J-INTEGRAL ESTIMATION FOR SINGLE-EDGE NOTCH SPECIMENS IN TENSION

A new J-integral estimation scheme for single edge notch specimens in tension (SENT) is presented. The scheme consists of equations obtained by analysing finite element results of SENT specimens under plane str ain conditions, and separate equations have been derived for two forms of idealized material stress-strain curves - power law and bilinear r epresentations. Non-dimensional J values are presented as functions of non-dimensional far field strains which eliminate the dependency of J on the aspect ratios of specimens. It was found that both the materia l law and the crack depth to specimen depth ratio had significant infl uences on the predicted J values and by presenting equations for diffe rent parts of the J versus strain curves, the scheme is able to take t hese influences into account.