Stress Field Analysis of V-Notches with Tip Cracks in a Polymer Material using Digital Image Correlation

In this study, displacement field around V-notches of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) specimen with tip cracks will be analyzed using digital image correlation technique. First intensity factor in combination with in-plane rigid body translations and rotation components will be determined by linear least squares fitting of the displacement field data to the corresponding relations among stress intensity factor and displacement field. Effect of v-notch angle on the results would be investigated. Experimental results will be compared with those obtained from finite element analysis and accuracy of results and sources of errors will be discussed. The proposed method can be used to evaluate various fracture characteristics of different materials.