Book Description

The use of various crack depths (a) and crack-depth to specimen-width (a/W) ratios in laboratory tests to model flawed structural components has led to considerable interest in the role of both the crack depth (a) and the a/W ratio on fracture toughness. To investigate the separate roles of crack depth and the a/W ratio, three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element analyses, (FEA) of square SE(B) specimens with a/W ratios ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 [crack depths ranging from 2.0 mm (0.08 in.) to 50.8 mm (2.0 in.)] have been conducted. The material properties used in this analysis were those for the material used in an experimental study conducted at the University of Kansas (KU) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The specimen dimensions were chosen such that the results for specimens having a fixed crack depth and varying a/W ratios could be compared to the results for specimens with a fixed a/W ratio and varying crack depths.