[FRACTURE MECHANICS]

1. A rocket motor cases may be fabricated as thin walled tubes from

a). Low alloy steel of proof stress 1200MPa and fracture toughness 24 KJ/
2
m measured in sheet of appropriate thickness or
b).Marraging steel of proof stress 1800MPa and fracture toughness 24 KJ/
2
m
in a particular application, design code specifies that design stress is
y

/1.5 where

is proof stress. Calculate minimum size of defect

required to give brittle fracture in service for the two materials. Comment on
results (youngs modulus may be taken as 200GPa in both cases).
solution:
given:
Proof stress of Low alloy steel,
y

Proof stress of steel,

=1200MPa,

=1800MPa,

Youngs modulus for both low alloy steel and steel material is E=200Gpa
2
k ic
Fracture toughness for both materials,
=24KJ/ m =24KN/m
Case (a):
f

y
1.5
f

1200
1.5

=800MPa

k ic

ac

k ic

ac

=2.86

/(

ac

/(

1010

=(24

m=2.86

103

104

Minimum size of defect is given by

4
a
2 c = 5.72 10 mm

)^2/(
mm

800^2

1012

[FRACTURE MECHANICS]
Case (b):
f

y
1.5
f

1800
1.5

=1200MPa

k ic

ac

k ic

ac

=1.273

/(

ac

/(

f
2

10

10

=(24

m=1.273

103

10

Minimum size of defect is given by

4
a
2 c = 2.546 10 mm

Comment:

)^2/(
mm

1200^2

1012

[FRACTURE MECHANICS]