J Fail. Anal. and Preven.
(2013) 13:463–469
DOI 10.1007/s11668-013-9697-y
TECHNICAL ARTICLE—PEER-REVIEWED
Effect of Specimen Geometry on Stress Intensity Factors
of Inclined Crack by Finite Element Method
Rahul Kumar Bhagat • V. K. Singh
Submitted: 20 October 2012 / in revised form: 3 March 2013 / Published online: 15 May 2013
Ó ASM International 2013
Abstract A rectangular plate with inclined cracks of
different crack lengths at different crack inclination angles
under biaxial loading condition are being analyzed in
mixed mode condition using finite element method (FEM)
for the determination of stress intensity factors (SIFs). With
increases of the width of the plate and the crack length
ratio, SIF increases up to 45° of crack inclination angle and
then decreases; maximum value is obtained at 45° of crack
inclination angle. With the increasing value of size factor,
the value of SIF starts decreasing. The accuracy of the
results of the proposed method is validated by comparing
with the previously obtained results by theoretical and
experimental methods. The FEM results give significant
result for the two-dimensional mixed mode loading
conditions.
Keywords Finite element method  Photoelasticity 
Mixed mode  Inclined crack
Introduction
The strength and durability of structures may be compro-
mised by the presence of cracks. Owing to the high stress
concentration in the vicinity of a crack tip, it can result in
the failure of the structure. The fracture mechanics theory
can be used to analyze structures and machine components
with cracks and to obtain an efficient design. The basic
principles of fracture mechanics developed from studies of
R. K. Bhagat  V. K. Singh (&)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Technology,
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
263145, Uttarakhand, India
e-mail: vks2319@yahoo.co.in
Sih et al. [1], Griffith [2], Westergaard [3], and others, are
based on the concepts of linear elasticity. Westergaard [3]
derived the general linear elastic solution for the stress field
around a crack tip using complex stress functions. Irwin [4]
proposed the description of the stress field ahead of a crack
tip (front) by means of only one parameter, the so-called
stress intensity factor (SIF).
The stresses in the vicinity of a crack tip can be char-
acterized by a single parameter, the SIF. The SIF can be
determined analytically only for relatively simple compo-
nents and loadings. Most of the investigations established
their approaches by analytically generating isochromatic
loops for plate-type specimens containing a single edge
crack.
The majority of the research done in the area of fracture
mechanics was accomplished in the opening mode (mode I)
only. Hence, the practical application of the fracture
mechanics is limited. It is not uncommon to observe that
growth takes place under a situation when more than one
mode exist. The mixed mode crack growth problem has
drawn comparably little attention, but is actually more
realistic and possibly more dangerous than mode I crack.
Haefele and Lee [5] have developed a finite element pro-
gram, which combines the analytic crack tip solution with a
conventional finite element analysis for mode I case under
biaxial loading. Mohanty and Maiti [6] have presented
through a series of experiments and finite element analysis
on compact tension specimen of different crack length for
mode-I and non-self similar crack growth (mode-I and
mode-II) cases for finite plate.
In the present investigation, SIF of mixed mode condi-
tion of multiple inclined cracks are carried out on finite
plates by finite element method (FEM). Effects of plate
size are also analyzed, and the plate size is found to have
significant effect on SIF. The present experimental method
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is also validated by the results obtained by analytic method
proposed by Nhu and Giang [7] and photoelastic method
proposed by Singh and Gope [8].
Method
Analytic method used for validation of FEM for a finite
plate with center-inclined crack under tensile stress for
solutions of a center-cracked plate in a tension is given by
Nhu and Giang [7].
  a 4 
pffiffiffiffiffiffih  pa i12  a 2
KIðoÞ ¼ r pa sec 1  0:025 þ0:06
2w w w
ðEq 1Þ
where 2w is the width of the plate, 2a is the length of the
fissure, and r is the tensile stress.
The analytic expressions of the SIFs for plate of infinite
length when a crack is oriented toward (90°  a) degrees
from the applied normal stress are as follows:
For Uniaxial Loading
KIA ¼ KIð0Þ cos2 a ðEq 2Þ
KIIA ¼ KIð0Þ sinðaÞ cosðaÞ; ðEq 3Þ
where KI(0) is the mode I stress intensity when a = 0. For
finite plates, KI(0) are taken as constant. The maximum KII
occurs at a = 45°, where the shear stress is also at a
maximum.
For biaxial loading
KIA ¼ KIð0Þ ðcos2 ðaÞ þ B sin2 ðaÞÞ; ðEq 4Þ
KIIA ¼ KIð0Þ ðSinðaÞCosðaÞÞð1  BÞ; ðEq 5Þ
where B = r1/r2; r1 and r2 are the tension stresses along
the directions Oy and Ox, respectively, and r1 = r and
r2 = kr.
Experimental method proposed by Singh and Gope [8]
is used for validation of FEM method for a finite plate with
center crack of mixed mode conditions.
In the present investigation, rectangular thin plates with
center-inclined crack are used in finite element modeling.
The crack configuration is shown in Fig. 1. The thickness
of the plate is chosen as 1 mm, lengths of the plates as 100,
and 150 mm, and widths of the plate as 50, 75, 100, 125,
150, 175, and 200 mm.
Plate is made up of steel with Young’s modulus
200 GPa and Poisson’s ratio 0.3. The plane stress condition
has been assumed in the present analysis. A 2D analysis
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J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2013) 13:463–469
Fig. 1 Specimen geometry of single central inclined crack
using PLANE 82 is performed. The solid modeling is used
to generate the 2D model and mesh. The SIFs are obtained
through post-processing command and used in the analysis
of different crack orientations.
A PLANE 82 element shown in Fig. 2 has been used
in the analysis. It is eight-noded, 2D, structural solid
element. It provides more accurate results for mixed
(quadrilateral-triangular) automatic meshes and can tol-
erate irregular shapes without as much loss of accuracy.
The eight-noded element has compatible displacement
shape and is well suited to model curved boundaries. The
element may be used as a plane element or as an axis-
symmetric element. The element has plasticity, creep,
swelling, stress stiffening, large deflection, and large
strain capabilities.
Figure 3 shows the discredited plate containing inclined
crack at 15° to loading axis. The radius ratio and the total
number of elements around the crack tip are kept as 0.5 and
16, respectively. In the present study r = 100 N/mm2 is
applied in y direction, and in the x direction, kr is applied
where k varies from 2 to 2.
The SIF at a crack for a linear elastic fracture mecha-
nism analysis may be computed (using the KCALC
command). The analysis uses a fit of the nodal displace-
ments in vicinity of the crack. The actual displacements at
and near a crack for linear elastic materials are proposed by
Paris and Sih [9]:
rffiffiffiffiffiffi 
KI r h 3h
u¼ ð2p  1Þ cos  cos
4G r 2pffiffiffiffiffiffi 2 2 
KII r h 3h
 ð2p þ 3Þ sin þ sin þ OðrÞ ðEq 6Þ
4G 2p 2 2
J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2013) 13:463–469 465

