The effect of a pre-existing crack on a running crack in brittle material under dynamic loads

Brittle material usually contains plenty of cracks or micro-cracks, which raises a question that how a pre-existing crack affects a running crack as they are approaching. In order to investigate such issue, impact experiments were conducted by using double crack semi-circle (DCSC) specimens. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was selected to make the DCSC specimens, and a modified SHPB system was used to perform the impact tests. The finite difference code AUTODYN was employed to simulate the crack propagation behavior and propagation path, and the simulated crack paths agree well with the impact test results. Meanwhile the stresses around the crack tips were analyzed and the crack propagation direction was investigated. To calculate the crack dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs), finite element code ABAQUS was employed. The results show that the spacing D between the vertical crack tip and the inclined crack center affects the stress distribution and fracture behavior of the vertical crack largely. As the vertical crack approaches the inclined crack, the crack speed is slow down, and tensile stress appears at the inclined crack tip. As the spacing D is small than 50 mm, the vertical crack connects with the middle area of the inclined crack. As the spacing D is 50 mm, the vertical crack connects with either the middle area or the upper tip of the inclined crack. As the spacing D is larger than 50 mm, the vertical crack coalesces with the upper crack tip.