Question

A rectangular glass plate (Young's Modulus 70 GPa, Ultimate Tensile Strength 138 MPa, fracture Toughness Kic = 1.2 MPa.m0.5) has a length of 200 mm, width of 100 mm and a thickness of 5 mm. The plate is subjected to an in-plane tensile load across its width.

(a) What is the maximum load the plate can carry ifit had no flaws?  
(b) What is the maximum flaw size that can be tolerated at the centre of the plate before the glass plate loses its full load capacity?

Answer 1