Behavior of surface crack in plates subjected to tensilke loads: Analysis based on fully plastic solutions

The J-integral and the crack mouth opening displacement under fully plastic conditions are estimated by the finite element calculation for several semi-elliptical surface crack geometries in a plate subjected to uniform tension. The calculation is performed under the assumption of the power-law hardening stress-strain relationship and the deformation theory of plasticity. Some discussions are made on the distribution of the J-integral along the crack front line. Finally, the finite element solutions are interpolated and applied to the analysis of the crack growth experiment, which is performed by the multiple specimen method. (orig.)