Stress concentration at a sharp corner of an elastic strip under anti-plane strain

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the behaviour of crack propagation and stress fields in power-law materials using finite element analysis. The study investigated how different power-law exponents influence stress intensity factors and crack growth. We observed from the results of the study significant variations in stress intensity factors with changes in the power-law exponent, which confirmed the critical role of material properties in predicting fracture behaviour. Materials with higher power-law exponents exhibited greater resistance to crack growth. These results promoted the necessity of considering material-specific properties, particularly the power-law exponent, in designing structural components to predict material performance and failure accurately. Based on the findings, it is recommended that engineers and material scientists prioritize the power-law behaviour of materials in structural design to improve fracture resistance. Future research should aim to develop more sophisticated models and incorporate a broader range of material behaviours and environmental conditions. Also, experimental validation and multi-scale analysis techniques should be employed to enhance the understanding of fracture behaviour in power-law materials. Establishing industry standards for assessing and reporting power-law behaviour will facilitate better application of research findings across various engineering disciplines.