Issue34

Y. Sumi, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 34 (2015) 43-59; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.34.04 49       2 II 21 I 22 II 22 11 I I I I I 1 1 1 2 4 / . 2 2 2 b k k k k k k k b T k k k                       (37) Crack Path Stability Based on the shape parameters obtained by the crack path prediction, crack path stability in a symmetric homogeneous brittle solid is considered, Leevers et al . [13], Broberg [14], Pook [15]. We shall investigate the cases where the geometry of the body is symmetric with respect to the initial straight crack line, and where the presence of a small asymmetric loading or slight material inhomogeneity which may produce a small Mode-II stress-intensity factor k II at the original crack tip, leads to non-collinear crack growth with small, initial kink angle  . The crack path stability is then examined by taking into account the second and third terms of Eq. (1). Let the crack growth profile be normalized by a representative length, L s , of the body. We set * * * 1 , h h h L L L S S S                                                  (38) where * * * , , and . S S S L L L          (39) The crack path stability is determined by the quantity D s , given by * * 0 : stable 0 : unstable S h D s L                       , (40) where * I 8 2 / 3 S T L k     , (41) and       * 2 1 1 1 II / 2 4 / 21 I 22 II 22 11 I I I 2 2 2 2 II I S b k k k k k k k b T k L k k                          . (42) The crack path stability for predominantly Mode-I loading conditions can be determined from the values of  */  and  */  . It has been confirmed that if the small imperfection parameter, k II , is considered to be independent on the crack length, sum of the first three terms in the right hand side of Eq.(42) vanish, so that Eqs. (36) and (42) are expressed only in terms of the quantities which do not depend on the small asymmetric loading condition. If we represent the stability condition (40) in terms of  */  and  */  , we have     * * * * 2 * * * * 2 * * * * ( i ) / 0 and / 0 : stable (ii) / 0 and / 0 : unstable stable for 0 / / (iii) / 0 and / 0 : unstable for / / unstable (iv) / 0 and / 0 : S S h L h L                                         2 * * 2 * * for 0 / / stable for / / S S h L h L             (43) Stable and unstable paths defined by (43) are illustrated in Fig.4.