DAMAGE ANALYSIS OF CRACK-TIP ZONE IN HIGH-IMPACT POLYSTYRENE

In this paper, the damage zone development and damage evolution ahead of a crack tip in High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) specimen are studied from the viewpoint of Continuum Damage Mechanics. The damage distribut ion and tensile stress in the damage zone, and the damage zone length and opening displacement are calculated based on a modified Dugdale mo del and a damage evolution law for HIPS. Also, the interaction between the crack and microscopic material damage is discussed. It is found t hat the material damage has a great influence on the damage zone devel opment and crack initiation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.