Investigation of plastic eta factors for clamped SE(T) specimens based on three-dimensional finite element analyses

•Evaluate the plastic eta (ηpl) factors for SE(T) specimens using 3D large-strain FEA.•Investigate the impact of specimen configuration and strain hardening exponent on the ηpl factors for SE(T) specimens.•Propose new expressions for the ηpl factors for SE(T) specimens.•Quantify the accuracy of J evaluated from the ηpl factors for SE(T) specimens.

Three-dimensional finite element analyses of clamped single-edge tension (SE(T)) specimens are performed to evaluate the plastic eta factors (i.e. ηpl) for computing the J-integral. The analysis covers both plane-sided and side-grooved specimens with a wide range of specimen configurations (a/W from 0.2 to 0.7 and B/W equal to 1 and 2) and strain hardening exponents (n = 5, 8.5, 10, 15 and 20). Based on the analysis results, a set of expressions for ηpl are proposed.