TEARING MODULUS, J-INTEGRAL, CTOA AND CRACK PROFILE SHAPE OBTAINED FROM THE LOAD-DISPLACEMENT CURVE ONLY

A theoretical model for post-yield fracture in SENB-3 specimen is deve loped which allows one to evaluate the initiation point, crack growth, Crack Tip Opening Angle (CTOA) and the shape of fracture profiles usi ng the load-displacement curve only, without the need for expensive me thodologies such as unloading compliance or resistometric methods. For mulae which relate the J-integral and tearing modulus to CTOA were als o derived and a procedure to compute the load-specimen curve during th e crack propagation was given.