A review of T-stress and its effects in fracture mechanics

•Review on T-stress.•T-stress effects in fracture mechanics.•T-stress’ role as constraint parameter.•T-stress does not predict crack path stability accurately and reliably.

An overview of past research on T-stress is presented in this paper. Beginning with the origin of T-stress, the authors discuss different phenomena associated with T-stress: crack path stability, isochromatic fringes pattern, plastic zone influence and constraint parameter. Different methodologies—experimental, analytical and finite element methods—used to evaluate T-stress are discussed and studies are categorized under these methods also. Thereafter, the authors provide a critical review for the role of T-stress in predicting crack paths stability because it conflicts with the origin of T-stress. Finally, it concludes with a concise summary of the research on T-stress.