An analysis of stress and strain state of notched solid beams undergoing static loading

Fracture testing is a common testing method for the assessment of mechanism of fracture. Single edged notched bending (SENB), single edged notched tension (SENT), or compact tension (CT) specimens are often utilised to analyse stress/strain state and for fracture analysis [1], [2]. However, when SENB and SENT specimens are not appropriate for the strain field required, a variety of notch geometries are used. Different notch geometries can create a variety of different strain fields, for example the use of V-notches to represent the stress/strain state in weld defects or the use of U notches to simulate geometrical change, both creating different levels of stress concentration [3]. This variety of strain fields, created around different stress raiser geometries, requires an investigation into different stress raiser geometries and their effects on strain field. The Ramberg-Osgood model is used on a variety of different notch geometries, to assess the stress/strain state created and the effects of altering notch geometry to inform their use for stress/strain analysis. The stress and strain field will be assessed through use of J-integral, stress intensity factor, stress concentration factor and T-stress, obtained numerically by using FEM solver Abaqus.