Title: Two-step linear elastic finite element analysis: a new approach for evaluating fracture toughness for CNT specimens

Authors: R.N. Ibrahim, R. Das, F.W. Wu, R.K. Singh Raman

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia. ' CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences, Normanby Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia. ' SCS Industries, Hallam, Victoria 3803, Australia. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3168, Australia

Abstract: In this paper, a new methodology involving a two-step linear elastic finite element analysis is proposed to evaluate K_IC for CNT specimens. A number of specimens of various materials were analysed and the values of K_IC are found to be in close agreement with values obtained experimentally. A convergence study was undertaken to study the sensitivity of stress intensity factor (SIF) with mesh attributes and the solution was found to converge well.

Keywords: stress intensity factors; SIF; finite element analysis; linear elastic FEA; fracture toughness testing; CNT tests; cylindrical notched tensile specimens.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSI.2008.022993

International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity, 2008 Vol.2 No.4, pp.319 - 331

Published online: 06 Feb 2009 *

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