Fracture of notched and perforated polymeric bars produced by longitudinal impact

An experimental investigation was executed to ascertain the stress intensity factors at the tip of stationary or moving cracks and the stress distribution at central holes in thin rectangular specimens of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate of bisphenol (Lexan) as the result of longitudinal impact by 10 mm dia. steel spheres at velocities ranging from 15 to 130 m/s and by the hammers of standard Charpy impact testers. The initial and rebound velocities of the spheres as well as the strain histories in the specimens were measured. Crack kinematics, the stress intensity factor at the tip and the nominal stress at central holes were ascertained by means of a shadowgraphic technique using a 24-spark Cranz-Schardin camera.Stepwide propagation in the PMMA specimens, frequently found for low sphere-impact velocities, occurred at crack speeds of 250–340 m/s, while catastrophic failure in a single pass of the crack involved tip speeds from 625 to 700 m/s. For the Lexan samples, the velocities of all cracks whether moving intermittently or continuously, were observed to be between 435 and 510 m/s; thus, the average of the fast crack speeds corresponds to about 31% of the rod wave velocity for both materials. Dynamic stress intensity factors were found to be equal to or larger than corresponding static values of fracture toughness, and their variation with nominal stress in the bar followed different mechanical-optical paths during loading and unloading. Stress histories at holes in PMMA determined from strain gage data indicated a stress concentration when compared to those obtained from the shadowgraphs. Current analyses of the process based on static stress distributions in an infinite elastic plate under constant load require modification to provide an explanation of some of the phenomena observed. Such dynamic stress conditions in the vicinity of a crack or hole will also require an alteration of the photomechanical relations currently employed to ascertain crack tip intensity factors and stress conditions at circular holes determined from the geometry of shadow-graphic patterns.