Investigation on the Fracture Mechanism of Ductile Material Plate With an Inclined Surface Crack Under Uniaxial Compression

A clear understanding of ductile fracture under compressive loading is essential. This study investigates the fracture behavior of 10# steel plates with inclined surface cracks subjected to uniaxial compression. The effects of crack geometry (length, depth, and inclination angle) and specimen thickness on load‐bearing capacity and crack initiation behavior are systematically analyzed. Fracture propagation is simulated using the GTN damage model and experimentally characterized by digital image correlation (DIC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and three‐dimensional laser scanning. Results indicate that compressive loading in ductile materials primarily causes crack tip blunting and free‐surface torsional deformation rather than direct crack initiation. The out‐of‐plane crack initiation angle deviates from the GMTSED criterion for brittle fracture, and the fracture mode gradually transitions from ductile fracture to shear‐dominated failure during crack propagation. These findings provide valuable insights into the fracture mechanisms of ductile metallic materials under compressive loading.