Strain-rate effects on interaction between Mode I matrix crack and inclined elliptic inclusion under dynamic loadings

The strain rate effects on the interaction between a Mode I matrix crack and an inclined elliptic matrix-inclusion interface under dynamic tensile loadings were investigated numerically, and the results are in agreement with previous experimental data. It is found, for a given material system, that there are the first and the second critical strain rates, by which three kinds of the subsequent crack growth patterns can be classified in turn with the increasing strain rate, namely, the crack deflection, the double crack mode and the perpendicular crack penetration. Moreover, such a crack deflection/penetration behavior is found to be dependent on the relative interfacial strength, the inclined angle and the inclusion size. In addition, it is shown that the so-called strain rate effect on the dynamic strength of granule composites can be induced directly from the structural dynamic response of materials, not be entirely an intrinsic material property.