An enhanced model for probabilistic cleavage fracture assessment considering local constraint effects

Objective of the present study is an enhanced model for the probabilistic cleavage fracture assessment considering the conditions for both, nucleation and propagation of micro defects. Based on the local mechanical field quantities at the cleavage origin determined numerically for a variety of standard deep and shallow crack specimens as well as for novel small scale cruciform bending specimens allowing the application of an additional stress component along the crack front, a propagation based model is enhanced by a combination of the local plastic strain and the local stress triaxiality to account for the nucleation of potentially critical micro defects