A two-dimensional elastic–plastic finite element analysis of friction effects on sliding crack surfaces in full or partial contact

Sliding crack surfaces are analysed, that are completely or partially in contact, using a two-dimensional plane-stress elastic–plastic finite element technique. Our in-house program was modified to account for the friction which acts between two rough mating surfaces. The analysis is applied to a cantilever beam cracked along its span through its centroidal plane. Twelve cracks with length-to-span ratios ranging from zero to 0.5 were analysed. The effect of friction was investigated by considering 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 as values for the coefficient of friction with each crack length. The results show the influence of friction on the beam stiffness, strain energy release rate, modes of crack tip and surface displacements, and the development of plastic deformation. The present finite element outputs assist in the explanation of experimental events associated with mode II crack tip displacement data found in the literature.