Ductile tearing resistance of metal sheets

The concept of R-curves has been adopted to characterise stable crack extension and predict residual strength of thin-walled structures particularly in the aircraft industry. The present contribution uses results of FE simulations of crack extension in panels by the cohesive model to validate analytical procedures for determining J-integral values at large crack extension from measurable quantities, namely the force vs. displacement records. The numerically determined J-integral is taken as the benchmark for the outcome of the analytical formulas. The geometry dependence of J and CTOD based R-curves is investigated and alternative concepts like CTOA and dissipation rate at crack extension are discussed.