Experimental and Numerical Study of Fracture Behavior under Mixed-Mode of Al-Alloy AA3003 Not Welded and Welded by FSW Process

This study presents an experimental and computational analysis of fracture under mixed-mode conditions in aluminum alloy AA3003 using the Compact Tension Shear CTS specimen, both not welded and Friction stir welded. Mixed-mode fracture experiments were performed using the CTS specimen and an ARCAN loading device based on Richard's principle suitable for mixed-mode. The approach of linear elastic fracture mechanics allows for a better understanding of mixed-mode failure and the evaluation of the stress intensity parameters KI and KII. The variation of the stress intensity factor KI, KII is influenced by the pre-cracks length. The comparison between experimental results and the numerical results of simulation shows that there is a good agreement between these results.