Coefficients of the crack tip asymptotic field for wedge splitting specimens

The stress intensity factor (SIF) and the coefficients of higher order terms of the crack tip asymptotic field of typical wedge splitting specimens with two different loading arrangements are directly computed using a hybrid crack element. Accurate analytical expressions for the first five terms are obtained by fitting the computed data. Numerical results show that the coefficients of terms higher than three are negligibly small, this may explain that the wedge splitting specimen is more stable than other geometries. The first five terms are not sensitive to support conditions. However, for short cracks coefficients of terms, except the SIF, are quite sensitive to the loading arrangement even when the loads are statically equivalent. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.