A New Energy Approach to Predicting Fracture Resistance in Metals

HIGHLIGHTS: What are the main findings? A new approach to predicting fracture resistance is proposed. A correlation was established between the surface and volume stress-deformed states. What is the implication of the main finding? The stress-strain state of the modified Bridgman sample under four load modes was investigated using two methods: nu-merical and experimental. The fracture energy and the damage parameter were established as characteristics of resistance to fracture. ABSTRACT: To ensure the reliability and durability of structural elements, modern approaches require data characterizing the local stress-strain state of the material in risk zones. In order to predict the fracture resistance of structural elements, a theoretical-experimental method based on the damage accumulation model using the energy approach is proposed. One of the unique characteristics of the proposed approach is that it uses local parameters of the stress-strain state, which are determined using a highly accurate and easy-to-use noncontact method of optical–digital image correlation (ODIC). This can be used both in laboratory conditions and for structural elements under real operating conditions. The proposed method of plotting stress–strain curves makes it possible to determine the true stresses near the concentrators in structural elements under a complex load. Using these diagrams in calculations and the finite element method (FEM), a study of local strain not only of the surface, but also of the internal volumes of the material was carried out. The damage parameter is introduced as the ratio of the elastoplastic strain energy of the local volume to its critical value. It is confirmed that the damage of the sample material starts from its centre. It was established that the damage parameter in the centre of the sample is 25–35% higher than its value on the surface of the sample.