Abstract
Dynamic crack initiation in ductile steel is investigated by means of impact loaded 3 point bend(PB) specimens. Results from non-viscoplastic and viscoplastic materials are compared. Their materials are applied with various impact velocities and static strain rates. The specimen has the size 320${\times}$750 mm with a thickness of 10 mm. A modified 3PB specimen design with reduced width at the ends has been developed in order to avoid the initial compressive load of the crack tip and also to avoid the uncertain boundary conditions at the impact heads. Numerical simulations are made by using the FEM code ABAQUS. Therefore, their results are plotted by shapes of the von Mises plastic stress and equivalent plastic strain of the specimens applied by various impact velocities.