is changed to 1 mm, what is your answer?
Assume Y = 1.12.
Mechanics of Brittle Fracture
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Stress Concentration
• A locally high stress due to a sharp discontinuity in shape, such as a hole or notch with a small radius.
• While the overall stress in the part may be at a safe level, the stress at the discontinuity can exceed yield or ultimate strength, causing failure.
The theoretical value of stress at the tip of the ellipse is given by:
where σ is the nominal stress and is the radius of curvature of the ellipse, .
Strain Energy
• The energy stored in a material due to deformation.
Surface Energy
• The ability of materials for the absorption of post-crack energy.
• It represents the energy that the material will absorb during failure.
• Alternatively, it can be expressed as energy required for opening a unit area of the crack surface.
Surface energy for unit cut area:
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Conservation of Energy in Brittle Fracture
a. Accumulation of Strain Energy
b. Initiation of Fracture
c. Energy Release Rate
Brittle fractures are more dangerous than ductile; no warning , no prior plastic deformation.
Decrease in strain energy Increase in surface energy Kinetic energy
In brittle fracture, where little to no plastic deformation occurs, and kinetic energy contributions are minimal.
Critical Stress
The maximum stress that can be applied to a material with a specific crack size without causing fracture.
Stress Intensity Factor
• A measure of the stress state near the tip of a crack.
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Stress Intensity Factor
• A measure of the stress state near the tip of a crack.
• It quantifies how load and crack size influence the stress state at the crack tip.
• It predicts the stress concentration due to a crack.
Fracture Toughness
• A material property that describes its ability to resist brittle fracture in the presence of a flaw.
• It quantifies the amount of stress required to propagate a crack through a material.
Plane Strain Fracture Toughness
• Plane strain fracture toughness is considered a material property independent of specimen dimensions.
• Specimens having different thickness produce different values for K C.
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