Crack Propagation Mode Research Articles

Effect of rare earth element Y on the crack propagation behavior of Mg alloys: A molecular dynamics simulation

The effect of the distribution and concentration of rare earth (RE) element Y, crack orientation, temperature, and strain rate on the crack propagation behavior of the Mg alloys is investigated by molecular dynamics/Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that the RE element Y tends to form locally short-range order structures in the Mg alloys, and the introduction of the RE element Y can enhance the fracture toughness of the Mg alloys. The results indicate that with the increase of Y concentration, the crack propagation mode of the Mg alloys shifts from a mode, dominated by the dislocation emissions at the crack tip and the crack cleavage propagation to a mode dominated by the solid-state amorphization and the slip of amorphous bands. In addition, the results show that the faster the strain rate, the slower the crack propagation speed, and the crack propagation resistance increases with increasing temperature.

Effect of loading rate on local deformation of rock-like models with locked segment

To investigate the influence of loading rate on the local deformation and failure characteristics of rock-like models with a locked segment, this study fabricated them using quartz sand and barite powder as aggregates, and gypsum as cementing material. Uniaxial compression tests, combined with strain cube monitoring and the digital image correlation technique, were employed to analyze the mechanical properties, internal and external deformation characteristics, crack propagation, and failure modes at different loading rates. The results showed that as the loading rate increased, the strength of these models initially increased significantly and then slightly decreased, primarily due to the complex interaction between the longitudinal and transverse deformations of the models and the stress concentration intensity at the crack tips. The fluctuation in the principal strain axis's deflection angle revealed the complex process of stress wave propagation and particle adjustment within the models, with more pronounced fluctuations observed at higher loading rates. The stress intensity factors, KIand KII, at the crack tips first increased and then decreased with increasing loading rate, with KI consistently higher than KII. The strain concentration phenomenon in the rock-like models occurred earlier with increasing loading rates, and the corresponding crack closure stress exhibited a decreasing trend. Higher loading rates caused earlier crack initiation and faster propagation. As the loading rate increased, the crack paths shortened, and both damage density and severity increased significantly, indicating brittle failure. This study provides important experimental evidence and theoretical support for understanding the effects of loading rate in rock mass engineering.

Strength Characteristics and Crack Propagation Modes of Coal Samples with Different Slots under LN2 Freeze–Thaw

Strength Characteristics and Crack Propagation Modes of Coal Samples with Different Slots under LN₂ Freeze–Thaw

Analysis of BGA Lead-Free solder joints failure behavior based on thermal shock testing

The interconnected solder joints within automotive electronic components are the most vulnerable parts of the structure, and their reliability is crucial for the development of new energy vehicles. This study focuses on automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) devices, analyzing the failure behavior of internal BGA (Ball Grid Array) lead-free solder joints under thermal shock conditions.Through thermal shock testing from −40℃ to 95℃, it was observed that microcracks first appeared in the upper intermetallic compound (IMC) layer of corner solder joints after 1600 cycles. As the number of thermal shock cycles increased, the net-like β-Sn phase in the solder joints gradually transformed into block and dot-like structures. Due to the relatively weak strength between the IMC layer and the Ag-Sn compound region, cracks typically propagated along the boundaries of these areas. Recrystallization occurred in the interface between the solder joint and the upper pad, with the proportion of high-angle grain boundaries increasing from 10.74% to 72.43%. The crack propagation mode changed from initial intergranular to transgranular fracture. Throughout the thermal shock test, the upper IMC layer remained thicker than the lower one, with the lower IMC layer thickness showing a minimum point at 750 cycles.The average thrust force between the solder joints and the substrate decreased more rapidly with thermal shock cycles, indicating that non-solder mask defined pads are more effective in improving structural strength.

