A Simple Energetic Approach to Describe Propagation of Fast‐running Cracks in Thermoplastic Polymers

Abstract

Applying dynamic fracture mechanics, a simple analytical model for the evolution of the crack propagation velocity during unstable crack growth has been developed. Based on the energy balance concept, rarely used in dynamic fracture mechanics, this model allows the estimation of the crack growth energy and the process zone size to be 1.2 J at breaking of the specimen and 0.65 mm in diameter, respectively, for polycarbonate at room temperature. Furthermore, the model is able to describe the influence of the specimen geometry of the crack propagation kinetics adequately in principal agreement with experimental results found in literature.