MIXED-MODE CRACK-TIP DEFORMATIONS STUDIED USING A MODIFIED FLEXURAL SPECIMEN AND COHERENT GRADIENT SENSING

An optical mapping of deformation fields and evaluation of fracture parameters near mixed-mode cracks in homogeneous specimens under elastostatic conditions is undertaken. A modified edge notched flexural geometry is used in the study and its ability in providing a relatively wide range of mode mixities is demonstrated. A full-field, optical shearing interferometry called 'coherent gradient sensing' (CGS) is used in the study. Crack-tip parameters such as stress-intensity factors, mode mixity and energy-release rate are measured from the interference patterns. The patterns are analyzed using Williams' mixed-mode, asymptotic expansion field. An expression for energy-release rate for the specimen is also derived using beam theory. The theoretical stress-intensity factors are then obtained using a mode-partitioning method based on moment decomposition. Experimental measurements and theoretical predictions are found to be in good agreement. Limitations of the mode-partitioning method used in the investigation are also pointed out.