Study on interface toughening mechanism based on modified PBO fiber for CFRP/ plastic honeycomb sandwich structure

CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced composites)/honeycomb sandwich structures are widely used in aerospace, automotive, and high-speed rail industries due to their excellent mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics. This study investigates the impact of three designed toughened interfaces on the three-point bending performance of honeycomb structures. The results show that introducing a multiscale toughened interface made of poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers grafted with polydopamine (PDA) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) increases the peak load and post-peak load of the sandwich structure by 49.7 % and 51.9 %, respectively, and the absorbed energy by 92.4 %. This toughened interface adjusts the stress relationship between the panel, interface, and honeycomb, altering the deformation process and crack propagation mode of the sandwich structure. The micro-nano fibers form fiber bridging at the interface, changing the crack extension mode between the interfaces, transforming the delamination from a single debonding to the combined action of plate core debonding and honeycomb core buckling. Additionally, experimental results show that PBO fibers treated with PDA and CNT exhibit significantly improved surface roughness, Surface area per unit mass, wettability, and tensile strength, which delay and prevent crack propagation at the interface, effectively reducing panel debonding at the bonded joints.

Low‐velocity impact damage behavior of glass fiber reinforced composites with different crack propagation

AbstractGlass fiber‐reinforced resin matrix composites are widely used and studied for their good mechanical and impact resistance properties. In this paper, five glass fiber reinforced nylon 6 (PA6)‐based composites were prepared by mechanical blending combined with the molding process. The flexural strength, shear strength, pendulum impact strength, and low‐velocity impact properties of five composites were comparatively investigated. The crack extension modes of the composites were characterized and analyzed by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and computerized X‐ray tomography (XCT), and the effects of different crack extension modes on the mechanical and impact resistance properties of the composites were researched. Experimental results show that: (1) Cracks in the composite material mainly exist in two expansion modes: transverse propagation parallel to the direction of fiber layup and longitudinal propagation perpendicular to the direction of fiber layup; (2) Different crack extension modes will cause different damage situations to the composites, however, the crack extension mode has minimal impact on the flexural, shear and pendulum impact strength of the composites; (3) The flexural and shear strengths of the composites co‐reinforced using fly ash and glass fibers were preferably 484.5 and 46.1 MPa; (4) The crack extension mode has a significant impact on low‐velocity impact performances of the composite material. The composite co‐reinforced with glass beads (GB) and glass fibers had the best impact resistance, with maximum impact force (Pmax), residual impact force (Pr), and absorbed energy (Ea) of 7015.2 N, 6273.6 N and 15.4 J, respectively.Highlights The propagation of cracks inside the composites was observed using SEM and XCT etc. A relationship between crack propagation mode and low‐velocity impact resistance of composites was established. The low‐velocity impact properties of composites are carefully analyzed.

Study on the mixed fracture characteristics of concrete-rock Brazilian disks with different fracture angles

The fracture characteristics of cracked straight-through Brazilian discs for concrete-rock composites (CSTBD-CRC) with different fracture inclination angles (Mode I-II) were investigated to evaluate the stability of concrete reinforcement engineering. Acoustic emission (AE) and digital image correlation (DIC) techniques were employed to study crack propagation and fracture modes in CSTBD-CRC Brazil splitting tests, as well as the entropy evolution of AE and DIC. Additionally, 3D scanning technology and fractal theory were utilized to investigate the effect of the fracture mode on the fracture surface morphology. The results indicate that both the fracture energy and peak load of the CSTBD-CRC increase with increasing fracture inclination angle. Moreover, the section fractal dimensions of 0°, 10°, 15° and 25° samples are 2.01879, 2.01528, 2.01186, and 2.01072. Shear fracture mode increases as the dip angle increases and the fracture surface morphology decreases in fractal dimension. Notably, sharp increases in entropy values for both AE and DIC occurred at peak load, suggesting their use as failure criteria for CSTBD-CRC specimens. Furthermore, cracks were found to initiate at the tips of preexisting cracks within the concrete. The displacement in the x direction undergoes the most significant changes on both sides of the crack during crack growth, while the strain in the x direction experiences its greatest variations at the crack location.

Comparison of iron aluminide Fe3Al with armour steel in ballistic behaviour

Intermetallic aluminide compounds possess several potential advantages compared to alloyed steels, like enhanced oxidation resistance, lower density and the omittance of critical raw materials. Iron aluminides, compared to other transition metal–aluminides of TM3-Al type, although having a higher density compared to titan-aluminides, have a lower density compared to nickel-aluminides, but also a higher ductility than both alternatives, making this material potentially effective in ballistic protection application. Density–wise, this material may be a worthy alternative to armour steels, which was the aim of this study. Two materials, Fe3Al intermetallic compound (F3A-C) and Armox 500 armour steel were ballistically tested against tungsten-carbide (WC) armour-piercing ammunition, in accordance with STANAG 4569. After ballistic testing, microhardness and metallographic testing were performed, revealing differences in strain hardening, crack propagation mode and exit hole morphology. F3A-C ballistic resistance is similar to that of armour steel, in spite of the lower tensile and impact mechanical properties, relying on a considerably higher strain hardening rate, thermal properties and a lower density.

