Effect of strain rate on the near crack tip behavior of a particulate composite

This paper presents experimental results regarding the crack propagation an d strain field near the crack tip of a particulate composite material under high strain rates. The particulate composite material presently being stud ied is viscoelastic in nature, therefore, the characteristics of stress rel axation and redistribution near the vicinity of the crack tip are thought t o be different under different loading rates. In addition, the strain field ahead of the crack tip is related to the evolution of the damage zone and the crack propagation rate. In particular, the size and shape of a damage z one can dominate the crack propagation process.