Modeling failure in notched plates with micropolar strain softening

Predicting failure in particulate or fiber-reinforced composite struetlires containing a notch is complicated by the development of a zone of damaged material near the notch. Recent experimental work indicates that the damage growth at the notch manifests itself in the form of strain softening of the material. In this investigation a strain softening model was developed with the material treated as a micropolar continuum which eliminates the mesh sensitivity problems associated with classical theories. Calculations were performed for a plate under tension with three types of notches: a circular hole. an elliptical hole. and a sharp crack. For all notch types, the specimen size was found to have a relatively weak effect on failure load. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.