Micromechanics criterion for the ductile fracture of a polycarbonate

In this paper, experiments and micromechanics analysis are carried out to understand the deformation and fracture behavior of a polycarbonate (PC) under different triaxial stress fields. Effect of triaxial stress constraint on the deformation and fracture behavior of the PC is experimentally investigated. The other purpose of this paper is to discuss the extent to which a micromechanics criterion proposed by the first author can serve as a fracture criterion for ductile polymers. A new ductile fracture parameter is emphasized, which can be employed to evaluate the fracture ductility of polymers. Stress state independence of the parameter for the PC has been experimentally verified.