Stress analysis near the tip of a curvilinear interfacial crack between a rigid spherical inclusion and a polymer matrix

The axisym. finite element method was used to analyze the stress situation near the tip of a curvilinear interfacial crack formed between a rigid spherical inclusion and a polymer matrix upon an applied uniaxial tension. Important factors that det. the stress state near the crack tip were the crack length, the orientation of the crack tip with regard to the tension direction, and the extent of interfacial slip between the inclusion and matrix. The results of the anal. were compared with the phys. reality of craze and shear band formation at poorly adhering glass spheres. Reasonable agreement was found with respect to both the max. interfacial crack length that can be reached until a craze or shear band forms at the crack tip and the planar orientation of craze growth perpendicular to the direction of the major principal stress. [on SciFinder (R)]