Material PropertiesImpact tensile fracture testing of a brittle polymer

The fracture behavior of a brittle polymer, methylmethacrylate-butadiene-styrene resin, under impact tensile loading was studied using single-edge-cracked specimens. The dynamic load and displacement were measured with a Piezo sensor and a high-speed extensometer, respectively. The load and displacement diagram, i.e., the external work, Uex, applied to the specimen was used to determine the elastic energy, Ee, and non-elastic energy, En, due to viscoelastic and plastic deformation, and the fracture energy, Ef, for creating new fracture surface, As. The energy-release rates were then estimated using Gt=Uex/As and Gf=Ef/As. The values of Gt and Gf were correlated with the fracture loads and the mean crack velocities determined from the load and time relationships.