Bauschinger effect of alloys and plasticity‐induced crack closure: a finite element analysis

Abstract
The effect of overloads, underloads and stress ratio on plasticity‐induced crack opening level is examined for different ‘model’ materials. This study is focused on the consequences of the Bauschinger effect on the crack opening level. Various finite element analyses were conducted using ABAQUS to test these effects, involving the Chaboche constitutive equations that take into account both the Bauschinger effect of the material and its cyclic hardening or softening. The cyclic plastic behaviour of the material is found to strongly affect the crack behaviour after an overload or an underload. The experimental data obtained on a 0.4% carbon mild steel confirm the numerical results.