Analysis of crack behaviour under mixed-mode loading

This bachelor’s thesis deals with the analysis of the stress field in the vicinity of the crack tip, described by the stress intensity factor K. The objective of this thesis is to calculate values of the parameter K for a crack in a rectangular specimen subjected to asymmetric four-point bending. Thus, mixed mode I + II loading conditions occur. The first part of the thesis deals with the fracture mechanics concept. In the second part, a cracked specimen is modelled in the Ansys Mechanical APDL software. In the final part, the resulting values of the parameter K, obtained from the commands KCALC, CINT and two empirical equations, are presented. The MTS criterion is applied for estimation of the crack propagation angel and all results are discussed thoroughly