Characterisation of fracture behaviour of starch gels using conventional fracture mechanics and wire cutting tests

The fracture behaviour of starch gels is investigated through experimental tests and finite element simulations. Both conventional fracture and wire cutting experiments were performed. The results from these two tests were consistent with the fracture toughness increasing with loading rate. In the FE analysis, a non-linear elastic constitutive relationship was used to model the starch gels and frictionless condition was assumed between the wire-starch gel contact interface. A failure criterion based on critical fracture strain was assumed. Predictions of the steady-state cutting force at various wire diameters were found to be in good agreement with the wire cutting data.