Problems In Fracture Mechanics

PROBLEM: 1

If the specific surface energy for Polmethyl acrylate is 0.0365 J / m2 and its

corresponding modulus of elasticity is 2.38 GPa, compute the critical tensile stress required for

unstable propagation of a central internal crack whose length is 30 mm. If the strength of the

sound glass is 70 MPa, calculate the reduction in strength due to the presence of the crack. E =

2.38 x 109Pa s = 0.0365 J / m2a = 0.015 m c= [2 x 2.38*109 x 0.0365 / x 0.015]0.5 =

60,719 Pa = 60.7 MPa % Reduction in strength = 13.29%

PROBLEM: 2

A sheet of glass measuring 2 m by 200 mm by 2 mm contains a central slit parallel to the

200 mm side. The sheet is restrained at one end and loaded in tension with a mass of 500 kg.

What is the maximum allowable length of slit before fracture occurs? Assume plane stress

condition and the following material property values: E = 60 GPa, surface energy is 0.5 J/m

2. E = 60 x 109 Pa s= 0.5 J/m2P = 500 Kg

PROBLEM: 3

A thin sheet of maraging steel has a tensile strength of 1950 MPa. Calculate the percentage

reduction in strength due to the presence of a central crack in the sheet, which is 4 mm long and

orientated perpendicular to the stressed direction. For this steel, E can be taken as 200 GPa, the

energy of fracture surface as 2 J/m2, and the work of plastic deformation of each crack tip is

2x104 J/m2. E = 200 x 109 Pa a = 2 * 10-3 m p = 104 J / m2 s = 2 J / m2

PROBLEM: 4
 A rectangular perspex plate 600 mm by 300 mm by 6 mm thick is scribed into two equal

squares by a knife, leaving a uniform cut of depth 0.3 mm. What is the bending moment required

to break the plate if the perspex has a work to fracture of 500 J/m2? Note that E = 2.5 GPa for

perspex. Problem description : Stage 1 - Scribing Stage 2 : Bending the sheet as shown Since the

value for Poisson's ratio is not provided, it is reasonable to assume plane stress conditions here,

even though the plate is fairly thick and perspex is moderately brittle at ambient temperatures.

This problem has two stages to the solution, firstly to calculate the Griffith fracture stress and,

secondly, to find the bending moment that corresponds to this. Note that this technique is often

used in practice to fracture brittle and quasi-brittle materials, e.g. glass, tiles and polymers.

Recalling Griffith's equation as: and noting that this is an edge crack, i.e. a= 0.3 mm, we can

substitute in the values to get: We can find the required bending moment from the simple bend

equation:
PROBLEM: 5

Determine the energy release rate using elementary Beam analysis for the following

configuration (h < a) General Beam Analysis Energy approach = = 2 = 2 = = = = = =

Compliance approach = (bottom arm) = = ;

C = ; C = ; C

= ; = = = = =: Mode ofFracture : Opening mode (Mode I)

PROBLEM: 6
 Determine the energy release rate using elementary Beam analysis for the following

configuration (h < a) =; =; =; = =; =; =; = Energy approach = = = = = =

= ; = = = Compliance approach = (bottom arm) = = ; C = ; C = ; = = = = : Mode of Fracture :

Sliding mode (Mode II)

PROBLEM: 7
Determine the energy release rate using elementary Beam analysis for the following

configuration (h < a) M = P * a
PROBLEM: 8
 Determine the energy release rate using elementary Beam analysis for the following

configuration (h < a) This problem is treated as constraint at the crack tip causing bending as

shown:
PROBLEM: 9
 Load on a 30 mm thick plate with an edge crack of 50 mm length was increased very

slowly and the displacement of the load point was monitored. It was observed that at the load of

2100 N and displacement u = 4.1 mm, the crack started growing. The rate of crack growth was

much faster than the rate of load increase and therefore the crack essentially was grown at the

load of 2100 N. Through a rapid camera recording it was found that the crack grows up to 65

mm length with rapid increase in displacement to u = 7.5 mm. Determine the critical energy

release rate. = ; = a = (65 x – 50 x ) = 15 x m = 1.0794 x 10 4 = = ; = 7.93 kJ/m2

PROBLEM: 10

A large plate of 36 mm thickness with an edge crack a = 32 mm length is pulled very

slowly under displacement control loading. At the displacement of 7.2 mm, when the recorded

load is 2750 N, the crack starts growing. At a = 41.7 mm, the crack is arrested and the load was

found to decrease to 1560 N. Determine the critical release rate. = = = = 1 2 2 6 8 J / =

1 2 . 2 7 k J / m 2
PROBLEM: 13
 If the fracture stress of a large sheet of maraging steel , which contains a central crack of

length 40 mm, is 480 MPa, calculate the fracture stress of a similar sheet containing a crack of

length 100 mm. Fracture stress of sheet containing central crack of 100 mm is:

PROBLEM: 15

Grinding wheels are fabricated, typically, from alumina powder, which is compacted and

sintered at high temperature and pressure. The powder is sieved before compacting to remove

impurities which may later act as defects in the grinding wheel. Hence residual impurities are

related in size to the sieve mesh dimension. One particular type of alumina wheel has a density

of 3800 kg/m3, a bore diameter of 140 mm and an outer diameter of 1.0 m. It spins at 3000 rpm.

