The aim of the study is to assess the constraint effect induced by variation of geometric parameters on fracture toughness of stainless steel 304L thin sheets. A combined experimental-computational method is used. Compact Tension (CT) tests are firstly done using a special device realized to avoid buckling problems. Finite element analysis is used including the GTN (Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman) model based on micromechanical assumptions of ductile fracture to obtain crack propagation. The fracture toughness is evaluated using an incremental formulation of the J-Integral. The results obtained show a quantified dependency of the critical fracture toughness on the constraint effect.

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