Prediction of fracture initiation and growth direction of orthotropic material

The solution of the elastostatic problem of an orthotropic body having a central inclined crack and subjected at infinity to a uniform biaxial load has been employed. It is assumed that the crack line does not coincide with an axis of elastic symmetry of the body. Crack initiation and growth behaviour in anisotropic materials can differ from the isotropic case both qualitatively and quantitatively. Crack initiation behaviour can be readily found by application of the Strain Energy Density Criterion where the failure load and direction of crack initiation can be determined for different properties of orthotropy and directions of biaxial loading. The influence of the non singular terms on the crack initiation angle is also investigated. The Fracture Loci are also represented and compared with the ones obtained from the Maximum Circumferential Stress Criterion.