Abstract
Mode I fracture testing of three different kinds of rubber toughened PMMA (RT-PMMA) was performed at a static and a dynamic loading rate. Effect of loading rate on the maximum energy release rate. G_<Imax>, was examined. Polarized optical microscopy was also carried out to assess effect of loading rate on damage zone development in the vicinity of crack tip. It was observed that the width of the damage zone decreased as loading rate increased. Mode I fracture behaviors of these RT-PMMA's are discussed on the basis of the results of the mode I fracture testing and the optical microscopy.
