Numerical and experimental study of mixed-mode cracks in non-uniform stress field

AbstractIn the present work, the results for the yielded zones and their evolution near the crack front of a hole-in-a-plate sample under mixed-mode conditions, are presented. Seven mixed-mode (I + II) cases are achieved by applying a constant load and varying the loading angle. This angle ranged between 23.5° (mixed-mode conditions) and 90° (pure mode I condition). The material investigated is Al-7010-T7651 alloy. The shape of the plastic zone as well as the yielded area are studied by means of 2D plane stress, 2D plane strain and 3D models. Important differences are observed. Finally a methodology based on digital image correlating technique was used to validate the numerical results. For this, the numerical and the experimental displacement fields in the surface of the specimens are compared