Griffith Theory

What do we know about brittle failure?

Fracture occurs above a critical level
material property?

But fracture strength not reproducible

depends on test conditions, e.g. T, load rate, environment, etc.

Fracture (or flow) must involve the breaking of atomic bonds

Theoretical strength of a rock is that required to break atomic bonds across a lattice plane
t Tensile Force Compressive a atomic separation a = equilibrium spacing t = theoretical tensile strength

Theoretical tensile strength of rock

t Tensile

Force Compressive

a atomic separation a = equilibrium spacing t = theoretical tensile strength

E t 2

For rocks Youngs modulus, E ~10 100 GPa Hence theoretical tensile strength, t ~1.5 15 GPa

This is several orders of magnitude greater than real rocks

Stress intensity around flaws

Inglis (1913)

(a) a circular hole

(b) an elliptical hole

A demonstration of stress intensity -the cellophane and knife

Inglis unanswered questions

Fracture mechanism remained obscure Why do large cracks propagate more easily than small ones? Environmental effects?

Griffith energy balance (1920)

Total energy of the system = u u = ue +us When crack extends by C: ue decreases us increases For equilibrium: du/dC = 0
ue = elastic strain energy us = energy in creating new crack surface area = specific surface energy (energy per unit area required to break the bonds)

Griffith energy balance (1920)

For equilibrium: du/dC = 0

ue = elastic strain energy us = energy in creating new crack surface area = specific surface energy (energy per unit area required to break the bonds)

Griffith energy balance (1920)

Mechanical energy, Um:
from Inglis (1913)

Um =

C
2

2 A

Surface energy, Us: Total energy, U = Um+Us:

U s = 4C
2 A

C U= + 4C E
2

Griffith strength relation (1920)

F = 2 E / c
F = failure stress E = Youngs modulus c = crack half-length

ue = elastic strain energy from Inglis (1913) analysis us = energy in creating new crack surface area = 4C = specific surface energy (energy per unit area required to break the bonds)

Obreimoffs mica experiment (1930)

U = energy of crack system Us = energy to create new crack surface area Ue = strain energy

Obreimoffs mica experiment (1930)

Mechanical energy, Um:
from elastic beam theory

Ed h Um = Ue = 8C 2

Surface energy, Us: Total energy, U = Um+Us

U s = 2C

Obreimoffs mica experiment (1930)

3Ed 3 h 2 C0 = 16

Loading configuration
Obreimoff: stable equilibrium

Griffith: unstable equilibrium