Effect of switching stresses on domain evolution during quasi-static crack growth in a ferroelastic single crystal

The present paper demonstrates the effect of switching stresses on domain evolution and fracture toughening during quasi-static crack growth in elastically isotropic ferroelastic single crystals with transversally isotropic ferroelastic strains. With a simple switching algorithm and crack propagation procedure, domain evolution is simulated in an exemplary material with semi-infinite crack under mode I loading, starting from a mono-domain configuration. Domain reorientation is found to be strongly affected by switching stresses, which therefore have to be considered in the context of domain evolution modelling and fracture toughening. Before the onset of crack growth a needle-like domain is formed at the tip of the stationary crack, but this does not effect the crack tip stress intensity factor. Elongation of this domain during the onset of crack growth causes a large increase of the fracture toughness. Domain separation in a later stage results in toughness reduction. The subsequent domain evolution indicates a periodic formation of needle-like domains as observed in soft ferroelastic materials.