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Determination of T-stress from finite element analysis for mode I and mixed mode I/II loading

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Abstract

The elastic T-stress has been recognised as a measure of constraint around the tip of a crack in contained yielding problems. A review of the literature indicates that most methods for obtaining T are confined to simple geometry and loading configurations. This paper explores direct use of finite element analysis for calculating T. It is shown that for mode I more reliable results with less mesh refinement can be achieved if crack flank nodal displacements are used. Methods are also suggested for calculating T for any mixed mode I/II loading without having to calculate stress intensity factors. There is good agreement between the results from the proposed methods and analytical results. T-stress is determined for a test configuration designed to investigate brittle and ductile fracture in mixed mode loading. It is shown that in shear loading of a cracked specimen T vanishes only when a truly antisymmetric field of deformation is provided. However this rarely happens in practice and the presence of T in shear is often inevitable. It is shown that for some cases the magnitude of T in shear is much more than that for tension. The effect of crack length is also investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TR, UK

    M.R. Ayatollahi, M.J. Pavier & D.J. Smith

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  1. M.R. Ayatollahi
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  2. M.J. Pavier
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  3. D.J. Smith
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Ayatollahi, M., Pavier, M. & Smith, D. Determination of T-stress from finite element analysis for mode I and mixed mode I/II loading. International Journal of Fracture 91, 283–298 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007581125618

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