Evaluation of Fracture Properties of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Polymeric Material using Arcan Test Method under Combined Loading Conditions

In this study the fracture behavior of ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) polymeric material is investigated numerically and experimentally. Tests are performed with Arcan specimens. Testing with Arcan specimen gives the opportunity of utilizing just one kind of specimen for extracting fracture properties for mode I, mode II and different mixed mode ratios of materials with exerting load via different loading angles. Variation of loading angles in range of 0-90° made possible to achieve different mixed mode ratios. The test fixture and sample were modelled with ABAQUS/CAE and the contour integral method was used at various loading angles to calculate the non-dimensional stress intensity factors. Finally, applying the non-dimensional stress intensity factors to critical loads obtained experimentally, critical fracture toughness of this type of polymer has been attained.