AN EXPERIMENTAL-NUMERICAL METHOD FOR MEASURING CRACK PROPAGATING VELOCITIES UNDER STRESS WAVE LOADING

An experimental-numerical method for measuring dynamic crack propagating velocities under stress wave loading is established in this paper. The experiments of the three-point bend specimen are done on the improved Hopkinson bar. Deflection of loading point, dynamic load and instantaneous crack length are measured, then crack propagating velocities are calculated. Experiments on 40Cr steel show that the results given by this method have a good agreement with that obtained by the resistance fracture gage method. Therefore this method is feasible for measuring crack propagating velocities under high loading rate and will have wide application.