Abstract
A number of fatigue crack propagation laws applied in the study of polymers is described. Consideration of the stress field distribution at the crack tip leads to the application of fracture mechanics. It is shown that a simplified relationship of the form da/dN =Fλ α, whereφ is a function ofK IC,K max,K min andK TH appears to be a convenient expression for cyclic crack growth. The effect of mean stress is more complicated than that in the field of metals, the compressive component of cyclic stress may delay the crack growth. Cyclic tests in tension performed on PMMA and PVC are dependent on ΔK and its mean value,K m . The threshold value,K TH, is also influenced byK m but a more complicated behaviour due to strain rate effects may be observed. Other differences, such as the position of upper and lower transition points and growth rate changes with frequence, are noted. The effect of biaxial cyclic loading of PMMA and PVC plates is compared and some differences highlighted. The results available so far indicate little effect of the crack curving on its growth. However, it is shown that, while the increasing biaxiality can substantially retard the crack growth in PMMA, no such effect was recorded in PVC. Finally, it is shown that at very high stress levels (region III), the cyclic crack growth consists of two propagation modes, namely, a pure cyclic propagation, together with slow growth. At lower stress levels, slow growth disappears and the crack propagates in pure fatigue (region II). In region I, the propagation is very slow, without the usual correspondence between cycles and striations. The results recently obtained on glass reinforced plastics (GRP) are also presented and differences highlighted.
Résumé
On décrit les diverses lois de propagation des fissures de fatigue appliquées a l'étude des polymères. En considérant la distribution de champs de contrainte a 1'extremité de la fissure, on est conduit á appliquer la mécanique de la rupture. On montre qu'une relation simplifiée de la forme da/dN =Fφ a, oùφ est une fonction deK IC,K max,K min etKTH apparait être une expression convenable pour la croissance cyclique d'une fissure. L'effet de la contrainte moyenne est plus complexe que dans le domaine des métaux et la composante de compression du cycle de contraintes pent différer la croissance de la fissure. Des essais cycliques en traction exécutés sur du PMMA et du PVC dépendent de ΔK et de la valeur moyenneK m . La valeur de seuilK TH est également influencée parK m mais un comportement plus complexe associé aux effets de vitesses de déformation peut être observé aux effets de vitesees de déformation peut être observé. D'autres differénces, telles que la position des points de transition supérieurs et inférieurs ainsi que les changements de vitesse de croissance avec la fréquence ont été notées. L'effet d'une mise en charge cyclique biaxiale d'un PMMA ou d'un PVC sous forme de plaque est comparé et on met en avant certaines des différences observées. Les résultats disponibles jusqu'ici indiquent un effet modéré de la courbure de la fissure sur sa propagation. Cependant, on montre que si une biaxialité croissante pent retarder d'une manière substancielle la croissance d'une fissure dans du PMMA, aucun effet de ce genre n a été enregistré dans le cas d'un PVC. Enfin, on montre que pour des niveaux de contrainte très élevés (région III) la croissance cyclique d'une fissure consiste en deux modes de propagation, à savoir une propagation purement cyclique accompagnée d'une croissance lente. A des niveaux de contrainte plus faible, la phase de croissance lente disparait et la propagation de la fissure s'effectue en fatigue pure (région II). Dans la région I, la propagation est très lente sans que se présente la correspondance usuelle entre les cycles et les striures. Les résultats récemment obtenus sur des plastiques renforcés de verre (GRP) sont également présentés et les differences en sont mises en évidence.
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Radon, J.C. Fatigue crack growth in polymers. Int J Fract 16, 533–552 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02265216
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02265216