Use of In Situ SEM Multiple Cracking Test to Correlate Crack Propagation Mode with Acoustic Emission Signals in Thermal Oxide Scales: Application to Ni/NiO System

Use of In Situ SEM Multiple Cracking Test to Correlate Crack Propagation Mode with Acoustic Emission Signals in Thermal Oxide Scales: Application to Ni/NiO System

Investigation on high temperature fatigue-oxidation behavior of Ni-based single crystal with film cooling holes considering arrangement effect

The fatigue-oxidation behavior of Ni-based single crystal with film cooling holes (FCHs) fabricated by femtosecond laser was investigated considering arrangement effect. Low cycle fatigue tests were conducted under 900 °C/713 MPa and 1000 °C/500 MPa. The experimental results show that fatigue lifetime reduced as the temperature increased at equal proportional stress. And, the specimens with square penetration pattern have an average fatigue life that is higher than the specimens with triangle penetration pattern at the same condition. Then, the crack propagation modes are characterized on the fracture path, and the fatigue failure mechanism is revealed by analyzing the fracture morphology. The microstructure evolution around the FCHs shows that the fatigue crack nucleation is caused by the coupling effect of fatigue and oxidation. According to the damage mechanism, a new fatigue-oxidation coupling damage model is proposed based on crystal plastic theory. The calculation results using crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) considering coupling damage show that the maximum resolved shear stress (RSS) of the FCHs triangular arrangement is higher than that of quadrilateral arrangement at the same condition. Finally, fatigue life is predicted based on coupling damage accumulation, and the results show that the accuracy of life prediction is within 2 times data dispersion band.

Deformation behavior at fatigue crack tip in nickel-based alloy

The microstructure and deformation behavior around the fatigue crack tip can significantly affect the early stage of the fatigue crack propagation, but currently, the evolution and deformation mode of the microstructure in the fatigue crack tip at the nanoscale are still unclear. Therefore, it is important to study the microstructure and deformation behavior at the fatigue crack tip in nanoscale to further reveal the fatigue failure mode of metal materials. In this study, the microstructure evolution and deformation mode of the fatigue crack tip of nickel-based alloy are studied by HRTEM technique. The results show that a large number of dislocation, stacking fault and micro/nano-twin are formed around the fatigue crack tip. The formation of these microstructures can promote the release of strain in the matrix during cyclic deformation. The main deformation mode of the fatigue crack tip includes slip, twinning, and dislocation shearing micro/nano-twin.

Experimental investigation of the coupled effects of bedding planes and flaws on fracture evolution of soft bedded rocks based on 3D printing and DIC technologies

Bedded rocks are a typical geological formation with significant implications for understanding tectonic evolution, rock engineering, and geological hazard mitigation. This study introduces a novel method for fabricating bedded rocks using 3D printing (3DP) technology. By comparing the mechanical anisotropic properties and failure modes of 3DP bedded rocks with natural bedded rocks, we validate the feasibility of this approach. Compression tests are conducted on 3DP bedded rocks containing a single flaw to investigate the coupled effects of bedding planes and flaws on the mechanical properties. Digital image correlation (DIC) is employed for full-field deformation measurement during loading, enabling the study of deformation and crack evolution patterns. The results indicate that bedding planes dominate the brittleness of 3DP bedded rocks containing a single flaw. Significant plastic characteristics and prolonged nonlinear deformation stages are observed when the bedding angle (α) is between 0° and 45°, while brittleness becomes apparent beyond 45°. Both strength and elastic modulus are decided by bedding planes and initial flaws. By comparing stress–strain curves and rate of effective variance change (REVC)-strain curves, crack initiation can be quantitatively identified, revealing a linear correlation between strength and stress values at crack initiation points. The bedding plane also dominates crack propagation and failure modes: when α ≤ 30°, cracks propagate through the bedding, indicating tensile failure; when 45° ≤ α＜90°, cracks propagate along the bedding, indicating tensile-shear or shear failure; and when α = 90°, cracks propagate along bedding planes, indicating tensile failure. The findings of this study provide insights for explaining and predicting failure modes in engineering projects involving bedded rock formations, such as slopes, tunnels, and coal mines.