Fig. 2 A PLANE 82 element

with 8-nodes

Fig. 4 Representation of crack with coordinate system

Results
Fig. 3 Element division in plate containing crack
Validation of the finite element approach with results
rffiffiffiffiffiffi  available in the literature or experimental results are the
KI r h 3h
v¼ ð2p  1Þ sin  sin most important for acceptance of the FEM used in the
4G r 2pffiffiffiffiffiffi 2 2  computation. In the present investigation, FEM results are
KII r h 3h
 ð2p þ 3Þ cos þ cos þ OðrÞ compared with the experimental results available in the
4G 2p 2 2 literature and theoretical results.
ðEq 7Þ The results are compared with the experimental results
rffiffiffiffiffiffi of Singh and Gope [8]. The effects of these parameters on
2KIII r h
w¼ sin þ Oðr Þ ðEq 8Þ SIF based on photo-elastic analysis are modeled by Singh
G 2p 2
and Gope [8] as
where u, v, and w are the displacements in a local Cartesian  
pffiffiffiffiffiffi Le
coordinate system as shown in Fig. 4; r and h are the KI ¼ r pafð1 þ kÞ  ð1  kÞ cos 2agf1 ðEq 9Þ
We
coordinates in a local cylindrical coordinate system also
shown in Fig. 4; G is the shear modulus; KI and KII are the where Le ¼ ðL=2Þ  a cos a and We ¼ ðW=2Þ  a sin a,
SIFs for mode I and mode II; m is the Poisson’s ratio; O(r) where the function f1(Le/We) is obtained from regression
are the terms of order r or higher; and p = 3  4t if plane analysis of the experimental results as proposed Singh and
of strain and (3  t) (1 ? t) if plane of stress. Gope [8].

