LEFM—Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics

Crack-tip fields for plane stress and plane strain: Mode I and Mode II
Linear, isotropic elastic solids with Young's modulus, E , and Poisson's ratio, ν .
The in-plane stresses in the crack tip fields are the same in plane stress and plane strain,
however, σ 33 = 0 in plane stress and σ 33 = ν ( σ 11 + σ 22 ) in plane strain

Mode I - -Symmetric stresses & strains fields at tip.

Universal behavior (all problems !) as r approaches crack tip:

KI
σ αβ = σαβ
I
(θ )
2π r E = E in plane stress
E
K r I = in plane strain
uα = uα + I
0
uα (θ ) 1 −ν 2
E 2π

The distributions, σαβ

I
, are given in most texts on LEFM

KI
Mode I-- On the plane ahead of the tip: σ 22 = , σ 12 = 0 (standard definition)
2π r
where K I is called the Mode I stress intensity factor
Mode II - -Anti - symmetric stresses & strains fields at tip.
Universal behavior (all problems !) as r approaches crack tip (σαβ
II
in the texts):
K II
σ αβ = σαβ
II
(θ )
2π r
K II r II
uα = uα0 + uα (θ )
E 2π
K II
On the plane ahead of the tip: σ 12 = , σ 22 = 0 (standard definition)
2π r
where K II is called the Mode II stress intensity factor

Mode III - -Out - of - plane shearing (also called "anti - plane shear").
Universal behavior (all problems !) as r approaches crack tip:
K III ⎛ ⎛θ ⎞ ⎛θ ⎞⎞
(σ 13 , σ 23 ) = ⎜ sin ⎜ 2 ⎟ , cos ⎜ 2 ⎟ ⎟ (σ 12 = K III / 2π r on plane ahead of tip)
2π r ⎝ ⎝ ⎠ ⎝ ⎠⎠
2 K III r ⎛θ ⎞
u3 = sin ⎜ ⎟ (G ≡ E /(2(1 +ν )) is shear modulus)
G 2π ⎝2⎠
Derivation of the Mode III fields given in class

By superposition (linear elasticity), conditions at any crack tip can always be

represented as a sum of the three modes.
 Some Basic Solutions
x2 3
Tensile crack σ /σ ∞
x1 or
2 Exact solution
τ /τ ∞

Exact solution: KI = σ ∞ π a Asymptotic crack-tip

field
σ ∞ x1 1
σ 22 = ( x1 > a, x2 = 0)
x12 − a 2 K
Shear crack 2π r
0
1 2 3 4 5
x1 / a

Exact solution: K II = τ ∞ π a For these two problems the K-field gives and accurate
τ ∞ x1 estimate of the stress ahead of the crack for r/a<1/4
σ 12 = ( x1 > a, x2 = 0)
x −a
1
2 2

There are several excellent compilations of solutions. We will make use of Tada, Paris & Irwin
 Some Basic Solutions, continued
ASTM compact tensile specimen

h = 0.6b
h1 = 0.275b
tensile edge - crack : K I = 1.122σ ∞ π a c = D = 0.25b
thickness ≡ t = b / 2

P ⎛a⎞
KI = a F1 ⎜ ⎟
bt ⎝b⎠
periodic tensile cracks :
1/ 2 F1
⎡ 2b ⎛ π a ⎞⎤
K I = σ ∞ π a ⎢ tan ⎜ ⎟⎥
⎣π a ⎝ 2b ⎠ ⎦

Mode I at all points

of crack edge

a/b
2
penny shaped crack : K I = σ∞ πa (see Tada, et al page???
π
An example of results in the
Stress Analysis of Cracks Handbook
by H. Tada, P.C. Paris and G.R. Irwin
ASME Press, New York, NY, 2000

An edge-notched infinite beam under pure

bending. Pages 55-57 of the Handbook

Results are presented on the this page and the

next for the stress intensity factor (a mode I problem),
the crack opening displacement at the surface,
and the additional rotation due to the presence
of the crack.
Energy Release Rate, Prescribed Load vs. Prescribed Displacement, and
Relation to Stress Intensity Factors
Prescribed load/thickness, P. Load-point displacement = ∆
G = energy release rate (J / m 2 )
SE = strain energy of the system/thickness
P∆ = potential energy/thickness of load
PE = energy of the system/thickness
Note that for any linear elastic system, SE = P∆ / 2, and thus Generic cracked body
for prescribed load:
PE = SE − P∆ = − P∆ / 2
The energy release rate for prescribed load is defined as
⎛ ∂PE ⎞ 1 ∂ ( P∆ ) P ⎛ ∂∆ ⎞
G = −⎜ ⎟ ⇒ G= = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ ∂a ⎠ P 2 ∂a P 2 ⎝ ∂a ⎠ P

