Abstract
A new method using electrically conductive surface grids is developed to measure crack length during fatigue crack propagation studies in polymers. The grid pattern made from graphite is transferred to the fatigue specimen surface using a screen printing technique. A constant voltage is supplied across the grid pattern and crack length changes are monitored by the stepwise drips in voltage as the fatigue crack advances and successively breaks the grid lines. The usefulness and accuracy of this new method of measuring fatigue crack growth rates relative to the conventional optical technique using travelling microscopes are compared and discussed with reference to three different polymers consisting of a high impact polystyrene, a polyvnyl chloride and a polymethylmethacrylate.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 366-369 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 1984 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering