Analysis of crack closure and wake of plasticity with the distributed dislocation technique.

A new method for the analysis of plasticity-induced closure of finite cracks is developed based on the distributed dislocation technique. The method is applied to analyse closure and opening processes for an embedded fatigue crack propagating under constant amplitude cyclic loading. The obtained solution and presented results can serve as a benchmark for numerical procedures utilising the same yield-strip methodology. Comparison with past numerical studies reveals similar trends, though there are some differences in the crack tip opening values, particularly for low and negative R-ratios. The latter may indicate the need for a better approach to the discretisation of the contact, direct and reverse plasticity zones in the numerical procedures which utilise the same methodology. The developed method is general, and it can be adapted to evaluate the crack tip opening stress for other crack geometries and loading conditions. [Display omitted] • Analytical method for analysis of cracks with arbitrary plastic wake is developed. • Exact solutions for a crack growing under constant amplitude loading is presented. • The effects of R-ratio and maximum load amplitude on crack closure are investigated. • Solutions are compared with numerical studies using the same yield-strip methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]