FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF STATIC AND DYNAMIC FRACTURE OF BRITTLE MICROCRACKING SOLIDS .2. STATIONARY AND GROWING MACROCRACKS UNDER STATIC LOADING

The continuum constitutive modeling for rate-dependent fracture of brittle microcracking solids, which was described in Part 1 of this paper, is applied to the finite element analysis of stationary and nonstationary macrocracks in a single-edge-notched three-point bend specimen under a static loading. The microcrack damage zones near the macro-crack-tip can be classified as being "large-scale." The microcrack toughening effect in stationary cracks is observed through the behavior of the crack tip energy-flux parameter, the T*-integral. The numerical results of the nonstationary crack analysis are compared with the available experimental results for a silicon carbide specimen. © 1990.