Crack-tip constraint analysis of SENB specimen under creep condition

A higher-order asymptotic C(t)-A (2)(t)-M approach was used to investigate the crack-tip stress of single edge notched bend (SENB) specimen in a power-law creeping material under plane strain conditions. Comprehensive calculations were made of SENB specimen with a/W = 0.59 by using higher-order asymptotic C(t)-A (2)(t)-M approach, higher-order asymptotic C(t)-A (2)(t) approach and finite element analysis; the latter two methods were used to check the constraint significance and the calculation accuracy of C(t)-A (2)(t)-M approach, respectively. The results show that the stress components sigma (theta theta) obtained from the higher-order asymptotic C(t)-A (2)(t)-M solution agreed well with that of finite element analysis, however, which gradually deviated from the results of C(t)-A (2)(t) approach as the distance far away from the crack tip for small-scale creep stage.