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Towards a new model of crack tip stress fields

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Abstract

This work introduces a novel mathematical model of the stresses around the tip of a fatigue crack, which considers the effects of plasticity through an analysis of their shielding effects on the applied elastic field. The ability of the model to characterize plasticity-induced effects of cyclic loading on the elastic stress fields is assessed and demonstrated using full-field photoelasticity. The focus is on determining the form of the shielding stress components (induced by compatibility requirements at the elastic–plastic interface along the crack flank and via the crack tip plastic zone) and how they influence the crack tip elastic stress fields during a load cycle. The model is successfully applied to the analysis of a fatigue crack growing in a polycarbonate CT specimen.

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Author notes

  1. K. F. Tee

    Present address: Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Technology, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    C. J. Christopher, M. N. James & K. F. Tee

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    E. A. Patterson

Authors
  1. C. J. Christopher
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  2. M. N. James
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  3. E. A. Patterson
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  4. K. F. Tee
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. N. James.

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Christopher, C.J., James, M.N., Patterson, E.A. et al. Towards a new model of crack tip stress fields. Int J Fract 148, 361–371 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-008-9209-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10704-008-9209-3

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