THE SIZE OF THE FULLY-DEVELOPED SOFTENING ZONE ASSOCIATED WITH A CRACK IN A STRAIN-SOFTENING MATERIAL .3. THE COUPLED EFFECTS OF SOFTENING ZONE FORCE LAW AND MATRIX FRACTURE-RESISTANCE

Earlier theoretical work (Parts I and II) has been concerned with the determination of the fully developed softening zone size in a strain-softening material for (a) a semi-infinite crack in a remotely loaded infinite solid, and (b) a long crack in a double cantilever beam specimen. The matrix was assumed to have zero fracture resistance and in both cases it was shown that the fully developed softening zone size, though being critically dependent on the maximum stress and displacement within the softening zone, was relatively insensitive to the details of the softening law. The present paper broadens the scope of this conclusion to include the more general, and indeed more practically appropriate, case where the matrix has a finite fracture resistance. © 1990.