An energy gradient fracture criterion based on virtual crack vector model with application to T-Stress problem

A virtual crack vector model is proposed in this paper to simulate the branched crack propagation and simplify its calculation of energy release rate. An energy gradient fracture criterion is constructed based on this model. It can take account of the effects of biaxial loads or T-stress on brittle mixed mode fracture and agrees well with the test data of biaxial tensile fracture and the specially conducted experiment of the influences of sigma(ox) on the mixed mode fracture of plexiglas. Considering its advantage of predicting initial propagation angle and critical fracture stress independently without the determination of the core region radius, it can be used as a practical fracture criterion for brittle mixed mode fracture under biaxial tension.