Plane strain crack closure and cyclic hardening

This study is focused on the understanding of the mechanical effects of cyclic hardening on crack tip plasticity and on plasticity-induced crack closure. Various finite element analyses were conducted using abaqus. Cyclic hardening is found to affect both crack closure and the shape of the plastic zone at the crack tip. Crack growth modelling in plane strain conditions in a cyclically hardening material is discussed. An empirical formula is provided which allows the calculation of the crack tip plastic zone size under plane strain conditions in a cyclically hardening material. The effects of overloads are also examined.