GRIFFITH'S THEORY OF RUPTURE,
Abstract
Griffith's theory of rupture correctly portrays the mechanism of failure for brittle materials. Brittle fracture is due to high tensile stresses generated at the tips of the microscopic cracks which exist in all brittle materials. This high tensile stress exists near the tip of an elliptical crack regardless of the sign of the external stresses. Considerably more experimental research must be performed before the Griffith theory of rupture can be applied safely to engineering problems connected with rock mechanics. McClintock and Walsh modified Griffith's theory to take into account frictional forces which are developed when the crack is compressed. The modified Griffith theory is identical with the Coulomb law in the region of compression. After reviewing both Griffith's theory and the modified theories, it is concluded that Mohr's criteria t6 predict failure conditions in rock are the most applicable at the present time. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0466571
Entities
People
- E. D. Morgan
- J. F. Class
Organizations
- United States Bureau of Reclamation