FINITE ELEMENT EVALUATION OF MIXED MODE STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS IN EPOXY RESIN

Niranjan H R, H K Srinivas, Shashidhara L C, Madhusudhan T

Abstract: An edge cracked semi-circular specimen subjected to symmetric and asymmetric three-point bend loading was suggested for investigating mixed mode fracture in brittle material. Finite element modeling using commercial FEA software (ANSYS) is presented to compute accurate stress intensity factors KI and KII as a function of crack length(a/R) and support locations (S2=aR). It was shown that by selecting appropriate positions for the loading points, full mode mixities from mode I to pure mode II could be achieved. Choosing the strain energy density theory of fracture and material properties of epoxy resin, predicted crack growth direction and fracture load are graphically presented. These are co-related with available mixed mode fracture test results.

Keywords: Mixed mode fracture, Strain Energy Density theory, Stress Intensity Factor

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2016.0521006