Abstract
Crack growth behavior in glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate of 30% fiber content in weight (FRPC) was studied under creep conditions at 30, 60 and 90°C from a viewpoint of fracture mechanics, using two types of geometry of test specimens, a single edge notched one (SEN) and a center notched one (CN).
It was found that the creep crack growth curve was similar to the creep curve and could be divided into three stages by the crack propagation rate. A creep crack growth model of FRPC was proposed on the mechanism of creep crack growth at each stage and was confirmed by the macroscopic and microscopic observations of the fractured surfaces. Moreover, it was examined which mechanical parameter, the stress intensity factor or the net section stress, controlled the creep crack propagation rate. It was considered that the crack propagation rate can be normalized by the stress intensity factor in the present temperature range.
