A Comparison of Crack Paths Growth in Brazilian Disc with a Central Notch Using Various Criteria for Crack Initiation

Abstract

A numerical parametric study of the crack propagation under various level of mixed-mode conditions is evaluated. By focusing of the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics, the model with concrete input data of Brazilian Disc Test with a central notch is considered and its analysis with defined radius R, force P and material properties is performed. The results are obtained by varying the length an of the central notch and its angle of inclination α with respect to the horizontal axis. The crack growth direction is estimated through three different criteria: the maximum tangential stress criterion, the strain energy density criterion and the crack tip displacement criterion. This study involves the classical single-parameter fracture mechanics concept, in which the stress distribution in a cracked specimen is described by the stress intensity factors. The Williams solution of the crack-tip stress and displacement fields are taken into account. As a comparison, the solution is also provided with J-Integral. The model is created with the finite element method software ANSYS. Lastly, the suggested crack paths obtained by criteria are compared with experimental data.