Abstract
A recently established statistical theory of fracture location combined with a competing risk theory was used to derive the distribution functions of fracture location, defect size and defect orientation. In this report, a new theory was applied to non-linear elastic bodies obeying a non-symmetric constitutive equation. Practically, a square cross-sectioned beam loaded on a three point bending apparatus was analyzed to study three types of competing defects; inner defects, surface defects, edge defects as fracture origins. From these results, the effect of non-linearity of the constitutive equation on the distribution function of fracture location was discussed, and a new estimating method of the constitutive equation derived from fracture location data was suggested.
