VALIDITY LIMITS OF THE DUGDALE MODEL FOR THIN CRACKED PLATES UNDER BIAXIAL LOADING

Experimental results show that there are significant biaxial effects on the fracture behaviour of thin cracked plates. In this paper we examine the possibility of extending the Dugdale model in the presence of biaxial loads. This investigation is mainly concerned with the validity limits of the model in respect of the plastic flow rules. Through a careful analysis of the correspondence between applied and local stresses, it is shown that the Dugdale model fails when the applied stress parallel to the crack plane is higher than the applied stress normal to it. In this case the flow rules are significantly violated. © 1979.