Experimental Investigation of PMMA Fracture under Mixed-Modes I, II and III Loading

Abstract:

Fracture studies of components involving mode III loading are rare. This paper concentrates on mixed-modes I, II and III fracture testing of brittle PMMA material and summarises an extensive experimental investigation. Karpour and Zarrabi have developed a special pair of grips for which they have received a patent. These grips allow the application of various mixtures of modes, including mode III, using a universal testing machine. To measure the three-dimensional crack-tip opening and sliding displacements, Karpour and Zarrabi have also developed a novel stereo machine vision system whose description is included in the paper. The measured critical crack-opening displacements presented in normalised format with potential of being used to assess the integrity of any component against elastic fracture and they compare well with limited pertinent data available from literature.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 275)
• Pages: 7-10
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.275.7
• Online since: July 2011
• Authors: K. Zarrabi, A. Karpour, A.K. Hellier
• Keywords: Fracture Mechanics, Fracture Toughness, Mixed-Mode Loading, PMMA Material

References

[1] D.L. Jones and D.B. Chisholm: An investigation of the edge-sliding mode in fracture mechanics, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Vol. 7, No. 2 (1975), pp.261-270.

DOI: 10.1016/0013-7944(75)90007-7

[2] H.A. Richard: A new compact shear specimen, International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 17, No. 5 (1981), pp. R105-R107.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00033347

[3] T.M. Maccagno and J.F. Knott: The fracture behaviour of PMMA in mixed modes I and II, Vol. 34, No. 1 (1989), pp.65-86.

DOI: 10.1016/0013-7944(89)90243-9

[4] D. Bhattacharjee and J.F. Knott: Effect of mixed mode I and II loading on the fracture surface of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 72, No. 4 (1995), pp.359-381.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00040373

[5] E. Sommer: Formation of fracture lances, in glass, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 3 (1969), pp.539-546.

DOI: 10.1016/0013-7944(69)90010-1

[6] W.G. Knauss: An observation of crack propagation in anti-plane shear, International Journal of Fracture Mechanics, Vol. 6, No. 2 (1970), pp.183-187.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00189825

[7] H.A. Richard and K. Benitz: A loading device for creation of mixed mode in fracture mechanics, International Journal of Fracture, Vol. 22, No. 2 (1983), pp. R55-R58.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00942726

[8] F. Ma, X. Deng, M.A. Sutton and J.C. Newman Jr: A CTOD-based mixed-mode fracture criterion, in Mixed-Mode Crack Behavior, ASTM STP 1359, edited by K.J. Miller and D.L. McDowell, American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA (1999).

DOI: 10.1520/stp14245s

[9] A. Karpour and K. Zarrabi: Mixed mode I/II/III fracture grip interface, Innovation Patent 2008101040, Canberra, ACT, Australia (2008).

DOI: 10.2174/2212797611003020131

[10] A. Karpour and K. Zarrabi: A stereo machine vision system for measuring three-dimensional crack-tip displacements when it is subjected to elastic-plastic deformation, The E-Leader Conference at the Executive Media Theatre in Singapore, http: /www. g-casa. com/AboutUs. htm, Singapore, January 4-6 (2010).

[11] S. Liu, Y.J. Chao and X. Zhu: Tensile-shear transition in mixed mode I/III fracture, International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 41, No. 22-23 (2004), pp.6147-6172.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2004.04.044