Three-Dimensional Computational Analysis of Stress State Transition in Through-Cracked Plates

Stress state is a main parameter within fracture mechanics. It has a major influence on different phenomena, namely those involving diffusion, plastic deformation, and brittle fracture. As is well-known, in the near-surface regions of a crack front, the plane stress state dominates, while at interior positions the plane strain state prevails. The main objective here is to examine the extent of surface regions in through-cracked planar geometries subjected to cyclic loading. Two constitutive material models were developed to characterise the stress state along the crack front. A new criterion based on the h stress triaxiality parameter was proposed to define the transition between surface and near-surface regions. Finally, a linear relation between the stable value of the extent of surface region and the maximum stress intensity factor was established.