Dynamic ductile fracture of 7075-T6 - an experimental analysis

Dynamic moire interferometry fringes surrounding a rapidly propagating crac k in single edge notched, 7075-T6 aluminum specimen of 1.6 mm thickness wer e used to compare directly the T*(epsilon)-integral values associated with a near-crack integration contour, the crack-tip opening angles and the elas tic strain energy release rate, G. While T*(epsilon) reached a steady state value and remained constant at the terminal crack velocity, G followed the well-known gamma curve and varied with the crack driving force at the term inal velocity. This limited result may be an indication of the inadequacy i n linear elastic fracture mechanics characterization of dynamic ductile fra cture. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.