Mixed Mode Traction Law

The Traction Law

This traction law implements a new coupled model for mixed-mode failure. There are separate traction laws for opening displacement (mode I) and sliding displacement (mode II). A publication is in preparation. In brief, it points out that prior mixed-mode models based on effective displacements are not valid unless cohesive laws and normal and tangential directions are scaled copies of each other. Because software like Abaqus lets you pick non-scaled version, its calculates can be invalid.