B
Y
X
The potential or internal energy of the body is U p =U i +U a -U w
2a
Due to creation of new surface increase in surface energy is (2.17) U = 4a s The total elastic energy of the cracked plate is 2 2a 2 U t dA Fdy 4a s A 2E E
Griffith proposed that ‘There is a simple energy balance consisting of the decrease in potential energy with in the stressed body due to crack extension and this decrease is balanced by increase in surface energy due to increased crack surface’
The initial strain energy for the uncracked plate per thickness is 2 (2.14) U i dA A 2E On creating a crack of size 2a, the tensile force on an element ds on elliptic hole is relaxed from dx to zero. The elastic strain energy released per unit width due to introduction of a crack of length 2a is given by a where displacement U a 4 1 2 dx v 0 v a sin usin g x a cos E 2a 2 (2.15) Ua E