Construction of quasi-brittle and quasi-ductile fracture diagrams based on necessary and sufficient criteria

Materials with a regular structure characterized by quasi-brittle and quasi-ductile fractures are considered in the case where the characteristic linear dimension of the structural element is known. Necessary and sufficient fracture criteria are constructed using the Neuber–Novozhilov approach. A modified Leonov–Panasyuk–Dugdale model for an opening mode crack is proposed where the width of the prefracture zone coincides with the width of the plasticity zone. For the critical parameters of quasi-brittle fracture (tensile stress, length of prefracture zones, stress intensity factors), relations are obtained that allow material fracture to be considered in the case where the crack length is negligible compared to the characteristic linear dimension of the structural element. A fracture diagram obtained using the critical stresses calculated from the necessary and sufficient criteria is considered in a wide range of crack lengths. The elastoplastic problem of extension of a plate with a central crack is solved using the finite-element method. The dimensions and shape of the plastic zone near the crack tip are determined for different levels of loads corresponding to quasi-brittle and quasi-ductile fracture. The obtained results are analyzed to estimate the width of the prefracture zone and the critical crack opening.