Analytical Solution for Crack Propagation Considering Process Zone and Verification by Experiment

Abstract

In this paper, a stress function is obtained for a problem of infinite isotropic plate containing a central straight crack subjected to normal uniform load. This function is composed of a finite stress concentration and a process zone at the tip of the crack. The validity of the function is obtained through numerical calculation and the limit of its application to a finite plate is considered. By applying this stress function to the data of fracture development obtained by experiment, an evaluation of the length of the process zone was made, which up to now has been uncertain in this type analysis.
The results support a conclusion that an analysis using this stress function is effective in evaluating the propagation of crack and the length of process zone.