Fracture Toughness Determination on an SCB Specimen by Meshless Methods

This work investigates fracture characteristics of a marble semi-circular bend (SCB) specimen with pre-defined crack under compressive loading condition. It aims at evaluating how the toughness can be affected by and span length variation. Numerically, model is solved using meshless methods, extended to linear elastic mechanics (LEFM), resorting radial point interpolation method (RPIM) its natural neighbor versions (NNRPIMv1 NNRPIMv2). Alternatively, validate results, problem resolved following finite element (FEM) based on standard 2D constant strain triangle elements. As result, critical energy release rate are characterized testing cracked straight through (CSTSCB). A comparison drawn amongst theoretical, methods FEM results evaluate capability advanced numerical methods. Encouraging have been accomplished leading supporting methodologies.