LAUSR

Abstract Elastic-plastic failure of multi-cracked specimens made from epoxy material is studied theoretically and experimentally for the first time under mixed mode I/II loading conditions. Different cracks arrangements are considered for preparing the specimens. For providing different mixed mode I/II loading conditions in the fracture tests on epoxy specimens, different crack inclination angles are considered in the samples. Load-carrying capacities (LCCs) of the multi-cracked specimens are obtained experimentally by performing fracture tests. In order to avoid the complex and time-consuming elastic–plastic failure predictions, the Equivalent Material Concept (EMC) is used in conjunction of the dislocation method and generalized maximum tangential stress criterion to obtain experimental and theoretical fracture parameters. It is demonstrated that the proposed combined approach can provide reliable predictions of fracture toughness and fracture estimation under mixed mode I/II loading.