A numerical investigation of elastoplastic deformation of cracks in tubular specimens subjected to combined torsional and axial loading

Journal article, 2016

Numerical simulations to investigate crack deformation in a pre-cracked cylindrical specimen subjected to mixed mode axial/torsional loading are carried out. Results are quantified in terms of crack face displacements and contrasted to experimental trends in the literature. The results aid in the understanding and interpretation of experimental results, in design of future experiments and in the development of models to predict mixed mode crack propagation. The analyses identify elastoplastic phenomena as major mechanisms to explain experimental results of mixed mode crack growth. These phenomena are interlinked in the general case, which significantly complicates the development of a general engineering model.