Minimum shear stress range: A criterion for crack path determination

Abstract

For problems under proportional mixed-mode conditions, various criteria are used to predict fatigue crack growth directions, most achieving reasonable accuracy. The crack propagation angle is often obtained by maximizing a quantity (for instance, energy or stresses) as function of the stress intensity factors KI and KII. This maximization is generally performed at the instant of maximum fatigue loading and a stress analysis at this instant is sufficient to predict the crack propagation angle and thus the fatigue crack growth direction. However, under non-proportional loading, the maximum values of KI and KII may occur at different instants of the fatigue cycle and so a simple analysis at the maximum loading instant is not appropriate; it is necessary to consider the entire loading cycle history. One possible criterion to treat problems under these circumstances is the minimum shear stress range criterion (MSSR). This paper presents a brief discussion of the most common criteria used for determination of crack propagation direction, focusing on an implementation of MSSR. Its performance is assessed in different conditions and the results are compared to literature data.