• CN: 11-2187/TH
  • ISSN: 0577-6686

Journal of Mechanical Engineering ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (24): 158-167.doi: 10.3901/JME.2025.24.158

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Semi-elliptical Surface Crack Propagation of PMMA Based on Cohesive Zone Model

ZHANG Shun1,2, XUE He1, ZHANG Jiaqing1, WU Jun1   

  1. 1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710054;
    2. School of Engineering, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
  • Received:2025-02-08 Revised:2025-09-11 Published:2026-01-26

Abstract: The study of crack initiation and propagation in polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is of great significance to the structural integrity analysis and life prediction of its engineering components. The semi-elliptical surface crack propagation of PMMA is investigated by using the cohesive zone model. Firstly, the cohesive zone model parameters of PMMA are determined by using the standard fracture toughness test and the finite element inversion method. Then the tensile test and finite element simulation of wide plate with a semi-elliptical surface crack are carried out, and the experimental and simulated results are compared. Finally, the crack propagation behavior of the semi-elliptical surface crack with various shapes is studied by using the cohesive zone model. The results show that the peak load and quasi-static crack growth morphology of the simulation and experiment are in good agreement, which proves the validity of the cohesive zone model and parameters. When the initial crack depth is the same, the peak load decreases with the increase of the initial crack length. At the initial stage of crack propagation, long cracks expand more in the depth direction and less in the length direction, while short cracks are the opposite. However, their shape ratios in the depth and length direction tend to a constant with the crack propagation.

Key words: PMMA, cohesive zone model, semi-elliptical surface crack, crack propagation

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