Crack Profiles in Applied Moment Double Cantilever Beam Tests

Abstract

In situ observations of crack propagation in an applied moment double cantilever beam specimen were used previously to obtain the R-curve behavior of ceramic composites. To predict the R-curve using constitutive models, knowledge of the crack profile is required to derive the bridging stress distribution along the crack length and to analyze the toughening effect. To predict the crack profile in an applied moment double cantilever beam test, both the deformation of the crack surface due to the bending moment and the movement of the crack surface due to the rigid body motion of the loading fixture need to be considered. The analytical solution for the crack profile is derived in the present study. The predicted crack profiles agree well with experimental measurements.