The effect of crack-tip constraint in some problems of fracture mechanics

Abstract

The effect of in-plane and out-of-plane crack-tip constraint parameters, namely, the non-singular T-stress components and the parameter A, in some problems of elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics is discussed. The three-dimensional crack tip stresses including the non-singular T-stress components are employed to describe the crack tip plastic zone, the failure assessment diagrams and the constraint-dependent fracture toughness for a solid with a finite notch/crack under mode I loading and different angles of surface crack growth under conditions of rolling-sliding. Theoretical and numerical aspects of the two-parameter J-A approach in elastic-plastic fracture mechanics are presented in connection with crack-tip constraint. It is shown that the parameter A can be introduced in a fracture criterion as a constraint parameter.