The effect of T‐stress on crack‐tip plastic zones under mixed‐mode loading conditions

In this paper, the influence of T‐stress on crack‐tip plastic zones under mixed‐mode I and II loading conditions is examined. The crack‐tip stress field is defined in terms of the mixed‐mode stress intensity factors and the T‐stress using William's series expansion. The crack‐tip stress field is incorporated into the Von Mises yield criteria to develop an expression that determines the crack‐tip plastic zone. Using the resultant expression, the plastic zone is plotted for various combinations of mode II to mode I stress intensity factor ratios and levels of T‐stress. The properties of the plastic zone affected by T‐stress and mixed‐mode phase angle are discussed. The observations obtained on plastic zones variations are important for further fatigue and fracture analyses for defects in engineering structures under mixed‐mode loading conditions.