Abstract
Abstract Fracture toughness KIC and KIIC are two important parameters in fracture mechanics. In this paper, a device was designed to perform improved three-point and four-point unsymmetrical bending tests on soil beams. The device can easily remove the influence of specimen self-weight on the test results. Using the improved methods and the device, KIC, KIIC, and mixed mode I-II stress intensity factors KI and KII at fracture failure of a compacted silty clay were investigated. Test results indicated that the fracture of the silty clay exhibits linear and elastic behavior. The influences of dry density, water content, and preconsolidation pressure of specimens on parameter KIC were investigated. It was found that the classical mixed mode I-II fracture failure theories such as the strain energy density factor theory, maximum circumferential stress theory, and energy release rate theory cannot adequately predict the fracture failure behavior of the specimens, but a circle agrees well with the test results. The directions of crack growing in the specimens under mode II and mixed mode I-II loading conditions were expressed by a linear function of KI/KII.
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