Cracks at rounded V-notch tips: an analytical expression for the stress intensity factor

An analytical expression for the stress intensity factor related to a crack stemming from a blunted V-notch tip is put forward. The analysis is limited to mode I loading conditions, as long as the crack length is sufficiently small with respect to the notch depth. The proposed formula improves significantly the predictions of a recently introduced relationship, by considering a notch amplitude dependent parameter. Its values are estimated through a finite element analysis: different notch amplitudes, ranging from to , and different crack length to root radius ratios, ranging from 0 to 10, are taken into account. The evaluation of the apparent generalized fracture toughness according to equivalent linear elastic fracture mechanics concludes the paper.