Application of digital image correlation technique for investigation of the displacement and strain fields within a sharp notch

• We applied the DIC technique to investigate 3D effects near sharp notch fronts.
• We demonstrated the disappearance of in-plane singularities for sharp notches loaded in mode II.
• We evaluated experimentally the variation of strain field near the notch front.
• We compared the experimental results with 3D simulations.

Prof. Lazzarin received the recognition for his distinguished contributions into the analysis of stresses in structural components weakened by sharp and blunt notches. He has been instrumental in developing the strain energy density approach for the evaluation of fracture initiation and characterisation of fatigue life. Some of the latest works of Prof. Paolo Lazzarin were devoted to the investigation of 3D effects in structures weakened by various stress concentrators. In this paper we continue to elucidate the role of 3D effects and apply the advanced digital image correlation technique to investigate experimentally the displacement and strain fields near a sharp notch front. The outcomes of this study are compared with the previous analytical and numerical results. In particular, we demonstrate the variation of the strain field across the thickness near the notch front, which cannot be described with the classical solutions of the plane theory of elasticity.