3D internal crack propagation in brittle solids under non-uniform temperature field: Experimental and numerical simulation

In the field of engineering, elevated temperatures often induce thermal stress. Especially in brittle materials, the propagation of internal cracks under such thermal stress is frequently the primary cause of failure. We utilize the 3D internal laser-engraved crack technology to create internal cracks at various locations inside the half-Brazilian disk specimens. By precisely controlling the power of the heating device, we achieved temperature non-uniformity of the external heat source, resulting in uneven heating of the material’s surface. Simultaneously, by adjusting the geometry of the material and using semi-Brazilian disk specimens, we generated uneven temperature gradients and thermal capacities along different heat conduction paths. The internal cracks at different locations also affect the distribution of thermal stress in the material, further influencing the formation of the non-uniform temperature fields (NUTF). Through the above methods, we successfully conducted physical experiments on the 3D propagation of internal cracks in brittle materials under NUTF. Additionally, we utilized J-integral and the finite element method for thermal analysis to conduct thermo-mechanical coupled 3D numerical simulations. Furthermore, we employed a polarising microscope to analyze the microscopic morphology of 3D internal cracks. Finally, we revealed the mechanism of 3D internal crack propagation under NUTF. The results show that prefabricated internal cracks in group A produce “n-shaped” crack at a height of 15 mm and “u-shaped” cracks at heights of 25 mm and 35 mm. Meanwhile, in group B, the eccentric prefabricated internal cracks ultimately produce “s-shaped” cracks. Through analysis, it was determined that the differential formation occurred due to relative sliding between the upper and lower surfaces of the crack under longitudinal shear stress induced by NUTF. Group A cracks have smooth surfaces, which are mode I-II cracks. group B generated “lance-like” fractures with obvious “anti-binary tree”, which are mixed mode I-II-III cracks. These findings provide an experimental and theoretical basis for the study of 3D internal crack propagation modes under NUTF and deepen the understanding of fracture mechanics in brittle materials.

Experimental and Meshless Numerical Simulations on the Crack Propagation of Semi-Circular Bending Specimens Containing X-Shaped Fissures Under Three-Point Bending.

Cracks in rock and concrete have a great adverse effect on the stability of engineering structures; however, there are few studies on X-shaped fissures which widely exist in rock and concrete structures. Based on this background, three-point bending fracture tests of SCB specimens containing X-shaped fissures are carried out. The momentum equations in the SPH method are improved, and the crack propagations of SCB specimens under three-point bending are simulated. The results show that cracks grow simply along the vertical direction in the sample with no X-shaped fissures, and the existence of an X-shaped fissure changes the crack growth path and final failure modes of the SCB samples. The crack propagation simulation results are consistent with the experimental results, which verifies the rationality of the improved SPH method. The load-displacement curves mainly present three typical stages: the initial compaction stage, linear elastic deformation stage, and failure stage. The peak load decreases first then increases with an increase in eccentricity. With an increase in X-shaped fissure length and decrease in X-shaped fissure angle, the peak load decreases. The damage counts remain at 0 at the initial loading stage, corresponding to the initial compaction stage and the linear elastic deformation stage, and increase sharply at the later loading stage, corresponding to the failure stage, which is consistent with the experimental results. The influence mechanisms of X-shaped fissures on the crack propagation paths are discussed; the existence of different X-shaped fissure morphologies aggravate the tensile stress concentration at specific positions, leading to different crack propagation modes in the experiments. The research results can provide a certain reference for understanding the failure mechanisms of engineering structures containing X-shaped fissures and promote the applications of the SPH method into the simulations of cross-fissure crack propagations.

