Creep damage and fracture of notched specimens under static and fast periodic loading

Abstract

Creep-damage processes in notched specimens subjected to static and periodic loading are studied experimentally. Subsequent simulations were carried out using Rabotnov evolution equation. In case of dynamic creep (fast periodic loading) the constitutive equations derived by use of asymptotic and averaging methods were used. Numerical results were obtained by the combination of FEM and predictor-corrector time integration scheme. Fracture process was studied using designed numerical procedure based on the elimination of the finite elements with critical values of damage parameter. The fracture times and directions of the crack propagation were determined. The qualitative difference between processes of crack propagation in cases of static and periodic loading were observed.