Abstract
This study contributes towards understanding crack toughness as resistance against the intrinsic rate of fracture mechanics parameters. Up to now only few investigations have been done under moderate impact loading conditions. Based on experimental investigations using the crack resistance (R) concept, it has been shown that the stop block method combined with the multiple-specimen technique is a unique method for polymers under impact loading conditions in comparison with different R-curve methods. Other methods for the determination of R curve such as the low-blow technique are normally not applicable for polymers due to their time-dependent mechanical properties. The crack-tip opening displacement (CTOD) rate is a measurement of the rate sensibility of stable fracture process depending on the type of deformation, which can provide deep insights into the micromechanics and activation mechanisms during the fracture processes. In the polymeric materials mostly investigated, one can understand the stable crack propagation with three-stage processes; crack-tip blunting/crack initiation, non-stationary stable crack growth and steady-state stable crack growth (an equilibrium state). In this stable crack propagation, the values of normalized CTOD rate converge rapidly to a ‘matrix’-specific threshold. The stop block method in the multiple-specimen technique assures the criteria of the time-independent strain field around the crack tip and constant crack speed therewith and the J-integral is a valid toughness parameter.
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Abbreviations
- ABS:
-
acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer
- ASTM:
-
American Society for Testing and Materials
- CD:
-
particle centre-to-centre distance
- CTOD:
-
crack-tip opening displacement
- EPR:
-
ethylene–propylene random copolymer
- ESIS TC4:
-
European Structural Integrity Society, Technical Committee 4: Polymers and Composites
- MST:
-
multiple-specimen technique
- PB:
-
polybutadiene
- PC:
-
polycarbonate
- PE:
-
polyethylene
- PE-HD:
-
high-density polyethylene
- PP:
-
polypropylene
- PS:
-
polystyrene
- R:
-
crack resistance
- SB:
-
styrene–butadiene
- SST:
-
single-specimen technique
- TPU:
-
polyurethane based thermoplastic elastomer
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Lach, R., Seidler, S. & Grellmann, W. Resistance Against the Intrinsic Rate of Fracture Mechanics Parameters for Polymeric Materials Under Moderate Impact Loading. Mech Time-Depend Mater 9, 103–119 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11043-005-1084-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11043-005-1084-y