Numerical Analyses of a Cracked Straight-Through Flattened Brazilian Disk Specimen under Mixed-Mode Loading

Mixed-mode fracture parameters were determined numerically for a cracked straight-through flattened Brazilian disk (CSTFBD) specimen containing an angled center crack and subjected to diametral-distributed uniform compressive loading. The stress-intensity factors (KI and KII) and the T -stress were calculated from finite-element analysis for different values of the crack angle, crack length, and specimen height. The fracture parameters (KI, KII, and T) decreased by reducing the height of the CSTFBD specimen. Furthermore, the pure Mode II crack inclination angle decreased in the CSTFBD specimen for larger crack lengths and smaller specimen heights. The T-stress was always negative for all mode mixities. Also, the influence of the specimen height on the fracture parameters was more pronounced than the other affecting parameters, such as crack length.