Fracture testing and finite element modeling of pure titanium

This paper presents the results of fracture experiments and corresponding f inite element analyses (FEA) of pure titanium. This investigation was motiv ated by the desire to develop a J-R testing protocol and numerical procedur es that are applicable to a titanium/titanium boride layered functionally g raded material. Tensile tests and a two-dimensional axisymmetric finite ele ment model were used to determine the plasticity data for the titanium. Cra ck growth experiments were conducted in three-point bending using single ed ge notched bend specimens. Three-dimensional FEA of crack growth initiation and two-dimensional FEA with automatic crack propagation were performed. T wo crack propagation conditions based on experimental data were used: (a) c rack length versus load-line displacement and (b) crack length versus crack mouth opening displacement. The subsequent predictions of the non-linear f inite element models are in reasonable agreement with the measured value of J at initiation and with the rising J-R data during crack propagation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.