Experimental investigation of crack initiation and crack propagation in aluminum demonstrator specimens

The reliable application of complex simulation models to represent crack initiation and propagation in structural components requires an in-depth experimental investigation of the failure behavior. As part of these analyses, the applicability of standard methods of the linear-elastic fracture mechanics to non-standard specimen geometries was investigated. Furthermore, crack growth gauges were used to detect crack initiation and crack growth. Thus, the failure behavior of a demonstrator specimen of an aluminum alloy (EN AW-2024-T351), which is widely used in metal construction and mechanical engineering, could be investigated. Copyright (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 37th Danubia Adria Symposium on Advances in Experimental Mechanics.