Failure theory via the concept of material configurational forces associated with the M-integral

A new failure theory based on the material configuration forces associated with the invariant M-integral is proposed to describe the content and evolution of the multi-defects localized in the body. The physical interpretation of the global M-integral is as the sum of the local energy release rate due to the self-similar expansion for each specific defect. It does provide an effective measure for the evaluation of damage level. It is found that the unique parameter of the M-integral cannot be used as a unified failure criterion to predict the damage evolution and the final failure due to the major obstacle that the critical value of the M-integral is not a problem-invariant constant and shows an apparent defect configuration-dependence. Consequently, a new failure parameter referred as the configurational damage parameter (abbreviated as Π-parameter) is proposed by the appropriate formulation via the M-integral, the remote uni-axial load, and the inner variable of the damaged area. A series of numerical examples are carried out to demonstrate that the critical value of Π-parameter is a material constant regardless of defect configurations. Furthermore, it is performed to validate the applicability of the Π-parameter as a failure criterion to predict the final failure of the locally damaged materials. Finally, a protocol of experimental measurement of the Π-parameter is proposed by method of digital image correlation to facilitate the wide application of the new failure criterion. It is concluded that the present failure theory via the configurational forces associated with the M-integral provides some outside variable features and has the advantage of predicting the structural integrity of damaged materials containing the locally distributed defects.