Determining K and G

Abstract

So far the crack tip stress fields and energy flows for elastic materials have been described and we have shown that near the crack tip the stress, strain and displacement fields are completely determined by {KI, KII, KIII}. Furthermore the use of stress intensity factors and energy release rate as criteria for fracture have been introduced. However for only a small number of cases have solutions for the stress intensity factors been given. Thus in this chapter analytical, look-up, computational and experimental methods for the determination of the stress intensity factors and energy release rate will be described.