Search Results for toughness testing

Fracture mechanics is the science of predicting the load-carrying capabilities of cracked structures based on a mathematical description of the stress field surrounding the crack. The fundamental ideas stem from the work of Griffith, who demonstrated that the strain energy released upon crack extension is the driving force for fracture in a cracked material under load. This chapter provides a summary of Griffith’s work and the subsequent development of linear elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics. It includes detailed illustrations and examples, familiarizing readers with the steps involved in determining strain energy release rates, stress intensity factors, J-integrals, R-curves, and crack tip opening displacement parameters. It also covers fracture toughness testing methods and the effect of measurement variables.

This article briefly describes the historical development of fracture resistance testing of polymers and reviews several test methods developed for determining the fracture toughness of polymeric materials. The discussion covers J-integral testing, the methods for determining linear elastic fracture toughness, testing of thin sheets and films, normalization methods, and hysteresis methods.

This chapter discusses composite testing procedures, including tension, compression, shear, flexure, and fracture toughness testing as well as adhesive shear, peel, and honeycomb flatwise tension testing. It also discusses specimen preparation, environmental conditioning, and data analysis.