Experimental Investigation of the Angled Elliptic Notch Problem in Tension

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plates with angled elliptic notch are experimentally investigated under monotonic tension. The major interests of this investigation are the direction of crack initiation on the boundary of the notch and the critical stress that causes the crack initiation. It is found that the “fracture angle” in this investigation is generally smaller than that obtained from PMMA plate with slit crack which was reported in the literature. Furthermore, the paths of crack propagation are experimentally determined and “lance-like” fracture surface is observed.