Impact failure of poly(methyl methacrylate)

Damage development during instrumented falling weight impact (IFWIM) testing of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is recorded using short pulse photography. The first visible damage is cracking on application of the peak force. Finite element analysis predicts the deformation and state of stress throughout the specimen until the first point of failure is reached. A variation in the specimen geometry produces a significant change in initial failure energy, while the maximum tensile stress is approximately constant. The proposed failure criterion is the attainment of a critical time-dependent value of tensile stress. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.