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Abstract: An experimental investigation of the rupture mechanisms in a mid-strength and a high-strength steel were conducted employing a novel test configuration. The specimen used was a double notched tube specimen loaded in combined tension and torsion at a fixed ratio. The effective plastic strain, the stress triaxiality and the Lode parameter were determined in the centre of the notch at failure. Scanning electron microscopy of the fractured surfaces revealed two distinctively different ductile rupture mechanisms depending on the stress state. At high stress triaxiality the fractured surfaces were covered with large and deep dimples, suggesting that growth and internal necking of voids being the governing rupture mechanism. At low triaxiality it was found that the fractured surfaces were covered with elongated small shear dimples, suggesting internal void shearing being the governing rupture mechanism. In the fractured surfaces of the high-strength steel, regions with quasi-cleavage were also observed. The transition from the internal necking mechanism to the internal shearing mechanism was accompanied by a significant drop in ductility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]