LAUSR

This paper investigates modifications to the Brazilian disk and compact tension C(T) standard test geometries to allow full-field extraction of elastic tensile and toughness properties. A central notch has been introduced in the Brazilian disk to allow for the extraction of fracture properties, while the C(T) sample has been lengthened to allow for the extraction of tensile properties. Full-field displacements, measured on samples prepared from PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate) using digital image correlation are analysed under the assumption of linear elasticity. First, the Virtual Fields Method is applied to estimate Young’s Modulus (E) and Poisson’s Ratio (v). These tensile properties are then used to determine estimates for the peak stress intensity factor (SIF) prior to fracture through a non-linear least squares field fitting approach. Test results show that a modified disk sample performed well in both analysis approaches with relative errors obtained as: 2.1% in E, 12.9% in v and 1% in SIF. A modified C(T) sample obtained relative errors of: 1.5% in E, 40.2% in v and 1% in SIF. Furthermore it is shown that field fitting approaches are less sensitive to error in v than error in E. The presented evidence aims to guide future experiments utilizing full-field techniques to study material properties in the framework of fracture mechanics, in particular in applications where limited material for obtaining tensile properties is available.