FRACTURE OF PMMA DUE TO V-NOTCHES

摘要

Brittle fracture of polymethylmethacrylate due to V notches is examined in this work. A fracture criterion is proposed to explain and predict this kind of failure under mode I loading. The criterion is based on a combination of the physical mechanisms that produces the fracture of PMMA and the basic principles of LEFM. Theoretical predictions and experimental results corresponding to fracture of V-notched bend specimens of PMMA are compared and show good agreement.