On Suitability of the Averaged Strain Energy Density Criterion in Predicting Mixed Mode I/II Brittle Fracture of Blunt V-Notches with Negative Mode I Contributions

The main goal of the present research is to check the suitability of the well-known brittle fracture criterion, namely the averaged strain energy density (ASED), in predicting mixed mode I/II brittle fracture of round V-notches under negative mode I conditions. For this purpose, it is attempted for the first time to theoretically predict the fracture loads of numerous round-tip V-notched Brazilian disk (RV-BD) specimens made of PMMA and subjected to mixed mode I/II loading with negative mode I contributions that have been most recently reported in the open literature. It is revealed that ASED criterion is suitable for brittle fracture prediction not only under conventional mixed mode I/II loading conditions, but also under mixed mode I/II loading with negative mode I contributions.