Crack Growth Rate of a Crack in a Width Tapered Double Cantilevered Beam (WTDCB). Specimen in Both a Constant and Linearly Varying External Load Condition

摘要

Use of the width-tapered-double-cantilever-beam (WTDCB) test to obtain energy release rate data of adhesives and composites is considered. Equations for the crack growth rate for a constant and linearly varying applied load are derived. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data. Results show that growth rate of a crack in a WTDCB specimen can be well predicted in a constant and linearly varying load condition. In the latter case, a constant load approach does not result in accurate data.