Fracture mechanics study on craze problems in polymer materials

Craze is a phenomenon that occurs when a pre-existing flaw is exerted in glassy polymer materials. In this report, the author first provides a brief review about fracture mechanics, finite element method and craze. The author takes on two main craze problems in this report namely, the interaction between a craze and a nearby circular inclusion and the interaction between a cracked craze and a nearby inclusion. For the two craze problems, the author analysed these problems numerically using Finite Element Method. To analyse the two problems through the finite element method, the SIMULIA Abaqus FEA software is used. In the second part of the report, the author goes through a summary of the step by step process in the SIMULIA software in which the two craze problems scenarios are simulated. Next, the author performs a series of analysis with different varying parameters namely, the size of the circular inclusion, the material properties, the distance between the craze and the inclusion etc. The results are then recorded down for each problem and discussed in the next part of the report to see how the different varying parameters affect the craze problems. Lastly, the author concludes his findings and how future works are applicable to this study.Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering