STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR FOR DOUBLE EDGE CRACKED FINITE PLATE SUBJECTED TO TENSILE STRESS

Abstract

A finite rectangular plate with double edge crack under uniaxial tension depends on the assumptions of Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics LEFM and plane strain problem are studied in the present paper. The effect of crack position, crack oblique and the kinked crack orientation are investigated to predict if a crack starts to grow. These problems are solved by calculating the Stress Intensity Factor SIF for mode I (KI) and II (KII) near the crack tip theoretically using mathematical equations and numerically using finite element software ANSYS R15. A good agreement is observed between the theoretical and numerical solutions. The results show that the KI increases with increasing the relative crack length and tensile stress and these values are increased when the crack position draws near the plate edge while in case of parallel cracks the mutual shielding effect reduces KI in each crack.In mixed mode, it is shown that the maximum values of KI and KII occur at crack angle β=0o and 45o, respectively and the orientation of the kinked crack have significant effects on the KI and KII.