Nature of fracture in relation to the total potential energy

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Abstract
Various types of fracture are discussed on the basis of energy considerations. A model of a crack with associated plastic zones extending from the tip of the crack and localized in a narrow layer is developed. According to this model the work lost in the plastic deformation process, due to crack extension, replaces the work done against cohesive forces; this appears to be the most important factor determining fracture. This plastic work is not a material constant, as is surface tension in the Griffith theory, since it depends on the crack length as well as on the properties of the material and on the way in which the external load is applied (three different schemes of loading are considered). After the consideration of the potential energy is introduced, some interesting features of fracture, such as deceleration of crack spread, fracture arrest and `stickslip' motion of a crack in a non-homogeneous medium, are discussed.

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