Two parameter fracture mechanics:: Fatigue crack behavior under mixed mode conditions

The fatigue crack path has been studied on a tensile specimen with holes. The experimental crack path trajectories were compared with those calculated numerically. To incorporate the influence of constraint on the crack curving, we predicted the fatigue crack path by using the two-parameter modification of the maximum tensile stress (NITS) criterion. The values of the mixed-mode stress intensity factors K-I and K-II as well as the corresponding constraint level characterized by T-stress were calculated for the obtained curvilinear and reference crack path trajectories. It is shown that in the studied configuration the effect of T-stress on the crack path is not significant. On the other hand the effect of constraint on the fatigue crack propagation rate is more pronounced. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.