A MECHANISM FOR PLASTICITY‐INDUCED CRACK CLOSURE UNDER PLANE STRAIN CONDITIONS

Abstract
Abstract—Plasticity‐induced crack closure is associated with a wedge of material in the wake of a fatigue crack. A model is proposed to explain the development of this wedge under plane strain conditions. This model is based on the non‐linearity of the crack path. If the plastic zone size is an order of magnitude or larger than the characteristic length of a crack deflection, then the plastic deformation changes the shape of both crack flanks in different ways. This causes a residual displacement on the crack flanks. Different examples for the development of such plasticity induced wedges are shown.

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