Estimation of fracture loads in 3D printed PLA notched specimens using the ASED criterion

This paper provides estimations of the fracture loads in 3D printed PLA (polylactic acid) specimens containing U-notches. The estimations are obtained using the ASED criterion, which is based on the quantification of the Strain Energy Density averaged over a control volume located at the notch tip. The ASED criterion has been validated in a wide range of materials, mainly in polymers, but also in composites, structural steels, aluminum alloys, rocks, etc. It assumes that fracture occurs when the mean value of the elastic strain energy referred to a specific volume is equal to a critical value (Wc). The results obtained in this work demonstrate that the ASED criterion provides, in the presence of notch-type defects, good estimations of the fracture loads in 3D printed PLA.