Numerical assessment of gray cast iron notched specimens by using a triaxiality-dependent Cohesive Zone Model

A triaxiality-dependent Cohesive Zone Model for the numerical prediction of failure loads of notched specimens under different loading modes is presented. Since the cohesive crack is modeled by means of the embedded crack approach, one can express the cohesive parameters with variables from the continuum, such as pressure or triaxiality. The model is validated by its application to two experimental campaigns previously developed by the authors on notched specimens subjected to mode I and III loadings respectively, made of gray cast iron, a strongly pressure dependent material.