Cracking in PMMA containing U-shaped notches

A procedure is proposed to evaluate the mechanical response (i.e. peak loads and load-displacement) of a notched component. A cracking criterion is given, applicable to quasi-brittle materials under monotonic loading. This procedure is based on a cohesive zone-crack model. Numerical predictions are in good agreement with a large experimental programme in which PMMA specimens of different shapes and sizes including U-notch radius and U-notch depth were tested. All experimental results are reported. The paper closes with a discussion of the proposed cracking criteria and some proposals for future work.