Abstract
The paper is concerned with the formulation of size effect relations associated with the effect of a blunt stress concentration on the failure of a quasi-brittle material, where the failure can be modelled in terms of a two-dimensional embedded blunt flaw within an infinite solid, or a blunt flaw in the surface of a semi-infinite solid. In order to obtain analytical results so that the role of material and geometrical parameters in the size effect relations can be clearly seen, the paper is primarily based on an idealised cohesive zone description of material failure, and on Mode III analyses, though some consideration is given to the practically more appropriate Mode I situation. The size effect relations are expressed in terms of relations between the maximum sustainable effective peak stress at the flaw root or an effective stress intensity, and material and geometrical parameters of the flaw. If the flaw is sufficiently large, the geometry effect simplifies to the effect of the flaw root radius.
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Smith, E. Size effect relations associated with cohesive zone type fracture at a blunt stress concentration. International Journal of Fracture 95, 41–50 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018631813648
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018631813648