Towards a physics-based relationship for crack growth under different loading modes

To test this hypothesis, results from literature were taken and shear fracture tests on foam specimens were performed, which both were compared with the derived relationship. The excellent correlation demonstrated the validity of the physics-based relationship, which explains the observed differences between mode I and mode II fracture toughnesses and illustrates why concepts like the Stress Intensity Factor (SIF) alone are insufficient to explain the observations. The developed relationship allows to derive the mode II fracture toughness from mode I fracture toughness tests and the material's mechanical properties.