A theoretical study of the size effects in fracture mechanics

A brief description of fracture definition, classification and fracture transitions from brittle to ductile response were studied. The size effect on stages, i.e., fracture stress and fracture strain and on the other mechanical properties which lead to the transition were also studied. Moreover, the scaling principle, laws were approached for three tests (C.C.P., D.C.B., Hertzin). The characteristic length that was approached by Puttick's theory to be a condition for the fracture transition was scaled for the first time in terms of the scaling factor and the degree of non-linearity. The formulated scaling laws for this length have been generalized to cover the necessary conditions relative to the flaw size. 2 tabs.; 25 figs.; 38 refs