Experimental investigation of the mode III fracture of a soft bar

• Main Author: Fernandez, Joshua Sanjay
• Other Authors: Wu Mao See
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Engineering
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/181690
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project investigates the Mode 3 (tearing) fracture behaviour of soft materials, specifically focusing on agar agar gel, a commonly used hydrogel. Soft gels exhibit unique mechanical properties, making them ideal candidates for studying fracture mechanics in biomaterials and soft engineering applications. The primary objective of this research is to experimentally investigate the fracture behaviour of agar agar gel under Mode 3 loading, where the material is subjected to out-of-plane shear forces. A custom-made experimental setup was developed to induce Mode 3 fractures, and various tests were conducted to observe crack initiation, propagation, and failure mechanisms in the gel specimens. Key parameters such as the critical tearing force were also analysed. The results provide valuable insights into the fracture mechanics of soft gels, highlighting their deformation and fracture behaviour under shear stress. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of soft material fractures, with potential applications in biomedical engineering, food science, and material design.