The role of <i>T</i>‐stress in brittle fracture for linear elastic materials under mixed‐mode loading

The purpose of this paper is to revisit the maximum tensile stress (MTS) criterion to predict brittle fracture for mixed mode conditions. Earlier experimental results for brittle fracture of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using angled cracked plates are also re‐examined. The role of the T ‐stress in brittle fracture for linear elastic materials is emphasized. The generalized MTS criterion is described in terms of mode I and II stress intensity factors, K I and K II and the T‐ stress (the stress parallel to the crack), and a fracture process zone, r c . The generalized MTS criterion is then compared with the earlier experimental results for PMMA subjected to mixed mode conditions. It is shown that brittle fracture can be controlled by a combination of singular stresses (characterized by K ) or non‐singular stress ( T ‐stress). The T ‐stress is also shown to have an influence on brittle fracture when the singular stress field is a result of mode II loading.