Rapid parametric analysis of SEN(T) specimens using algorithmic modelling: evaluation of strain energy density and notch stress intensity factors

The aim of this paper is to present a methodology to rapidly evaluate the strain energy density (SED) and the notch stress intensity factor (NSIF) of a wide range of sharp V-notched SEN(T) specimens. A dislocation based method is used to find the solution of the boundary value problem. As a post-processing stage, computation of the local strain energy density over a circular sector surrounding the point of singularity is performed. NSIFs are then assessed by means of the strain energy approach (SEA) for several opening angles and specimen widths. Comparisons of local strain energy results with full-term solutions obtained by finite element analysis (FEA) are provided in order to validate the method and to establish the limitations of the NSIF approach for the case under consideration. The procedure presented in this work is shown to provide accurate results for the range of notch depth to specimen width ratios a/L < 0.4. The validity of the single-parameter characterisation when the boundary effect becomes significant is also discussed.