Dynamic full field measurements of crack tip temperatures

This paper presents a detailed investigation of the evolution of temperatur e field at the tip of a stationary crack subjected to dynamic loading in tw o different types of steels. A high speed two-dimensional infrared camera w as used to image the temperature fields at the crack tips. In a high streng th maraging steel, the thermograms reveal the development of plastic zone a nd the process of crack initiation and propagation. In ductile HY100 steel, the thermograms are used to estimate the evolution of J integral and its c ritical value at crack initiation. The temperature images are also used to investigate the dominance of HRR field around the crack tip. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.