An analytical model for studying roughness-induced crack closure

A 2-D analytical model of the combined effects of plasticity-induced crack closure (PICC) and roughness-induced crack closure (RICC) has been developed. A zigzag crack growth path was employed to simulate surface roughness. The two opposing fatigue crack surfaces were translated by the mixed-mode displacement occurring near the reflected crack tip. This translation caused a mechanical interference of the opposing crack surfaces as the crack closed, that is, caused RICC. The gradual transition from RICC- to PICC-dominated crack closure was handled naturally by this model. The influence of the geometrical features of the surface roughness, R-ratio, and the cyclic load range on RICC were examined using the PICC-RICC model. The effect of microstructure on the RICC was examined. Despite the simple, 2-D nature of the model, it predicted the trends of experimental data on near-threshold crack growth behavior reported in the literature.