Investigation of Stress Intensity Factor in a Single Edge Notched Bend Test Piece

A research has been conducted on the title of Investigation of Stress Intensity Factor in Single
Edge Notched Bend Test Piece in partial fulfillment of Final Year Project. The research is
about comparing empirical analysis and finite element analysis (FEA) in investigating stress
intensity factor on the standard bend test piece by referring and following the American
Standard of Testing Material (ASTM) Standard Test Method for Plane-Strain Fracture
Toughness of Metallic Materials (E 399 – 90 – Reapproved 2001). FEA is conducted using
ANSYS v.11 Software and analysis used linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) approach
with plane strain problem condition and modeled it in half symmetry geometry. FEA and
empirical analyses were conducted in order to determine the relation and effect of span length
ratio, s/W and thickness to width ratio, B/W with Stress intensity factor, K with respect to
crack dept ratio, a/W. The empirical analysis and FEA were conducted to compare and
validate the results. By using KCALC command in ANSYS, the procedures and methodology
of using the command in the ANSYS have been recorded in step-by-step instruction for
further references. Several corrective actions have been taken to reduce the error between
analytical and finite element analysis. From the results, stress intensity factor, K is inversely
proportional with span length to width ratio, s/W and thickness to width ratio, B/W while it is
proportional to the crack length ratio, a/W. There are variations between analytical and
empirical and finite element analysis but the error is considerably accepted.