In this paper, a volume criterion based on a simple scalar quantity, the mean value of the strain energy (SED), has been used to assess the static strength of notched components made of Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). | Tensile fracture analysis of blunt notched PMMA specimens by means of the Strain Energy Density Engineering Solid Mechanics 3 2015 35-42 Contents lists available at GrowingScience Engineering Solid Mechanics homepage esm Tensile fracture analysis of blunt notched PMMA specimens by means of the Strain Energy Density A. Campagnolo and F. Berto University of Padova Department of Management and Engineering Stradella S. Nicola 3 36100 Vicenza Italy ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history In this paper a volume criterion based on a simple scalar quantity the mean value of the strain Received September 6 2014 energy SED has been used to assess the static strength of notched components made of Accepted 12 November 2014 Polymethylmethacrylate PMMA . The local-strain-energy based approach has been applied Available online to a well-documented set of experimental data recently reported in the literature. Data refer to 12 December 2014 blunt U-notched cylindrical specimens of commercial PMMA subjected to static loads and Keywords Polymethylmethacrylate characterised by a large variability of notch tip radius from mm to mm . Critical U-notch loads obtained experimentally have been compared with the theoretical ones estimated by V-notch keeping constant the mean value of the strain energy in a well-defined small size volume. In Static addition some new tests dealing with V-notched specimens with end holes have been carried Elasticity out to investigate the effect of the notch opening angle. Strain energy 2015 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction When we want to assess the strength of notched components both under fatigue and static loads there is the necessity of introducing a material-dependent parameter which typically has units of length. In the literature there are different group of methodologies. The Cohesive Zone Model CZM is one of the most important approaches. It was first proposed for concrete and later .
