The effect of defect size on the stress concentration and fracture characteristics for a tubular torsional model with a transverse hole

The maximum stress location and crack resistance of a tubular torsional model with varying transverse circular defects were determined by the use of experimental and global-local finite element modeling techniques. The experimental results showed that the reduction in torsional strength was inversely proportional to defect size. In addition, the maximum stress location around the defect was closely related to the normalized defect diameter. By measuring the shifted angle associated with each defect ratio, a linear relationship, Δθ=-6.28+0.55*( d D), was determined. Finite element results indicated that the stress concentration factor, K_g, for a single-cortex defect is similar to that of a double-cortex defect of identical dimension. Application of the strain energy density (SED) theory proposed by Sih and Oliveira Faria (Fracture Mechanics Methodology, Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, 1984), indicated that the fracture toughness, K_IC, for large defects was greater than that for small defects. This implies that tubular structures with large defects have a greater resistance to crack initiation and growth.