A new fracture toughness test covering mixed-mode conditions and positive and negative T-stresses

It is known that sign of T-stress in cracked specimens affects fracture toughness under mixed mode conditions. We suggest a new test involving an inclined edge cracked semi circular specimen subjected to asymmetric three-point bend loading (IASCB specimen) that covers a broad range of modes I and II SIFs and T-stress values. It can provide both positive and negative T-stresses. This is illustrated by FEM computations.Hamed SAGHAFI and Seyedali MONEMIA