A finite element study on the influence of the hardening behavior on plasticity-induced fatigue crack closure

In this paper, the influence of the material hardening behavior on plasticity-induced fatigue crack closure is investigated for strain-controlled loading and fully plastic, large-scale yielding conditions by means of the finite element method . The strain amplitude and the strain ratio are varied for given Ramberg–Osgood material properties representing materials with different hardening behavior. The results show a pronounced influence of the hardening behavior on crack closure, while no significant effect is found from the considered strain amplitude and strain ratio. The effect of the hardening behavior on the crack opening stress cannot be described by existing crack opening stress equations. • Crack closure for a penny-shaped crack is studied with the finite element method. • Large-scale yielding and strain-controlled loading conditions are considered. • The hardening behavior is considered by varied Ramberg–Osgood hardening exponents. • Crack closure increases with increasing hardening exponents. • The strain amplitude and strain ratio have no significant effect on crack closure.