Estimation of tensile load-bearing capacity of ductile metallic materials weakened by a V-notch: The equivalent material concept

Ductile commercial steel was equated from the viewpoint of strain energy density with a virtual brittle material of the same elastic modulus by using a novel concept, called the equivalent material concept (EMC). By determining the ultimate tensile strength of the virtual material and also, by assuming that the values of the plane–strain fracture toughness for real and virtual materials are equal, the tensile load-bearing capacity of several V-notched samples of steel reported in literature was theoretically estimated by using the mean stress (MS) criterion as a well-known brittle fracture theory. It was found that the theoretical results of the MS-EMC criterion for the imaginary brittle specimens are in a very good consistency with the experimental results reported for real steel samples.

► The MS-EMC could predict load-bearing capacity of ductile metals containing a V-notch.
► The MS-EMC criterion is valid for those metallic materials having valid KIc values.
► MS-EMC theory may be valid for ductile materials with both small and large plasticity.
► The applicability of MS-EMC theory in practical design is very convenient.