Effects of nano-silica on fracture properties and mechanism analysis of basalt fiber reinforced concrete

The reinforcing effect of basalt fibers (BFs) on the performance of concrete mainly relies on the bridging effect of fibers, while recently, it has been shown that nano-silica (NS) may further enhance this effect. In this paper, three-point bending fracture tests were carried out on BF reinforced concrete (BFRC) to determine the optimal BF condition (i.e. volume content and length). Based on this optimal condition, the effect of NS content on the fracture performance of BFRC was examined from macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. The results indicate that the optimal BF condition for yielding the best concrete performance was 0.2 % volume content and 6 mm fiber length. Based on this condition, NS at 1 % mass content could improve its fracture performance to the best extent. Specifically, the crack initiation toughness, unstable fracture toughness and fracture energy were 1.83 MPa·m0.5, 3.35 MPa·m0.5 and 364.42 N/m, respectively, which were improved by 5.58 %, 15.93 % and 4.97 % compared to BFRC. NS mainly affects the crack propagation mode of BFRC by enhancing the fiber bridging effect or altering the way BFs play a bridging role. NS at an appropriate mass content can delay the occurrence of cracks and improve the deformation ability of BFRC.

A hybrid finite-discrete element method for modelling cracking processes in sandy mudstone containing a single edge-flaw under cyclic dynamic loading

Rock mass deformation and failure are macroscopic manifestations of crack initiation, propagation, and coalescence. However, simulating the transition of rocks from continuous to discontinuous media under cyclic dynamic loading remains challenging. This study proposes a hybrid finite-discrete element method (HFDEM) to model crack propagation, incorporating a frequency-dependent cohesive-zone model. The mechanical properties of standard sandy mudstone under quasi-static and cyclic dynamic loading were simulated using HFDEM, and the method's reliability was verified through experimental comparison. The comparative analysis demonstrates that HFDEM successfully captures crack interaction mechanisms and accurately simulates the overall failure behavior of specimens. Additionally, the effects of pre-existing flaw inclination angle and dynamic loading frequency on rock failure mechanisms were investigated. The numerical results reveal that rock samples exhibit significantly higher compressive strength under dynamic loading compared to quasi-static loading, with compressive strength increasing with higher cyclic dynamic load frequencies. Furthermore, by analyzing the strength characteristics, crack propagation, and failure modes of the samples, insights into the failure mechanisms of rocks under different frequency loads were obtained. This study provides valuable insights into crack development and failure of rocks under seismic loads, offering guidance for engineering practices.

Investigation of the mechanical behavior of rock-like material with two flaws subjected to biaxial compression

The biaxial compression experiments of rock-like materials with two flaws are carried out under different flaw inclination angle, rock bridge ligament angle, lateral stress. The experimental studies show that crack propagation modes of rock-like material are as follows: wing crack through mode (Y mode), shear crack through mode (J mode), mixed crack through mode (wing shear JY mode), longitudinal extension of crack and transverse shear splitting. prefabricated fractured rock specimens have experienced the closing stage of prefabricated fractures, the elastic deformation stage, the generation and expansion of cracks (or plastic strengthening), and the residual loading stage. The peak strength of the specimen is increases with the increase of flaw inclination angle and lateral stress. With the increase of the rock bridge ligament angle, the failure of the rock bridge region changes from the shear crack failure to composite failure of shear crack and the wing type tensile crack failure, and then to the wing crack failure. With the increase of the lateral pressure, the failure of the specimen changes from the wing type tensile crack failure to the wing type and shear crack failure, and then to shear crack failure. The flaw inclination angle mainly changes the form of crack growth but does not effect on the failure modes. The counting number of acoustic emission events at the center of the sample is relative large, indicating that the cacks appear in the part of the rock bridge firstly. With the increasing of loads, the cracks of the rock bridge expanding constantly and connecting finally. The changes of acoustic emission event counts is consistent with the macroscopic damage form obtained from the experiments.

