Crack propagation criterion and simulation under biaxial loading

A simple and intuitive technique to predict the direction of further crack propagation was proposed and some basic problems of crack propagation induced by biaxial compression were analyzed. In a simulation of crack propagation under compression, a precise evaluation of contact stress becomes important since the stress at the contact region is related to the principal crack extension force. Under this situation, the proper treatment of partial contact problem as well as ordinary analyses relating to fracture mechanics are both necessary in order to conduct a crack propagation simulation precisely. The crack trajectories obtained by the numerical simulation were compared with those observed in experiments using mortar samples with artificial crack and the excellent agreement of both trajectories was recognized.