On the fracture behavior of polyurethane notched components

Local Strain Energy Density represents an engineering approach for assessing the brittle fracture of cracked and notched components. Experimental determination of fracture parameters (critical value of deformation energy Wc in a local finite volume around the notch tip and the radius of the control volume Rc) represents a key issue. The paper presents a methodology to determine these parameters using a notched tensile specimen. The obtained values will be used to predict the fracture load in different types of notches and cracked specimens under mode I; for cracked specimens under mixed mode and mode II has defined a personal approach that confirms PUR foams can be treated as brittle materials. The considered specimens are made of polyurethane materials of different densities from 100 to 651 kg/m3.