Chapter 2

Linear Elastic Fracture

Mechanics (LEFM)
Introduction
• The science of predicting
the load - carrying
capabilities of structures
or components containing
cracks.
• LEFM is used when plastic
deformation at the crack
tip is insignificant.
• LEFM is firstly introduced
by Griffith in 1920.
Griffith Equation
• He showed that the critical stress required to propagate a crack in a
brittle material:

• Orowan then modified the Griffith equation:

Griffith Equation
• If the material is highly ductile, plastic surface energy is dominant:

• Irwin then incorporate both types of surface energies into the critical
strain energy release rate, Gc:

• Griffith equation for both brittle and ductile materials:

Mode of failure
Stress Intensity Factor (SIF), Mode I and II
Displacements at the crack tip
Stress Intensity Factors (SIF), Mode III
Stress Intensity Factors
• In general, SIF can be calculated using (the unit is MPa√m):
Stress Intensity Factors
Stress Intensity Factor
Stress Intensity Factor
Stress Intensity Factors
Stress Intensity Factor
Stress Intensity Factor
Assignment 2
• Perform finite element analysis to Your report must contain:
analyze the behavior of plate • Introduction
containing a crack.
• Methodology
• Use ANSYS finite element software.
• Results and discussion
• Compare the results obtained using
finite element software with the • Conclusion
results using the equation studied • References
previously.
Submission:
• Use 20 different crack length during
analysis. • Hardcopy
• Google this keywords: “ansys • Email to: emran@uthm.edu.my
fracture tutorial” • Upload to: my WhatsApp
Fracture Toughness
• When applied stress,  exceeds some critical value, c, the crack
propagates.
• The critical value of c corresponds to the critical value of SIF and it is
called the fracture toughness, Kc:

• Kc is a measure of the resistance of a material to brittle fracture when

it contains a crack.
Fracture Toughness
Fracture Toughness