A notch root radius to attain minimum fracture loads in plates weakened by U-notches under Mode I loading

The paper deals with the minimum value of a fracture load, with respect to the notch root radius, in plates weakened by U-notches under Mode I loading. It has been found that the fracture load has a minimum value at a critical value of the notch root radius (ρρ), using four criteria, namely, Mean Stress (MS), maximum tangent stress or Point Stress (PS), Critical Strain-Energy (CSE) and Averaged Strain-Energy Density (ASED). Using a characteristic length (lchlch), which is a function of material properties, the results showed that the dimensionless critical notch root radius (ρ/lch)cr(ρ/lch)cr depended on w/aw/a ratio (the specimen width to the notch depth), Poisson ratio, and loading condition (tensile or bending loading) under Mode I loading. In other words, according to these criteria, a notch root radius different from zero exists, providing a minimum fracture load. Therefore, a crack is not more dangerous rather than a U-notch under Mode I loading. This critical notch root radius is important for a quasi-brittle material, but may not be significant for brittle ones in practical engineering situations. Good agreement was found between theoretical predictions and experimental results on Al356-T6.