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On configurational forces at boundaries in fracture mechanics

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Abstract

Configurational forces invariably appear at the external boundaries of cracked bodies (including the crack faces), but it is unclear whether they influence crack growth. Also, it is unclear how such boundary configurational forces are related to the J-integrals calculated in the body. In this brief note, we (i) derive expressions for the surface configurational forces and determine their values on regions of the external boundaries with prescribed tractions or displacements, (ii) determine the relation between the far-field J-integral and the surface configurational forces, and (iii) show that surface configurational forces on the crack faces do not alter the relation between the near-tip and far-field J-integrals.

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Author notes

  1. N. K. Simha

    Present address: Medtronic Inc., 710 Medtronic Parkway, Fridley, MN, 55432-5604, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mechanics, Montanuniversität Leoben, Franz-Josef-Strasse 18, 8700, Leoben, Austria

    F. D. Fischer

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 312 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    N. K. Simha

  3. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, 2000, Maribor, Slovenia

    J. Predan

  4. Materials Center Leoben Forschung GmbH, Roseggerstrasse 12, 8700, Leoben, Austria

    R. Schöngrundner

  5. Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Jahnstrasse 12, 8700, Leoben, Austria

    O. Kolednik

Authors
  1. F. D. Fischer
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  2. N. K. Simha
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  3. J. Predan
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  4. R. Schöngrundner
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  5. O. Kolednik
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Correspondence to F. D. Fischer.

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Fischer, F.D., Simha, N.K., Predan, J. et al. On configurational forces at boundaries in fracture mechanics. Int J Fract 174, 61–74 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-011-9672-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-011-9672-0

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