The J Integral: Fracture Mechanics, With or Without Field Theory
The J Integral: Fracture Mechanics, With or Without Field Theory
The J Integral: Fracture Mechanics, With or Without Field Theory
THE J INTEGRAL
For a crack in an elastic body subject to a load, the elastic energy stored in
the body is a function of two independent variables: the displacement of the load,
( )
and the area of the crack, U Δ, A . This function of two independent variables
can be determined by alternative methods:
1. Experimental method. Measure the load-displacement curve for a body
containing a pre-cut crack. During the measurement, the crack does not
extend. Integrate the load-displacement curve to obtain the elastic
( )
energy U Δ, A for the body with the fixed area of crack. Repeat the
procedure for the body with a pre-cut crack of a different area. This
method invokes no field theory of elasticity.
2. Computational method. Solve the boundary-value problem for a body
containing a pre-cut crack of a given area. Calculate the energy density at
every material particle in the body. Integrate the energy density overall
all material particles to obtain the elastic energy for the body with the
specific area of crack. Repeat the procedure for the body with a pre-cut
crack of a different length. This method requires that the body be
modeled by a field theory of elasticity.
G=−
∂U Δ, A
.
( )
∂A
This definition of the energy release rate assumes that the body is elastic, but
invokes no field theory of elasticity. Indeed, the energy release rate can be
determined experimentally by measuring the load-displacement curves of
identically loaded bodies with cracks of different areas. No field need be
measured.
The J integral can be developed for both linear and nonlinear theory of
elasticity. The nonlinear theory will be used in class, and the linear theory of will
be used in a homework problem.
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For the bar made of an elastic material, the work done by the force equals
the elastic energy, δ U = Pδ l . Dividing both sides by the volume of the bar in the
reference state, AL, we obtain that
δ W = sδλ .
According to calculus, this expression is equivalent to
s=
dW λ ( ).
dλ
Once we experimentally determined the force-length curve, we divide the force by
A and divide the length by L. This procedure scales the force-length curve to the
stress-stretch curve. The area under the stress-stretch curve gives the nominal
( )
density of elastic energy, W λ .
si3
si2
Fi3 si1
Fi2
Fi1
1 si1
1 1
si3 si2
siK =
∂W F ( )
.
∂FiK
This equation of states generalizes Hooke’s stress-strain relation.
FiK =
∂xi X
.
( )
∂X K
When the deformation of the body is homogeneous, the deformation gradient is
the same for all material particles in the body. In general, the deformation of the
body is inhomogeneous, so that the deformation gradient varies from one
material particle to another. That is, the deformation gradient as a function of
( )
material particle, FiK X .
In general, the stress in the deformed body is inhomogeneous, and we
( )
write the stress as a function of material particles, siK X . The balance of forces
requires that the field of stress satisfy
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( ) =0.
∂siK X
∂X K
Here we neglect body force and inertia.
A composite system that does not receive work from the rest of
the world. Consider a body subject to a constant force P, with Δ being the
displacement of the force. We can always picture the constant force as a hanging
weight. The potential energy of the weight is −PΔ . The body and the weight
together form a composite system. The composite exchanges with the
environment by heat, but not by work. The Helmholtz free energy of the
composite is
Π = U − PΔ .
This quantity is known as the potential energy of the body in mechanics.
The general idea is to form a composite system that does not receive any
work from the rest of the world. We have considered two examples:
1. When a body is loaded by a fixed displacement, the body itself is
composite system, and the free energy of the system is U.
2. When a body is loaded by a hanging weight, the body and the weight
together form a composite system, and the free energy of the system is
U − PΔ .
We can also consider yet another example. When a body in series with a spring is
loaded by a fixed displacement, the body and the spring together form a
composite system, and the free energy of the system is the sum of that of the body
and that of the spring.
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G=−
(
Π C + δC − Π C ) ( )
.
δC
The partial derivative means that we vary the length of the crack, but keep the
loading conditions fixed. Comparing the above two expressions, we obtain that
(
G = ∫ WN 1 − Ti Fi1 dL . )
This equation expresses the energy release rate in terms of field variables.
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The integral on the left is over the area of a region, and integral on the right is
over the curve surrounding the region.
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To prove this statement, reverse the direction of one path, so that the two
paths form a closed contour. This closed contour is used as a path of integration.
We need to prove that the J integral vanishes if the closed contour encloses no
singularity. The proof invokes the divergence theorem, as well as the field theory
of elasticity. We show that the second part of the J integral equals the first part:
∫ Ti Fi1 dL = ∫ N K siK Fi1 dL recall Ti = siK N K
=∫
(
∂ siK Fi1 ) dA divergence theorem
∂ XK
⎛ ∂s ∂Fi1 ⎞
= ∫ ⎜ iK Fi1 + siK dA
⎝ ∂ XK ∂ X K ⎟⎠
∂Fi1 ∂siK
= ∫ siK dA recall =0
∂ XK ∂ XK
= ∫ siK
∂2 x i
dA recall FiK =
( )
∂xi X
.
