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CRACK INTERACTION, COALESCENCE AND MIXED MODE FRACTURE MECHANICS
Author(s) -
Wang Y.Z.,
Atkinson J. D.,
Akid R.,
Parkins R. N.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fatigue and fracture of engineering materials and structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1460-2695
pISSN - 8756-758X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-2695.1996.tb00931.x
Subject(s) - coalescence (physics) , fracture mechanics , mechanics , materials science , structural engineering , statistical physics , physics , engineering , composite material , astrobiology
Abstract— Multiple cracks are often observed in engineering structures; and their interaction and coalescence may significantly affect the lifetime of component or structure. In this paper, the general features associated with crack interaction and coalescence are presented, and the conditions for coalescence in various forms are reviewed. A model has been developed based on the principles of mixed mode fracture mechanics, to provide a rational explanation for the phenomenon of crack interaction and to predict the coalescence conditions. The latter is found to agree reasonably with the experimental observations.