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Le Le and hence not are not in agreement with the finite element
f1 ¼ a1 þ a2 approach results obtained in the study.
We W
 2e  3  4 For comparison purpose, known theoretical solutions of
Le Le Le
þ a3 þa4 þa5 ðEq 10Þ inclined crack under biaxial tension are chosen. The ratios
We We We
of theoretical to FEM solution for both KI and KII are found
The coefficients (a1–a5) are shown in Table 1 for various to be very close to unity as shown in Table 4. Thus, this
biaxial load factors. The effective length and width are establishes the validity of the results.
defined in Fig. 5. Figures 6 and 7 show the comparative results of KI and
Mode II SIF KII is modeled by Singh and Gope [8] as KII, respectively. obtained by FEM and theoretical method
pffiffiffiffiffiffi   for k = 1.4, a/W = 0.06, and r = 1.125 N/mm2. From the
r pa Le
KII ¼ f2 ðEq 11Þ graph, it is found that theoretical and FEM results have the
2 We
same behavior. It is seen that KI decreases with the increasing
where the function f2(Le/We) is obtained from regression crack inclination angle a, and KII is maximum at a = 45°.
analysis as
    Effect of Crack Length ‘‘a/W’’ on SIF KI
Le Le
f2 ¼ a21 þ a22
We W
 2 e  3  4 The effects of a/W on KI are shown in Fig. 8 for different
Le Le Le
þ a23 þa24 þa25 crack inclination angles (a). This figure shows that the SIF KI
We We We
increases as the a/W is increased. Lee and co-workers [10]
ðEq 12Þ have proposed analytically and numerically that SIF
The coefficients (a21–a25) are shown in Table 2 for various depends on the L/a and W/a, where L is the length of spec-
biaxial load factors. imen, and W is the width of the specimen. For horizontal
The results of mode I and mode II SIFs, KI and KII,
obtained theoretically by Eq 4 and 5, and experimental
results of Singh and Gope [8] and FEM are given in
Table 3. It is observed that the results of KI obtained from
finite element approach using commercial software
ANSYS are very close to the experimental results of Singh
and Gope [8]. It means that finite element modeling using
ANSYS software can be used to determine SIF KI for any
complex crack configurations too.
Differences in mode II SIF KII obtained from finite
element approach have been seen for an inclined crack.
Mode II experimental results shown by Singh and Gope [8]
are of the order 108, and hence, approximately these
values are close to zero.
It is well established that state of stress ahead of the
crack tip can be described by crack parameters such as
mode I and mode II SIFs and constant stress term. Hence,
the results obtained experimentally by Singh and Gope [8]
may have same experimental error in determination of KII Fig. 5 Effective length and effective width in the specimen

Table 1 The coefficients of Eq 10

Coefficients
K a1 a2 a3 a4 a5

1.0 2958.13 12319.36 19224.87 13324.242 3460.51

1.2 4537.08 18372.43 27972.43 18972.07 4837.87
1.4 15558.09 64654.20 100712.02 69686.75 18072.87
1.6 25511.84 105574.57 163730.04 112775.23 29110.39
1.8 13629.04 56212.08 87054.91 59991.82 15522.33
2.0 42527.06 175971.91 272858.97 187899.41 48486.72

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Table 2 Coefficients of Eq 12
Coefficients
K a21 a22 a23 a24 a25

1.0 0.023338 0.006552 0.0149691 0.103077 0.026600

1.2 166886.09 484369.54 751914.84 518243.74 133810.83
1.4 52169.22 215980.16 334828.70 230670.93 59558.42
1.6 5040.72 22239.70 36592.78 26637.27 7234.41
1.8 8273.014 34264.72 53203.89 36704.137 9492.012

Table 3 Values of KI and KII obtained theoretically, experientially, and by FEM for r = 1.125 N/mm2, a/W = 0.06, and k = 1
Theoretical (calculated by Eq 4 and 5) Experimental (calculated by Eq 10 and 12) FEM
Crack inclination angle (°) KIA KIIA KI KII KI KII

0 0.230325 0 0.17395 2.11E09 0.20354 4.37E08

30 0.230325 0 0.11265 5.40E09 0.12557 0.04153
45 0.230325 0 0.1243 6.64E09 0.14822 0.04657
60 0.230325 0 0.1453 6.30E09 0.17343 0.04406

Table 4 Values of KI and KII obtained theoretically and by FEM for r = 1.125 N/mm2, a/W = 0.06, and k = 1.4
Theoretical FEM
Crack angle (°) KIA KIIA KI KII KIA (theoretical)/KI (FEM) KIIA (theoretical)/KII (FEM)

