ABSTRACT
The influence of the initial crack tip radius on the strain distribution in the vicinity of the blunted crack tip was determined experimentally by an optical full-field strain analysis method. In order to determine the influence of the crack tip sharpness on the crack contour and the strain distribution different crack tip radii were used. This chapter aims to experimentally determine the local crack tip deformation, the crack tip strain distribution and both the spatial and the temporal strain gradients around the blunted crack tip. It also aims to numerically simulate the local crack tip deformation (strain) behavior and to compare the experimental results with the results of the simulation. The accuracy of the finite element simulation highly depends on the adequacy and accuracy of the material laws applied. Therefore suitable hyperelastic material laws have to be selected and fitted to experimental data of different tests.
