Experimental and numerical investigation of mixed mode I plus II and I plus III fatigue crack growth in S355J0 steel

This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation about fatigue crack paths and fatigue crack growth on S355J0 steel subjected to I + II and I + III mixed mode conditions both under load ratios R = 0 and 0.1 and different mode mixities. In particular, compact specimens with distinct notch inclinations were exposed to mixed mode I + II (tension and shear) whereas prismatic specimens provided with an external one-sided sharp notch were subjected to mixed mode I + III under distinct bending to torsion ratios. The influences of distinct load mixities on fatigue crack growth rates and fatigue crack growth directions are analysed and discussed in relation to existing theories. Also the influence of each loading mode for the resulting mixed mode fatigue crack propagation is also discussed.