UCLA MAE 256F Homework 1 Summer 2020

Analytical Fracture Mechanics (MAE256F)

Prof. Vijay Gupta

Homework 1 - Due Date: 7/05/20, Sunday, 11:59 PM

Problem 1
Derive the asymptotic stress and displacement fields near the tip of an atomically sharp
crack in an elastic solid subjected to far field Mode III loading.

Problem 2
Consider the following test setup:

Figure 1

The spring has stiffness Ks (constant) and the specimen has stiffness Km , which is a
function of the crack length, a. The system is stretched by an amount ∆ and held fixed.
The force acting on the specimen, P is just about enough to cause crack growth. If γ is
the surface energy, derive a relationship between γ, ∆(P ), Ks , Km , a, and t, where t is the
thickness of the specimen.

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UCLA MAE 256F Homework 1 Summer 2020

Problem 3
In LEFM, all of the advantages of linearity can be used. One of the advantages is that the
superposition of solutions for different types of loading (or boundary conditions) can be used
to deduce the solution of a more complex loading.

1. (a) Explain and justify why the stress intensity factor of a crack problem under a
combined loading (say loading A and loading B) is equal to the sum of the stress
intensity factors of each (i.e. “K” due to loading of A and B at the same time =
“K” of loading A + “K” of loading B. See Figure 2 for an example).
(b) Consider a Griffith crack in an infinite space under point loads applied to the
opposite sides of the crack faces (see Figure q
3). The stress intensity factor for
such a configuration is given by, KI = √1πa P a+b a−b
. Show how this formula can
be used to deduce the stress intensity factor of a crack in an infinite space under
an arbitrary load. Check for the case of uniform pressure.

Figure 2

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UCLA MAE 256F Homework 1 Summer 2020

Figure 3

2. As a result of welding processes, a component of a cylinder of large radius contains a

crack that is subjected to residual stresses. The crack can be considered as existing in
infinite space, whereas the residual stresses have the following variation (that can be
thought of as an equivalent pressure loading along the line y=0):

800 × (1 − |x| ) MPa, |x| ≤ 20 mm
σ r yy (x, y = 0) = 15 mm
(1)
0, |x| > 20 mm

**CONVERT EVERYTHING TO METERS...INCLUDING 15 mm IN THE ABOVE

EQUATION**

(a) What are the values of the residual stress intensity factor corresponding to the
following values of “a” (half the crack length): 12.5 mm, 17.5 mm, 20 mm, and
22.5 mm?
(b) i. If the crack is to be subjected to an additional tensile far field load, at what
load will the crack initiate? Assume a = 12.5 mm and KIC = 120 MNm-3/2
ii. If the residual stress intensity factor were zero, at what far field load would
the crack initiate?

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