Fracture from compressive stress concentrations around elastic flaws

Abstract Fracture initiation from the compressive stress concentration at the periphery of voids and cracks, subjected to compressive loading, is examined experimentally and theoretically. The fracture originating from compressive stress concentrations and propagating approximately perpendicularly to the direction of maximum compression is described and defined as a normal shear fracture. The initiation and propagation of normal shear fractures occur under the influence of a heterogeneous stress distribution. A theory is developed which includes the effect of the compressive stress gradient along the projected fracture path. Experimental results are introduced which show agreement with the theory.