The finite element investigation of the thickness influence on 3D stress and strain fields in the SENB specimens

Abstract

Numerical investigation of three - dimensional stress and strain fields in the opening mode I through the thickness along a straight notch in three point bending plate is performed. The generator for 3D finite element mesh combining 2D in - plane adaptive unstructured mesh with the structured mesh through the thickness is developed and tested. Numerical results prove the existence of plane stress in the boundary layer; a transitional region is nearly plane strain in the vicinity of the middle plane. The dimensions of a transitional region depend on the relative thickness. The plane strain occupies about 70 % of thickness for very thick samples.