Noise-robust stress intensity factor determination from kinematic field measurements

Stress intensity factors are often estimated numerically from a given displacement field through an interaction integral formalism. The latter method makes use of a weight, the virtual crack extension field, which is under-constrained by first principles. Requiring a least noise sensitivity allows one to compute the optimal virtual crack extension. Mode I and mode II specialized fields are obtained and particularized for a given displacement functional basis. The method is applied to an experimental case study of a crack in a silicon carbide sample, whose displacement field is obtained by a digital image correlation technique. The optimization leads to a very significant uncertainty reduction up to a factor 100 of the non-optimized formulation. The proposed scheme reveals additional performances with respect to the integral domain choice and assumed crack tip geometry, which are shown to have a reduced influence. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd.