Anelastic

Deformation at the
Crack Tip & Irwins
Model
-----------------------Winston
Raj-------------------------------------------PR15ME4005---------------------

Approx. Shape and size of the

plastic zone
Only approximate solutions can be determined due
to the complexity of the problem and rigorous
analysis is to be done.
It is to be noted that material in plastic zone no
longer takes high stresses predicted by elastic
analysis and therefore the elastic field surrounding
the plastic zone should be corrected for a more
rigorous analysis.
Two commonly used yield criterion
are used namely Mises yield criteria
and Tresca yield criteria.
Before we apply a yield criterion,
it is
useful to determine the
principal
stresses.
Mohr circle is used.

Plastic zone Shape for Plane

Stress

Mises yield
criterion

Tresca yield
criterion

Plastic zone Shape for Plane

Strain

Mises yield
criterion

Tresca yield
criterion

For
38.9 &
v=1/3

Effective Crack length

It is known that the plastic zone is much
larger for plane stress than plane strain.
The incremental crack length has to be
determined based on the redistribution
of stresses that were above the yield
stress.
Two models namely that of Irwin and
Dugdale are available to estimate the
incremental crack length to be used for
analytical calculations

Approximate Approach
The length of the

plastic zone r along x1

direction is obtained
by the relation,
22 = k ys
We know that,
22 =

Fig. Approximate plastic zone

size r

Solving both eqn. we

get r,
r=

We have principal stresses as

1
2
3
3

=
=
=
=

22
22
0
(for plane stress)
v (1 + 2) = 2v 22
(for plane strain)

And we obtain the value of k by subs. 1 , 2 and 3 in

Mises criterion:
(1 - 2)2 + (2 - 3)2 + (3 - 1)2 2 2ys
and comparing with
22 = k ys
we get k = 1
k = 1/(1- 2v)

for plane stress

for plane strain

Subs. The value of k in r, we get

r=

for plane stress

r=

for plane strain

Irwins Model (Elasto-Plastic

Analysis)
Irwin presented a simplified model which
considers the redistribution of load due to plastic
deformation.

Irwin proposed that is so chosen such that the load not

taken beyond the point M, given by the area Pc on length ,

is equal to the load sustained on length , given by area PA.
Then, the load not sustained on length becomes
Pc = B
where B is the plate thickness
The load sustained (PA) on length is
PA = B ys
Irwins correction (PA = PB) leads to
ys =
We know that,
22 =
where KI is based on the effective crack length (a+ ), and
is determined by putting x1= and = for plane stress
(k=1) i.e.,
ys =

Rearranging, we have

KI = (2 )1/2

ys

Subs. in above eqn.

ys

ys

On solving, we obtain
=
The overall plastic zone size becomes,
rp = 2 =
The effective crack length is given by,
aeff = a + = a + = a +

------------------------------------ Irwins
--- correction to the plane strain case is useful to
determine the plastic zone size.
Due to the plastic deformation the crack tip becomes rounded
or blunts. Since, the crack tip acts as a free surface, 11 is
released to zero.
The effect of release of 11 is felt for some distance on X-axis
beyond the crack tip.
Irwin found that failure stress is no longer 3 but is closer to
which may be taken as . Then, the plastic zone size for the
plane strain becomes
r=
= ys
For an experimental determination of KIC of material, plane
strain conditions are assured by taking plate thickness to be
much thicker than the plastic zone. In fact, it is chosen to be
more than 25 times of the plastic zone size and therefore, the
ASME codes require
B 2.5

Thank you.