California Institute of Technology

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Md Zubaer Hossain

Kaushik Bhattacharya

Guruswami Ravichandran

Chun-Jen Hsueh

Blaise Aurélien Bourdin

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention determine the effective toughness of a given material, and also implement materials possessing improved effective toughness values. In one embodiment, a method of determining the effective toughness of a material includes: causing a crack to propagate through the material; where the relative constant velocity and the relative overall direction are prescribed and maintained for the duration of the propagation of the crack through the material; measuring the energy release rate of the crack as it propagates through the material; and defining the effective toughness of the material as the maximum value of the measured energy release rate.

Systems and methods for determining the effective toughness of a material and for implementing materials possessing improved effective toughness characteristics

Methods for measuring the effective fracture toughness in a material are described. A rail and roller system are used to apply a gradual force to a specimen. The time-dependent force creates a steady fracture development that allows a camera to record the progressive fracture in the material. Mathematical methods can then be used to analyze the fracture progression and determine the effective fracture toughness.

Growing community of inventors

Newark, DE, United States of America

Md Zubaer Hossain