Abstract
Recent experimental studies have been shown that strain gages can be employed to determine either static or dynamic stress intensity factors $K_{I}$ wiht relatively simple experiments. However, it does not usually provide a reliable value of stress intensity factor because of local yielding and limited regions for strain gage placement at the vicinity of the crack tip. This paper attempted to define a valid region and to indicate procedures for locating and orienting the strain gage to determine static toughness $K_{Is}$ accurately form one strain gage readings with respect to varying loadings. The strain gage methods was used for compact tension specimens made of Polycarbonate and PMMA(polymethyl methacrylate). Series expansions of the static and dynamic strain fields are applied. Strain gage orientation and location are then studied to optimize the strain response. Especially, in the dynamic experiment, the specimen employed is an oversized Charpy V-notch specimen which has been modified to provide significant constraint with a large elevation of the flow stress. The impact behavior of the specimen is monitored by placing strain gage near the crack tip. The dynamic toughness $K_{Id}$ is determined from the strain time traces of this gage.e.