On the role of triaxiality in mode-I resistance curves

Abstract

Insight into the role of triaxiality in mode-I, plane strain resistance curves of a representative ductile metal has been gained. Growth of a macroscopic crack is simulated as per modified boundary layer formulation for a range of constraint parameter with the fracture process represented by a triaxiality dependent cohesive model. In contrast to the predictions by a fixed cohesive law, the study shows that by including the effect of triaxiality on the work of separation, the stick-slip nature or the non-uniformity in the rate of the crack growth and its manifestations on the plastic wake and fracture surface can be predicted that are closer to trends observed in experimental literature.