Investigation of plastic eta factors for clamped SE(T) specimens based on three-dimensional finite element analyses Yifan Huang, Wenxing Zhou ⇑ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ontario N6A 5B9, Canada article info Article history: Received 30 June 2014 Received in revised form 21 October 2014 Accepted 29 October 2014 Available online 5 November 2014 Keywords: J integral Three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D FEA) Single-edge notched tension (SE(T)) g pl factor abstract Three-dimensional finite element analyses of clamped single-edge tension (SE(T)) specimens are performed to evaluate the plastic eta factors (i.e. g pl ) for computing the J-integral. The analysis covers both plane-sided and side-grooved specimens with a wide range of specimen configurations (a/W from 0.2 to 0.7 and B/W equal to 1 and 2) and strain hardening exponents (n = 5, 8.5, 10, 15 and 20). Based on the analysis results, a set of expressions for g pl are proposed. Ó 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction As an important input in the structural integrity assessment of steel structures such as pressure vessels and energy pipelines, the fracture toughness resistance curve, i.e. J-integral resistance (J–R) or crack-tip opening displacement resistance (CTOD-R) curve, is generally obtained from the small-scale fracture test specimens such as the single-edge bend (SE(B)) and compact tension (C(T)) specimens. The test procedures for such specimens have been standardized in standards such as ASTM E1820-13 [1] and BS7448-4 [2]. Generally, the experimental evaluation of J includes separate calculations of its elastic and plastic components, J el and J pl , as J ¼ J el þ J pl ð1Þ where J el can be determined from the stress intensity factor, K, through the following relationship [1,2]: J el ¼ K 2 ð1  m 2 Þ E ð2Þ with E and v as Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio respectively. The solutions for K have been well documented (e.g. [3]). Sumpter and Turner [4] introduced the plastic eta factor ðg LLD pl Þ to relate J pl to the plastic area under the load (P) versus load-line displacement (LLD) curve, A LLD pl : http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2014.10.028 0013-7944/Ó 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 519 661 2111x87931. E-mail address: wzhou@eng.uwo.ca (W. Zhou). Engineering Fracture Mechanics 132 (2014) 120–135 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Engineering Fracture Mechanics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/engfracmech