Effects of measurement techniques on the experimental characterization of crack tip opening angle-Δ<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> resistance curves

One of the most promising approaches to characterizing the stable tearing process for lower constraint configurations in metallic materials has been indicated to be the crack tip opening angle (CTOA) criterion. In this paper we examine the effect of measurement distance selection and the impact of measurement procedures/analysis on the experimental CTOA-Δa resistance curve behavior of a Ti-6Al-4V and an Al5083 alloy. A new, systematic procedure for carrying out the experimental, surface CTOA measurement process has been used, which has uncovered artifacts of measurement distance selection that have not been presented prior to this study. By studying the CTOA-Δa behavior using a rigidly defined and consistent method, it is apparent that the measurement distance behind the crack tip at which angles are measured has a direct impact on the shape of the early transitional behavior of the CTOA-Δa behavior as well as the critical, experimental CTOA values produced.