PROBABILISTIC MODELING OF BRITTLE-FRACTURE INCLUDING 3-D EFFECTS ON CONSTRAINT LOSS AND DUCTILE TEARING

This study presents a probabilistic, 3-D framework to describe brittle fracture in structural components which incorporates weakest link sta tistics and a micromechanics model reflecting local damage of material . The Weibull stress (a,) emerges as a fracture parameter to define co nditions leading to local material failure. This parameter is correlat ed with the macroscopic loading and used to describe overall fracture conditions in a cracked solid exhibiting both loss of constraint and s table crack growth prior to cleavage fracture. The paper also describe s an application of the proposed framework to predict the measured geo metry and ductile tearing effects on the statistical distribution of c leavage fracture toughness for an HSLA steel.