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chromatic fringe loops. The factor is included in equation (11.21) because of the use of side grooves to ensure an in-plane fracture path in the specimen.

Indirect Method for Determination of

This method of determination of the dynamic stress intensity factor uses a combined approach in which the crack propagation is measured and subsequently used in a finite element analysis to determine . For this analysis it may be necessary to use special techniques to describe the singularity at the crack tip and the fact that the tip is moving. Furthermore, it can suffice to assume elastic material behaviour. However, for an adequate description of the material behaviour it may also prove essential to include plasticity in the analysis and, since strain rates become very high for fast running cracks, to include the effect of strain rate on yield behaviour.

11.7 Approaches in Elastic-Plastic Dynamic Fracture Mechanics

As was stated in chapter 6 on Elastic-Plastic Fracture Mechanics, the Crack Opening Displacement (COD) and J integral concepts have been widely accepted as crack characterising parameters. Extension of these parameters to dynamic fracture mechanics has been investigated by several authors. Two examples will be given here.

Dynamic Crack Opening Displacement

For quasi-static elastic-plastic fracture the CTOD is given by the equation derived by Burdekin and Stone, i.e. equation (6.28). Kanninen extended the COD approach to dynamic fracture mechanics by deriving an expression for the CTOD for a propagating crack, see reference 17. This expression is also based on Dugdale's strip yield model. A steady-state crack propagation is assumed, i.e. all relevant quantities, such as stresses and displacements, are independent of time for a constant position relative to the moving crack tip. For a crack propagating with a speed the static CTOD value, equation (6.28), is multiplied by the function L( ) given by (11.22) where C1 = longitudinal wave velocity in a plate assuming plane stress, C2 = shear wave velocity,

In the limit of 0 the function L( ) = 1, while it monotonically increases with until it reaches infinity at the speed of Rayleigh waves. Assuming a constant (critical) CTOD for a propagating crack, Kanninen used equation (11.22) to predict the crack velocity as a function of crack length. A reasonable agreement was found with

experiments on steel foil in tension.