Static Damage and Fracture Behavior of Notched Rigid PVC Under Tensile Loading

Abstract

ABSTRACT Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is widely used in engineering applications due to its cost‐effectiveness and favorable mechanical properties. However, its structural integrity can be significantly affected by defects such as notches. This study investigates the static damage evolution and fracture behavior of rigid PVC specimens with controlled notch geometries under uniaxial tensile loading. An integrated approach combining experimental testing with theoretical damage models, including Miner's rule and the unified damage theory, is proposed. The results reveal a significant degradation of residual strength with increasing notch length. Damage evolution follows three distinct stages: initiation, propagation, and acceleration, enabling the identification of a critical defect size ( mm). The unified theory provides a more accurate representation of damage evolution compared to Miner's model. These findings contribute to improved failure prediction and reliability assessment of PVC structures.