∂ X1 ∂ X K ∂ XK
=∫
∂W F ( ) ∂2 x i
dA recall siK =
∂W F( )
∂FiK ∂ X1 ∂ X K ∂FiK
=∫
( )
∂W F ∂FiK
dA
∂FiK ∂ X 1
=∫
∂W F ( ) dA
∂ X1
( )
= ∫ W F N 1 dL divergence theorem
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particle on the upper face of the crack. Because the path encloses the singular tip
of the crack, the J integral does not vanish. We can make two statements:
1. Given the two material particles on the faces of the crack, the J integral is
independent of the path.
2. The J integral is the same independent of the choice of the material
particles on the two faces of the crack.
Examples
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H λH
The same result can be obtained by using the J integral along the dotted
lines indicated in the undeformed strip (Rice, 1968). Use the J integral in the
form
# ∂ui X &
%
J = ∫ WN 1 − Ti
( )
( dL .
% ∂X (
$ 1 '
The only nonzero contribution comes from the vertical line in the strip ahead of
the crack.
film
substrate
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First measure the stress-stretch relations of the film and the substrate
separately. When a uniaxial force pulls the film, the nominal stress S f in the film
()
relates to the stretch λ through a curve S f λ , and the area under this curve is
the nominal density of the free energy in the film as a function of the stretch,
()
W f λ . Similarly, when a uniaxial force pulls the substrate, the nominal stress
Ss in the substrate relates to the stretch λ through a curve Ss λ , and the area()
under this curve is the nominal density of the free energy in the film as a function
( )
of the stretch, Ws λ .
When the laminate is in the undeformed state, the thickness of the film is
H f , the thickness of the substrate is H s , and the width of the film and substrate
is B. In the deformed state, a force P pulls the substrate. Far behind the tip of the
crack, the film is stress-free, and the substrate is in a state of uniaxial stress, with
the stretch λ ! determined by
( )
H s Ss λ ! = P .
Far ahead the tip of the crack, the film and substrate are attached and both have
the same stretch λ !! , determined by
( ) ( )
H f S f λ !! + H s Ss λ !! = P .
Now compare two specimens. Both specimens have the total length L in
the reference state. One specimen has a crack of length C in the undeformed
state, and has potential energy
Π C = C $% BH sWs λ " − P λ "&' + L − C $% BH f W f λ "" + BH sWs λ "" − P λ ""&'
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
in the deformed state.
The other specimen has a crack of length C + δC in the undeformed state,
and has potential energy
Π C + δC = C + δC $% BH sWs λ " − P λ "&' + L − C − δC $% BH f W f λ "" + BH sWs λ "" − P λ ""&'
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
in the deformed state.
By definition, the energy release rate is the reduction in the potential
energy associated with unit increase of the crack area:
G=−
(
Π C + δC − Π C
,
) ( )
BδC
giving that
P
( ) ( ) ( )
G = H f W f λ !! + H sWs λ !! − H sWs λ ! + λ ! − λ !! .
B
( )
In writing the potential energy of each specimen, we have assumed that
the detached substrate is in a homogeneous state of stretch λ ! , and the attached
laminate is in a homogeneous state of λ !! . In the region around the tip of the
crack, however, the field is inhomogeneous. Because the crack is in a steady
state, the inhomogeneous field in this region is identical in the two specimens.
Consequently, this inhomogeneous field does not affect the calculation of the
energy release rate.
We can also use the J integral to obtain the above expression for the
energy release rate.
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These relations together relate the energy release rate to the applied force
()
P. We measure the stress-stretch curves of the two materials, S f λ and Ss λ . ()
The areas under these curves give the nominal densities of energy of the two
() ( )
materials, W f λ and Ws λ . The applied force P determines the stretch λ ! in
( )
the detached substrate by H s Ss λ ! = P , and determines the stretch λ !! in the
( ) ( )
attached laminate by H f S f λ !! + H s Ss λ !! = P .
Historical Notes
Eshelby studied the change in the potential energy associated with the
movement of a singularity. He called this change the force on the singularity, and
expressed this force as an integral. He did not relate his idea to the Griffith
theory of cracks. Rice and Cherepanov independently discovered the J integral
within the context of fracture mechanics.
• J.D. Eshelby, The force on an elastic singularity. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc.
London A 244, 87-111 (1951).
• J.D. Eshelby, The continuum theory of lattice defects. Solid State Physics
3, 79-144 (1956).
• J.R. Rice, A path independent integral and the approximate analysis of
strain concentration by notches and cracks. J. Appl. Mech. 35, 379-386
(1968).
http://esag.harvard.edu/rice/015_Rice_PathIndepInt_JAM68.pdf
• J.R. Rice, Mathematical analysis in the mechanics of fracture, Chapter 3
of Fracture: An Advanced Treatise (Vol. 2, Mathematical Fundamentals)
(ed. H. Liebowitz), Academic Press, N.Y., 1968, pp. 191-311.
http://esag.harvard.edu/rice/018_Rice_MathAnalMechFract_68.pdf
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