The maximum stress in the wheel is given by: Calculate the allowable size of the sieve mesh if

the wheel is to have a factor of safety of two on critical defect size when operating at 3000 rpm.

Note that, for alumina, the fracture toughness R = 0.10 kJ/m2 and E = 371 GPa. You may assume

plane strain conditions. Ans : 1.1 mm

PROBLEM: 16

Consider a plate with an edge crack (see figure). The plate thickness is such that a plane

strain condition is present. Given: W = 1000 mm; stress intensity factor K I = C a where C

= 1.12
Answer the next questions for the three materials given in the table above:a)Doesfractureoccurat

a stress ysand a crack length a = 1 mm? b) What is the critical defect size at a stress ys?

c) What is the maximum stress for a crack length A = 1 mm without permanent consequences?

PROBLEM: 16

A 3 mm thick tension panel 10 cm wide containing an edge crack of 1 mm yielded at a

load of 150 kN. However at a load of 120 kN, another panel of the same material cracked into

two pieces when the crack was 5 mm long. Estimate the yield stress and Fracture Toughness of

the material. Assume SIF for an edge crack subjected to tension stress as KI = 1.12 a.

PROBLEM: 17

Predict the failure mode and load of the cantilever beam of thickness 5 mm as indicated

below: Assume the fracture toughness and yield stress as 30 MPa m and 300 MPa. What is the

failure mode if the yield stress is doubled? Assume nominal stress at the crack as M/Z where M

is the bending moment and Z is the section modulus = 400 mm

3. SIF for the edge crack is K I = 1.12

a. Computation of Failure load assuming fracture to take place at crack location:

 i) Computation of Failure load assuming yielding (ys = 300 MPa) to take place at the support: Since

yield load is lower than fracture load, failure mode willbe by yielding ii) Computation of Failure

load assuming yielding (ys = 600 MPa) to take place at the support Since fracture load is lower than

yield load, failure mode will be by Fracture PROBLEM: 17

A cracked cantilever beam is deflected 8 mm by a 10kN load. At the same load the

deflection is increased by 1 mm due to a crack extension of 0.5 mm. Calculate the initial stress

intensity factor. Assume E = 200 GPa, Section thickness = 0.5 m Initial compliance = 8/10000

mm/N Final compliance = 9/10000 mm/N dC / da = 1/5000 N

Determine K Ifor the problem as shown in the sketch wherein pressu

distributiononthecrackedfaceofaninfinite plate is as indicated. Solution K I(Configuration m) =

K I(Configuration g) + K I(Configuration h) 0 a = K I (Configuration g) +

K I (Configuration g) … Conf. g and Conf. h are same = 2 x K I (Configuration g)

K I (Configuration g) = [ 0 / 2] a K I (Configuration z) = K I (Configuration g’) +

K I (Configuration h’) = [ 0 / 2] [1/ 2] a + [ 0 / 2] [1/ 2] a = [ 0 ] [1/ 2] a2a

0 0= 2 a + 2 a 2 a Config. ( m ) Config. ( g ) Config. ( h )

In a large plate, a crack length 2a is inclined with an angle with x1 axis. The plate is loaded in

x2 direction with a far field stress of , find the stress intensity factors if = 80 MPa ; 2a = 20

mm ; = 30 Solution

During water quenching of steel components with a section thickness of 30 mm, heat transfer

calculations indicate that a peak stress of 130 MPa is generated in the section. Prior to heat
treatment, the components were ultrasonically inspected to detect defects. The inspection

technique has a minimum detection size of 0.5 mm. a) What type of defect will be most critical?

b) Calculate the size of defect which would cause fracture of the component during the

quenching operation, given that the aspect ratio of the crack is 2c/a = 10. c) Would this

inspection procedure guarantee integrity of the component if the quenching stresses approached

the proof stress of the steel? Note that the value of the plane strain fracture toughness K 1C = 30

MPa m1/2and the proof stress = 620 MPa. The stress intensity calibration for this component and

crack geometry is given in the figure below. Where, for surface flaws: and for embedded flaws:

Solution Surface defects 15.4 mm Procedure does not guarantee integrity : ac= 0.54 mm