Modified Generalized Maximum Tangential Stress Criterion for Simulation of Crack Propagation and Its Application in Discontinuous Deformation Analysis

• Modified the generalized maximum tangential stress criterion with T -stresses. • Calculated the stress intensity factors and T -stresses by generalized J integrals. • Implemented the modified criterion to the DDA method. • Simulated the crack propagation by the DDA method with the modified criterion. This work modified the generalized maximum tangential stress (MTS) criterion by taking parallel and perpendicular nonsingular stresses, i.e., T x and T y , into account. When applied to the traditional discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) procedure, the modified generalized MTS criterion was influential in simulating open crack propagation and modeling closed crack propagation. The generalized J integrals ( J 1 and J 2 integrals) were used to calculate the stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the T -stresses, the basic parameters of the modified generalized MTS criterion. The open crack models, namely the center cracked circular disc (CCCD) model and the edge cracked semicircular bend (SCB) model, were simulated by the DDA method with the modified generalized MTS criterion. Moreover, the closed crack models dealing with the specimens with a center crack subjected to compression stress were simulated. The simulation results of the open and closed crack models were all in good agreement with the experimental data.