| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 770598 | Engineering Fracture Mechanics | 2013 | 9 Pages |
A significant amount of research has been directed towards characterising and predicting sub-critical crack growth mechanisms in polycarbonate (PC) materials. In particular the initiation of crazes, damage evolution and growth of fatigue cracks has attracted significant attention. It is only relatively recently that there has been clarification of the underlying physics of craze initiation and growth, and of the craze influence on crack paths. In the interpretation of mechanisms of deformation, the polymer community has perhaps not embraced the use of fractographic crack path information as fully as the metals community. This paper considers the ability of advanced imaging techniques including confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) to provide evidence of crack path morphology for existing models of plastic deformation and crazing in amorphous polycarbonate. It also presents the outline of a new model of crack tip stresses which takes account of craze-induced shielding mechanisms and appears able to characterise fatigue crack growth in PC.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A new model of crack tip stresses in polycarbonate. ► Crack path support for proposed mechanisms of crazing and crack initiation. ► 3D confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging of the crazed region.
