A new solution for 3D crack extension based on linear elastic stress fields

A solution to the 3D stress field based on the maximum tangential stress (MTS) criterion is presented in this paper. The solution allows for the estimation of the critical crack plane, the direction of growth in terms of both twist and tilt angles and the equivalent crack driving force for a given mixed-mode loading condition. It also shows the graphical relationship between the three different stress intensities for a given driving force. Initial results have shown good correlation with experimental data obtained from literature.