0 4.8838 0 4.9841 1.08E04 0.979876 0

30 3.8372 0.60422 3.9473 0.488 0.972107 1.238155
45 4.1861 0.6976 4.2217 0.5297 0.991567 1.316918
60 4.5349 0.60422 4.5426 0.4762 0.998304 1.268783

Fig. 7 Comparison of SIF KII for load r = 1.125 N/mm2, biaxial

Fig. 6 Comparison of SIF KI for load r = 1.125 N/mm2, biaxial load factor k = 1.4, and a/W = 0.06
load factor k = 1.4, and a/W = 0.06

Effect of Size Factor ‘‘S’’ on SIF KI

crack, Hafelle and Lee [5] have also studied the effects of
specimen geometry factors 2a/W and 2L/W under pure mode
I loading. Their results show that when W/a = 2L/a is varied
from 6 to 36, the ratio of numerical SIF to experimental SIF
remains constant for uniaxial loading case.
The effect of size factor (S = L/W) on SIF KI is shown in
Fig. 9 for different crack lengths (a/W). Figure shows that
for a = 30°, KI decreases as size factor (S) increases, i.e.,
KI for size factor 0.5 is more than that for 0.75. This

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Fig. 8 Effect of a/W on KI for biaxial load factor k = 0.75 and size
factor S = 1.5
Fig. 9 Effect of size factor S on KI for biaxial load factor k = 0.75
and crack inclination angle a = 30°
indicates that the width of the specimen has greater effect
on SIF than the length of the specimen. This is why a
geometry factor as a function of a/W is used in computing
SIF for finite geometry instead of as a function of a/L or W/
pffiffiffiffiffiffi
L. SIF KI is normalized by the KIA ¼ r pa;.
so that the effect of S is negligible beyond L = W. From
Fig. 9, it can be noted that SIF depends on geometry fac-
tors such as a/W or L/W. However, the dependency
decreases when L exceeds the value of W. Hence, for finite
geometry specimen, the geometry modification factor
should be the function of a/W and L/W instead of a/W only
as found in the literature.
Effect of Crack Length ‘‘a/W’’ on SIF KII
The effects of crack length a/W on KII are shown in Fig. 10
for different crack angles (a). Figure shows that the value
of SIF KII increases as the length of a crack is increased
from 0.06 to 0.1.
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J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2013) 13:463–469
Fig. 10 Effect of a/W on KII for biaxial load factor k = 0.75 and size
factor S = 1.5
Fig. 11 Effect of size factor S on KII for biaxial load factor k = 0.75
and crack inclination angle a = 30°
Effect of Size Factor ‘‘S’’ on SIF KII
The effects of size factor (S) on SIF (KII) are shown in
Fig. 11 for different crack lengths (a/W). Figure shows that
for a = 30° KI decreases as size factor (S) increases, i.e.,
KII for size factor 0.5 is more than that for 0.75. The effect
of size factor S and crack inclination angle a on mode II
SIF is shown in Fig. 11 for unequal tension–tension load.
Figure shows that the effect of S is negligible beyond
L = W. However, the dependency decreases when L
exceeds the value of W. Hence, for finite geometry speci-
men, the geometry modification factor should be the
function of (a/W) and (L/W) instead of a/W only as found in
pffiffiffiffiffiffi
the literature. SIF KII is normalized by the KIIA ¼ r pa.
It is clearly observed from Figs. 12, 13, and 14 that the
Von-Mises stress at the crack tip element is greater when
W \ L or increases when the width is less than the length
of the specimen. The Von-Mises stress starts decreasing as
L C W. This clearly shows that increasing specimen length
J Fail. Anal. and Preven. (2013) 13:463–469
Fig. 12 Von Mises stress distribution for a/W = 0.06, a = 30°,
k = 0.75, and S = 0.5
Fig. 13 Von Mises stress distribution for a/W = 0.06, a = 30°,
k = 0.75, and S = 1.0
L implies a decrease in the equivalent Von-Mises stress at
the crack tip element.
Conclusions
The SIFs KI and KII increase as the length of a crack is
increased. It is found that size factor (S) also affects the
results of KI and KII: as the value of size factor (S)
increases, the values of KI and KII start decreasing for every
crack length, ‘‘a/W’’. Also if the length of the crack is
increased, then the difference between the previous and
469
Fig. 14 Von Mises stress distribution for a/W = 0.06, a = 30°,
k = 0.75, and S = 1.5
next results of KI and KII, when size factor is increasing,
starts decreasing, respectively. Hence, for a plate of infinite
length, there is no effect on KI and KII.
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