STUDIES OF THE STRAIN DISTRIBUTION IN WIDE PLATES DURING BRITTLE FRACTURE PROPAGATION

This report summarizes the results of a series of tests made as a part of the study of the propagation of brittle fractures in 6-ft wide steel plates. All plates were tested at an average net applied stress of 19,000 psi, a temperature of about -10 F, and an impact energy of about 1000 ft-lb, which made it possible to superimpose the test data and obtain contours of strain on the surface of the plate for a propagating fracture. Contours of both the maximum principal strain and strain measured with vertically oriented gages for various lengths of crack are presented in this report. A study of all the applicable data from earlier tests made as a part of this program indicates that the strain contour data presented here are also representative of the data from these earlier tests. The studies indicate that for the particular specimen geometry and associated test conditions, the strain field associated with the tip of the advancing fracture remains essentially unchanged after traversing about one-third of the plate width and extends only about 8--10 in. ahead of the crack tip.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Urbana, IL  United States  61801

  Ship Structure Committee

  National Academy of Science, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20418
• Authors:
  • Rolfe, S T
  • Lynam, T M
  • Hall, W J
• Publication Date: 1959-12-30

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 64 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Deformation curve; Fracture mechanics; Plate bearing test
• Identifier Terms: Ship Structure Committee
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack initiation
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00331907
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Ship Structure Committee
• Report/Paper Numbers: SSC-118 Prog Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: NObs-65790, NObs-72046
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM