Effect of three dimensional stress state on unstable fracture condition and crack opening level in a new crack growth model

A new model for the analysis of fatigue crack growth in the metal structures was proposed. This model shows a promising capability of explaining various fatigue phenomena. The new crack growth model is further completed by a continuous empirical formula for estimating the value of variable fracture toughness during crack propagation and a modified continuous equation for the crack tip stress/strain constraint factor used to calculate the stress intensity factor at the opening level. The prediction results are proved to agree well with the observed phenomena in test.