VECTOR CTD CRITERION APPLIED TO MIXED MODE FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH

— This work is aimed at developing a general parameter based on the deformation intensity at a mixed mode crack tip to predict crack growth behaviour, especially in the near threshold region. Being a mechanisms-related parameter, the vector crack tip displacement (CTD) is defined as a vector summation of CTOD and CTSDc which act, respectively in the directions of mode I and mode II fatigue crack growth. The basic assumption is that both direction and rate of mixed mode fatigue crack growth are governed by the vector ΔCTD, which represents the resultant of the “driving force”at the crack tip. The analytical predictions obtained by using the vector ΔCTD are in good agreement with the reported experimental results of mixed mode I and II fatigue cracks.