A plate of an alloy steel has a plane-strain fracture toughness of 50 MPa√m. If it is known that the largest surface crack is 0.5 mm long and that the value of Y is 1.1, which of the following can be said about this plate when a tensile stress of 1000 MPa is applied?

A. It is not possible to determine whether or not the plate will fracture.

B. The plate will definitely not fracture

C. The plate will definitely fracture.

option B is correct. Fracture will definitely not occur

Explanation:

The formula for fracture toughness is given by;

K_ic = σY√πa

Where,

σ is the applied stress

Y is the dimensionless parameter

a is the crack length.

Let's make σ the subject

So,

σ = [K_ic/Y√πa]

Plugging in the relevant values;

σ = [50 / (1.1√π * (0.5 x 10^ (-3)) ]

σ = 1147 MPa

Thus, the material can withstand a stress of 1147 MPa

So, if tensile stress of 1000 MPa is applied, fracture will not occur because the material can withstand a higher stress of 1147 MPa before it fractures. So option B is correct.