Subcritical crack growth in soda-lime glass under mixed-mode loading

Subcritical crack growth in glasses and ceramics has been studied extensive ly under Mode I loading, In this study, subcritical crack growth in soda-li me glass under mixed-mode loading has been determined, using the double cle avage drilled compression (DCDC) specimens with a hole offset from the cent er line. With this test configuration, cracks are nucleated at the pole of the hole and propagated parallel to the centerline of the specimen under mi xed-mode loading. Under mixed-mode loading, subcritical-crark-growth rates are significantly less than those under Mode I loading at the same energy-r elease rates. Possible mechanisms for this increased resistance to subcriti cal crack growth under mixed-mode loading are discussed.