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fm Page 85 Thursday, April 14, 2005 6:28 PM

Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics 85

FIGURE 2.55 Cracked plane subject to a biaxial stress state.

The maximum local stress intensity factor and energy release rate occurs at the optimum propagation
angle α*, which depends on the biaxiality ratio. Figure 2.56 illustrates the effect of B and β on the
propagation angle. Note that when B > 0 and β = 90°, propagation occurs in the crack plane (α* = 0),
since the crack lies on a principal plane and is subject to pure Mode I loading.

FIGURE 2.56 Optimum propagation angle as a function of β and biaxialty.