Mixed mode fatigue and fracture in planar geometries: Observations on Keq and crack path modelling

Abstract

AbstractThe mixed mode I‐II fatigue and fracture is briefly reviewed, addressing experimental and numerical modelling aspects, and focusing on planar specimens. One major challenge concerns the determination of equivalent stress intensity factor (Keq) in mixed mode situations. Several approaches were compared through the determination of Keq/KI over a wide range of values of KI/KII or KII/KI. Whereas all different approaches converge to the same value as KI/KII increases, the same does not happen for large KII/KI, where differences between values of Keq persist. In the regions of 0 < KI/KII < 2 and 0 < KII/KI < 2, no stable trend of results can be defined.Experimental fatigue crack growth results are presented for Al alloy AA6082‐T6. Compact tension specimens, modified with holes, and four‐point bending specimens under asymmetrical loading promoting mixed mode situations, were subjected to fatigue crack growth tests, where crack path and crack growth rate were measured. The presentation of the fatigue crack growth data was made using a Paris law based upon Keq. Differences in the Paris law constants were found for the different Keq criteria.Recent developments in numerical techniques, as the implementation of the extended finite element method (XFEM) in finite element software packages allows to determine accurately crack paths in mixed mode fracture. This article highlights concepts for mixed‐mode fatigue and fracture and supporting data, identifying challenges still to be overcome.