Fracture characterization of ductile polymers through methods based on load separation

The applicability of load separation property based methods of determining J-R curves of ductile polymers is analysed in this work. Two methods are analysed: the load normalization method and the S-Pb method. The load normalization method is based on the use of a plastic deformation dependent function which has an explicit functional form, H, whereas the S-Pb method is based on the S-Pb parameter, which was defined as the calculated load ratio between two specimens. one having a growing crack and the other with a non-propagated crack. The obtained J-R curves have been compared with those obtained experimentally in order to study the applicability and accuracy of both methods. Although both methods have been shown to be applicable, the load normalization method is the most accurate and the easiest to apply. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.