A three-dimensional elastoplastic analysis of mixed-mode KI/KII around the crack front

Abstract

Engineering problems that involve fatigue crack growth and fracture frequently can be studied by taking into account only mode-I features. However, many important problems that involve combined mode I and II loadings cannot be properly analyzed by a pure mode-I approach, which in particular may not be sufficient to estimate fracture toughness for practical purposes in such cases. Such mixed-mode problems involve crack orientation and/or load conditions that lead to combined local Stress Intensity Factors (SIFs) KI/KII around the crack front. Using multiaxial crack tip condition characterized by the crack inclination angle βin a mixed-mode KI/KII modified single edge tension SE(T) specimen, such mixed-mode effects on plastic zone shapes, volumes and plastic work UPL are taken into account to evaluate problems that involve fatigue and fracture.