The role of higher-order eigenfields in elastic-plastic cracks (Q5958033)

For elastic-plastic cracks, the authors investigate the intensities not only with inverse square root singularity and the T-stress, but with the higher-order singular and nonsingular terms, as well. First, the constitutive equations are obtained for two types of specimen (a single edge notched tension panel, and a middle tension panel), and the two-state J-integral and M-integral are found. It is shown that the J- and M-integrals for elastic-plastic cracks describe the mutual interactions between two eigenstates that are complementary to each other in the sense of two conservation laws. By this, the M-integral has a slightly different definition of the complementary pair. Then, a complete asymptotic eigenfunction expansion of Williams type is employed to represent the elastic field outside the plastic zone for elastic-plastic cracks. It is shown that there are no interactions between an arbitrary pair of two eigenstates in terms of the interaction integrals, unless they are complementary to each other. The total energy release rate J for an elastic-plastic crack is presented by the sum of two terms. The first term is the contribution from inverse square root singularity, and it indicates the energetic force associated with the extension of the crack tip along with the plastic zone. The second term is the contribution from other singularities, which represents the configurational force associated with the translation of the plastic zone without extension of the crack tip. Then, the authors consider the influence of these higher-order eigenfields (connected with the second term) upon the plastic zone near the crack tip via seeking a correlation between the shape of the plastic zone and the J-integral contribution from the mutual interaction between higher-order singular and nonsingular eigenfunctions. A similar approach is applied to the M-integral. The numerical results are obtained by using finite element analysis.