Higher order crack tip fields and its implication for fracture of solids under mode II conditions

Detailed results from an asymptotic mathematical analysis for the stress and strain fields at a crack tip embedded in a power-law elastic-plastic material under mode II loading conditions are presented. The asymptotic results include the higher order terms as well as the singular term, the HRR solution. Excellent agreement with the finite element numerical results confirms the analytical findings. It is further demonstrated that the HRR solution alone is able to characterize the stress and strain fields in a large area surrounding the crack tip which encompasses the critical distance controlling the fracture event. Therefore, it is anticipated that a single parameter such as J is sufficient to characterize the fracture event under pure mode II conditions for either plane stress or plane strain case. Mixed mode fracture is also discussed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.