Fracture mechanical and ablation behaviors of C/SiC–Cu3Si–Cu interpenetrating composites and their dependence on metal addition and interface thickness

The C/SiC–Cu3Si–Cu interpenetrating composites were prepared by the ceramization and metallization of carbon fiber reinforced carbon aerogel (C/CA) preforms. Fracture mechanical and ablation behaviors as well as their dependence on metal addition and PyC interface thickness were investigated. With the presence of metallic components, the C/SiC–Cu3Si–Cu composites show pseudo-plastic fracture, typical brittle-plastic mixed fracture, and then ladder-like fracture with the PyC interface thickness increasing due to the co-existence of ductile and brittle components, obviously different from the fracture of conventional ceramic matrix composites. The composite with 3.0 μm-thick interface has the highest flexural strength of 292.8 MPa due to the proper interfacial bond strength and residual compressive stress. The composite with 1.9 μm-thick interface has the highest work of fracture but relatively low fracture toughness due to the abundant modes of crack propagation. The anti-ablation property is deteriorated with increased PyC thickness due to the weakened transpiration cooling effect and reduced oxide scale quality. The composite with 0.9 μm-thick interface exhibits lower mass and linear ablation rates of 0.054 mg cm−2 s−1 and 0.018 μm s−1 after ablation at 2200 °C for 600 s, respectively. This work provides vital insights into the control of the overall performance of carbon fiber reinforced ceramic-metal matrix composites.

Investigation of notch position and fiber ratio on the fracture mode and energy of sfrc beam under the impact load

When the literature is examined, it is seen that a lot of study has been done on the crack propagation and fracture modes that occur under the influence of static loads in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Studies in the literature show the effect of crack initiation, concrete compressive strength, and fiber volume fraction on the tension mode (Mode-I), shear mode (Mode-II), and mixed fracture mode that occurs in crack propagation under static load. However, the literature has not found a comprehensive study in which the fracture modes are examined under the effect of dynamic impact loading. For this reason, an experimental study has been planned in which hybrid steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) notched beams with varying compressive strength will be tested under impact loading with a free-fall drop weight device designed by the authors. The experimental variables studied were determined as the change of the crack initiation point in the beams, the compressive strength of the concrete used to produce the beams, and the fiber volume fraction in the concrete mixture. The acceleration and impact load-time histories under the constant-energy-level impact loading applied to the beams were measured. Also, the crack shape, fracture mode, crack angle, and energy absorption capacities of the beams under impact load were interpreted. While the transition from Mode-I fracture form to Mode-II fracture form occurs under impact loading, the effects of concrete compressive strength and steel fiber ratio variables on energy absorption capacity, crack angle, and crack shape are studied. Increasing the distance of the notch from the beam midpoint in notched beams produced with concrete without fiber from 0 to 40, 80 and 120 mm caused the energy absorption capacity values to increase by an average of 39 %, 66 % and 86 %, respectively. Increasing the distance of the notch to the beam midpoint from 0 to 40, 80 and 120 mm in beams with 0.75 % and 1.5 % fiber ratio increased the energy absorption capacity values by an average of 40 %, 65 % and 86 %, respectively. In beams with 2.25 % fiber ratio, increasing the notch distance from 0 to 40, 80 and 120 mm increased the energy absorption capacity values by an average of 38 %, 62 % and 83 %, respectively.

Effects of strain rate and bedding on shale fracture mechanisms

Anisotropic shale is commonly distributed in nature and undergoes both dynamic compressive and tensile load in geological engineering. In this article, the coupling effects of strain rate and bedding structures on the fracture mechanisms of shale are investigated using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) system. The tension–compression comparative study is conducted. The Brazilian disc method is modified, and a unified strain rate measurement method is established to comprehensively analyze shale’s fracture-related properties, including moduli, strength and energy dissipation. The results indicate that the energy dissipated by shale fracture is strongly related to its strength. The strain rate and bedding affect the anisotropic strength and dissipated energy by changing the crack density and crack propagation mode. At low or medium strain rates, the bedding orientation of shale determines the direction of crack propagation. However, at high strain rates, microcracks in different directions are widely activated in the shale, which increases the fracture degree and decreases the difference in fracture toughness between the shale’s matrix and bedding planes. This also leads to a decrease in anisotropy and causes the bedding planes to lose control over the direction of crack propagation. Additionally, the dynamic tensile strength of shale increases faster than the compressive one with the strain rate, leading to a reduction in the proportion of tensile failure under impact load. Based on the experimental findings, a new anisotropic damage constitutive model is developed to characterize the dynamic properties of shale. This model reflects the anisotropic damage evolution behaviors and aligns well with experimental results, offering a theoretical foundation for predicting shale’s dynamic fracture behavior. In addition to shale, the developed experimental methods and theoretical models can also be applied to the fracture analysis of other brittle transversely isotropic materials.