CRACK EXTENSION IN TRANSVERSELY LOADED ELASTIC PLATES.

Abstract

Running cracks in elastic plates have been observed to be arrested as they pass under a zone of externally applied transverse compression. This phenomenon has been observed in a variety of brittle materials, such as beryllium, glass, tungsten, and graphite, and has been used to produce controlled precracks in fracture toughness specimens of materials that are difficult to fatigue crack. In addition to this practical application, this phenomenon could prove useful in arresting cracks in actual structures, thereby providing a 'fail-safe' design and decreasing the likelihood of catastrophic failure. The purpose of the investigation was to examine the mechanics of this crack arrest from both theoretical and experimental standpoints, and to thus determine the controlling geometrical and material parameters. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0688661

Entities

People

  • David Owen Harris

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Beryllium
  • Composite Materials
  • Compression
  • Elements
  • Fail Safe
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Materials
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanics
  • Metals
  • Physics
  • Toughness
  • Transverse
  • Tungsten

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Metallurgy
  • Systems Analysis and Design