Stable Crack Growth in Rate-Dependent Materials With Damage

Abstract

A cohesive zone model of the Dugdale-Barenblatt type is used to investigate crack growth under small-scale-creep/damage conditions. The material inside the cohesive zone is described by a power-law viscous overstress relation modified by a one-parameter damage function of the Kachanov type. The stress and displacement profiles in the cohesive zone and the velocity dependence of the fracture toughness are investigated. It is seen that the fracture toughness increases rapidly with the velocity and asymptotically approaches the case that neglects damage.