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A critical review of methods for determining stress-intensity factors from isochromatic fringes

Three two-parameter methods of fracture analysis for determining the stress-intensity factor from photoelastic isochromatic-fringe data are critically reviewed by the authors

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Abstract

Two-parameter methods of fracture analysis for determining the stress-intensity factor from photoelastic isochromatic-fringe data were critically reviewed. The methods of Irwin, Bradley and Kobayashi, and Smith were developed in detail and differences in the three approaches were noted. Theoretical fringe loops were generated for a crack of length 2a in a semi-infinite plate with biaxial loading. These fringe loops were used to compare the three analysis methods and to determine the accuracy of each method.

All three methods give a close estimate of the stress-intensity factor, with the Bradley-Kobayashi differencing procedure providing the most precise estimate ofK. However, if measurement errors become excessive (larger than 2 percent) the differencing procedure magnifies these errors and the original method proposed by Irwin is the recommended approach.

The two-parameter methods can be employed to determineK to within ±5 percent, provided the angle of tilt of the isochromatic-fringe loop is 73 ≤θ m < 139 deg. Ifθ m is outside this range, the two-parameter methods should not be employed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Naval Surface Weapons Center, 20901, White Oak, MD

    J. M. Etheridge

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Glenn L. Martin Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, MD

    J. W. Dally (Professor)

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  1. J. M. Etheridge
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  2. J. W. Dally
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This research represents partial fulfillment of the requirements for a PhD degree at the University of Maryland.

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Etheridge, J.M., Dally, J.W. A critical review of methods for determining stress-intensity factors from isochromatic fringes. Experimental Mechanics 17, 248–254 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02324838

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02324838

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