Slip line field analysis of unequally grooved specimens in bending and its implication to constraint toughness testing

This paper proposes slip line fields for bending of unequally grooved specimens that has a sharp crack in one side and a sharp V-notch in the other side. Depending on the back angle, two slip line fields are proposed, from which the limit moment and crack tip stress fields are obtained as a function of the back angle. Excellent agreements between slip line field solutions with those from detailed finite element limit analysis based on non-hardening plasticity provide confidence in the proposed slip line fields. Based on these results, possibility of designing a new toughness testing specimen with varying crack tip constraint is discussed.