Problem 33: Critical Strain Energy Release Rate **

E.E. Gdoutos

1. Problem

The following data were obtained from a series of tests conducted on precracked speci-
mens of thickness I mm.

Crack length Critical load Critical displacement

a(mm) P(kN) u(mm)
30.0 4.00 0.40
40.0 3.50 0.50
50.5 3.12 0.63
61.6 2.80 0.78
71.7 2.62 0.94
79.0 2.56 1.09

where P and u are critical load and displacement at crack growth. The load-
displacement record for all crack lengths is linearly elastic up to the critical point.
Determine the critical value of the strain energy release rate G.= R from: (a) the load-
displacement records, and (b) the compliance-crack length curve.

2. Useful Information

The strain energy release rate represents the energy available for crack growth. Two
limiting cases, the "fixed-grips" and "dead load" loading, are usually encountered in
practice. In the fixed-grips loading the surface of the continuum on which the loads are
applied is assumed to remain stationary during crack growth. In such case, the energy
rate for crack growth is supplied by the existing elastic strain energy of the solid. In the
dead-load situation the applied loads on the surface of the solid are kept constant dur-
ing crack growth. In that case, the energy required for crack growth is not supplied by
the existing elastic strain energy of the solid, but by the work performed by the external
loads; and the elastic strain energy of the solid is increased.

The load-displacement response of a body of unit thickness with an initial crack of

length a 1 that propagates to a new length a2 = a 1 + ~a under fixed-grips or dead-load

E. E. Gdoutos et al. (eds.), Problems of Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2003
148 E.E. Gdoutos

conditions is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The elastic strain energy release rate for both
cases is given by (1]

G= (OA8)
(l)
.1.a

where (OAB) represents the area of the triangle OAB.

Eq. (l) is used for the graphical evaluation of the strain energy release rate. This equa-
tion can also be used in the case where both load and displacement change during
crack growth. In that case G is given by (Figure 3) [1]

(OAA)
G= I J , i, j =l, 2, 3, 4, 5 (2)
ai -ai

The strain energy release rate G can also be calculated by the compliance (reciprocal of
stifthess) C of a cracked plate. For a constant displacement u during crack growth G is
calculated by [I]

2
G- 1 u (dC) (3)
28 C 2 da u

where 8 is the plate thickness.

For constant load P during crack growth G is calculated by (I]

0=-1 (de)
28
p2
da P
(4)

3. Solution
The load-displacement (P-u) records up to the point of crack growth for the crack
lengths of the problem are shown in Figure 4. Note that the P-u curves are linear and
revert to the origin when the load is removed.
3.1. CALCULATION OF Gc FROM LOAD-DISPLACEMENT RECORDS

The critical value of the strain energy release rate Gc = R is calculated from Equation
(2) for the various segmental areas. When the points (Pi, ui) are joined by straight lines
we have (Figure 5)