The crack growth and expansion characteristics of Fe and Ni using quasi-continuum method

The crack growth and expansion characteristics of Fe and Ni were studied using the quasi-continuum approach based on the embedded atom method (EAM) potential. The crack growth and expansion characteristics of Fe and Ni were evaluated in terms of atomic stress fields and stress intensity factors. The simulation results showed that the strength of Fe and Ni obviously decreased with increasing crack length. However, at the same strain, the crack growth and expansion of Fe and Ni did not vary upon increasing the crack angle. Moreover, in cases with the same orientation I, it was found that Fe is more easily broken than Ni, but for cases with orientation II, the opposite was found. (paper)