∆
Define compliance, C=
P
which depends only on geometry, including, a, E and ν . Thus,
⎛ ∂∆ ⎞ dC 1 2 dC
⎜ ⎟ = P ⇒ G = P Graphical interpretation
⎝ ∂a ⎠ P da 2 da of energy release rate
due to crack advance
Energy Release Rate, continued: Role of compliance and loading conditions

As indicated in the figure, introduce a linear spring with compliance

CM in series with the cracked body. Let ∆T be the total displacement
through which P works. Now, let ∆T be prescribed.
∆T = ∆ + CM P = ∆ + (CM / C )∆
1 1 1
PE = SE + CM P 2 = C −1∆ 2 + CM −1 ( ∆T − ∆ )
2

2 2 2
and a straight-forward calculation (see pg.8of notes) again gives
1 2 dC
G= P a
2 da

Note! The energy release rate does not depend on CM .

In particular, G is the same for both prescribed load and prescribed displacement.
This is not intutive.

Most results for G are obtained either from analytical or numerical calculations (see later).
However, the above formula permits experimental evaluation of G by experimentally
measuring the compliance at two nearly equal crack lengths, a and a+da.
 Energy Release Rate, continued: Relation between G and K’s

Mode I situation:
symmetric body and
symmetric loading.

Since G is independent of loading, consider a body under prescribed ∆.

Consider two configurations of the cracked body one with a and the other with a+∆a.
Because the system is elastic, the energy released in advancing the crack ∆a is the same
as the work done in closing the crack from a+∆a to a (see figure). Because ∆ is prescribed,
no work is done by applied loads in closing crack. The work to close the crack is
1 ∆a
∆W = G∆a = ∫ σ 22 ( x, 0) ⎡⎣u2 ( x, 0+ ) − u2 ( x, 0− ) ⎤⎦dx σ 22 ( x, 0) = K I (a) / 2π x
2 0 8 ∆a − x
u 2 ( x , 0 + ) − u 2 ( x , 0 − ) = K I ( a + ∆a )
2 ∆a ∆a − x 2π
K I ( a ) K I ( a + ∆a ) ∫
E
= dx E = E in plane stress, E = E /(1 −ν 2 ) in plane strain
πE 0 x
1
= K I ( a ) K I ( a + ∆a ) ∆ a Under all three modes, one finds
E
1 2
⇒ G = K I (Irwin's universal relation!) G =
1
E
( K I
2
+ K II )
2
+
2G
1
K III 2
E
Discuss units
 Energy Methods for Determining Energy Release Rate

Double cantilever beam specimen

Compute compliance of specimen treating each arm as a cantilever beam,
and consider the specimen to have unit thickness and P is force/thickness

∆ Pa 3 4 Pa 3 ∆ 8a 3
= = ⇒ C≡ = 3
2 3EI Eb3 P Eb
1 2 dC 12 P 2 a 2
G= P =
2 da Eb3

Since this is a mode I problem (by symmetry), Irwin's relation gives

Pa
KI = 2 3
b3/ 2

See notes pg. 10 for the problem of a thin strip (plane stress)
with a semi-Infinite crack subject to rigid grips.
This is an exact solution. Note it is independent of crack length.

E∆2 1 E∆
G= , K =
4(1 −ν 2 )b
I
2 1 −ν 2 b
 Energy Methods for Determining Energy Release Rate, continued

Delamination of stressed thin film on elastic substrate h

1D analysis (uniaxial stress in film) σ σ

1 σ 2h
strain energy/area in film far ahead of tip =
2 E delamination crack
strain energy/area in film far behind tip = 0
energy released/area due to crack advance:
1 σ 2h
G=
2 E
which is independent of crack length.

This problem does not have symmetry and it is an example where the crack is a combination
of mode I and II. Later in the course we will determine the two stress intensity factors.

The simple result for G is valid when the crack is long enough such that steady-state conditions
apply. In practice this means the crack length has to be long compared to the film thickness.