On Condition of Nucleation of Cottrell’s Crack

Abstract

The length of the small-scale narrow zone of weakened bonds (fracture process zone) at the point of intersection of lines of microplastic deformation (slip lines) in an elastic body is determined. The fracture process zone is modeled by a line of discontinuity of normal displacement. The development of this zone precedes Cottrell crack nucleation. The crack nucleation condition is established. The Wiener–Hopf method is used to obtain the exact solution of the associated elastic problem.