On the symmetric dynamic fracture of a beam under tensile loading

The dynamic fracture response of a long beam of brittle elastic material under tensile loading is studied by means of two different one-dimensional models. If the magnitude of the applied loading is increased quasi-statically to a critical value, two coplanar edge cracks are assumed to propagate across the beam's cross section. The first model parallels that of 6] with the crack length, crack speed and the loading on the fracturing section being determined as functions of time after fracture initiation. The second model is derived by means of energy considerations in the vicinity of the fracturing section. The results obtained from both models are similar except during the final phase of the fracture process.