Experimental and numerical investigation of fracture of ABS polymeric material for different sample's thickness using a new loading device

Abstract

The fracture behavior of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) polymeric material has been investigated under the full range of in-plane loading conditions using a new loading device to obtain more reliable results. Loading conditions from pure mode-I through various mixed-mode I/II ratios up to pure mode-II have been generated using the proposed new loading device for the same specimen geometry. From the experimentally measured critical loads, the mode-I, mode-II, and the various mixed-mode I/II critical energy release rates have been determined at different loading angles from 0° to 90°. Using the FE results, nondimensional stress intensity factors were applied to the specimen. The primary objectives of this study were to develop a new loading device to determine the mixed-mode fracture toughness KIC and KIIC of ABS polymeric material. Another goal was to obtain stress intensity and strain energy release rates solutions associated with the crack, and to examine effects of thickness and geometric variables, particularly under mixed-mode loading conditions. It was found that the thickness of the 10 mm specimen satisfied the plane strain condition with average fracture toughness ≈4.32 MPa·m1/2 under pure mode-I loading and ≈1.42 MPa·m1/2 for pure mode-II loading. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers.