International Journal of Mechanics and Applications 2015, 5(1): 1-9

DOI: 10.5923/j.mechanics.20150501.01

Study of the Evolution of Elastoplastic Zone by

Volumetric Method
M. Moussaoui1,*, S. Meziani2

1
Mechanical Engineering Department, University Ziane Achour, Djelfa, Algeria
2
Laboratory of Mechanic, University Constantine 1, Campus Chaab Erssas, Constantine, Algeria

Abstract In this work a study was carried out to analyze the effect of changes in parameters characterizing the notch,
such that the radius and angle, on the evolution of plastic zone near of notch root. A steel CT specimen under uni-axial
loading is taken as a finite element model. Two theoretical approaches are applied to calculate the extent of the plastic zone
for different values of angle and notch radius using the volumetric and Irwin approaches. The elastoplastic analysis was
used to determine the effective distance and the relative stress gradient by applying the finite element method (FEM). The
size of the effective plastic zone deduced from elastic calculation reaches its maximum when the radius is close to zero and
angle equal to zero. The variation of the angle modifies the notch extended plastic zone.
Keywords Plastic zone, Effective distance, Stress gradient, Irwin method, Volumetric method

of the plastic zone near the crack tip.

1. Introduction
The discontinuities, filets, notches and cracks in
particular, generate always high stress concentrations. Near
the root of defect, the singularity of stresses enables to
activate strong plastic deformation. From the equations of
stress distribution, derived from the linear elastic fracture
mechanics (LEFM), the stress singularity at the crack tip
leads to an area for which the conditions of plasticity will
be achieved. This area driven by the crack tip from the high
stress plays an important role in fracture of materials.
However, analytical determined stresses the crack tip
exceeds the elastic limit of the real materials and induce a
small volume that undergoes plastic deformation. If the
plastic zone is large, a high quantity of energy is dissipated
during crack growth, whereas if the plastic zone is small,
the propagation of cracks requires less energy, therefore the
size of the plastic zone is directly related to the materials
hardness [8].
The size of the plastic zone depends strongly on the stress
mode and it is much more important under condition of
plane stresses that in plane strain. The later will be the most
critical for resistance to fracture propagation. The
mechanical properties of the material and the stress state,
affect together the size and shape of the plastic zone.
Many researchers have contributed their work to
calculate the size of the plastic zone. Irwin and Dugdale [8],
proposed respectively, different models to estimate the size
* Corresponding author:
moussaoui_must@yahoo.fr (M. Moussaoui)
Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/mechanics
Copyright 2015 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved
Huang Yi et al [9] introduced a new method to calculate
the size of the plastic zone. They used the maximum crack
opening displacement (MCOD) to determine the size of
plastic zone. And others leaned on the effect of notch radius,
by focusing on effects of notch radius and the size of
specimen (thickness and ligament) on the apparent strength
of fracture of low-alloy steels. They concluded that there is
a critical radius of notch below the value of the apparent
fracture resistance independently on notch radius, in
addition that there is a dependency between the apparent
fracture resistance and the dimensions of the specimen [6].
The works of T. Fett [7] treats the influence of notch radius
on fracture resistance. He shows that there is a characteristic
radius notch, below which an apparent constant tenacity
occurs and increases with increasing initial length of the
crack. This is calculated by assuming that the notch has a
small crack in notch root and acting as a long crack in the
same total size.
A study was conducted by S. Banebjee [8] in order to
evaluate the effect of thickness, width and geometry of the
fracture resistance and the resultant displacement due to the
growth of the plastic zone and the crack. The result of
analysis shows that if the plastic zone size decreases, the
stress decreases as the width of the specimen increases.
The geometry of the notch is then characterized by the
length, the notch angle and the notch radius , [4]. The
classification of notches is made by two parameters and
as follows (Figure 1):
Crack : = 0 and = 0
Sharp notch V: = 0 and # 0
Blunt notch U: # 0 and = 0
Simple notch : # 0 and # 0
2 M. Moussaoui et al.: Study of the Evolution of Elastoplastic Zone by Volumetric Method

Figure 1. Parameters defining the simple notch

In this study, we considered a finite plate specimen CT

(Figure 2a), with 20x20 [mm] dimensions, containing a
notch with a length equal to 7.25 [mm], a radius which
ranges from 0 to 3.5 [mm] and an angle equal
Figure 2c. Sharp notch: 0; =0
respectively to 0, 5, 10, 30 and 45, subject to tensional
stresses =125MPa. Under a mode of plane stress, the finite
element model used in the elastoplastic analysis has the 2. The Field of Stress in Notch Root
following mechanical properties: Young's modulus E =
230E03MPa, yield strength 670MPa, Poissons coefficient According to the extension of Griffith theory to the ductile
= 0.293. materials in particular the metal alloys, a part of energy is
dissipated in the formation of the plastic zone due to a high
stress concentration near the tip of the notch. In the case of
the existence of the plasticized zone, near the bottom of
notch, the stress distribution has an elastoplastic character,
and the use of the finite element method enables to describe
the stress distribution at the notch root.
The results obtained by finite element and analytical
approaches show that the maximum elastoplastic stress is not
at the notch root but a certain distance from it (Figure 3b),
unlike the elastic distribution where we notice that is
characterized by a maximum stress at the notch root (Figure
3a).
Various functions representing the stress distribution can
be found in literature and are presented as following:
Figure 2a. Finite element model
Table 1. Various Functions of Elastic Stress Distribution
A discretization was made with triangular elements with Authors Elastic stress distribution
six nodes and an appropriate refinement was applied around
the end of the notch using the castem software program. In [13] Chen and
Figure 2c a sharp notch has an angle 0 and radius =0 Pen, 1978
yy = max
+ 8x
and in Figure 2b a blunt notch contains 0; 0. When
= 0; =0 notch is similar to a crack.
2x 1/2 2x 3/2
yy =f max 1 + + 1 +

[14]
Kujawski, x
if 0.2 f =1
1991
x tan ( / 2k t ) x
if 0.2 ,f =1 + 0.2
2.8

[12] Neuber
and Weiss yy = max
1962 + 4x

2 4
[15] Usami max 1 x 3 x
=
yy 1 + 1 + + 1 +
1985 3 2 2

Figure 2b. Blunt notch: 0; 0
 International Journal of Mechanics and Applications 2015, 5(1): 1-9 3

Figure 3. Stress distribution, a) Elastic behaviour, b) Elastic-Plastic behaviour

the stress normal to the notch plane is plotted against the

3. Modeling of the Plastic Zone by
Analytical Approach
In the volumetric approach, the fundamental parameter
that represents the region of elaboration fracture process is
characterized by the effective distance Xeff, representing the
diameter of a volume assumed to have a cylindrical shape
by analogy with the notch plastic zone which has a similar
shape.
The effective distance Xeff is determined using the
distribution of the normal stress and relative stress gradient
reported in a bi-logarithmic diagram (Figure 4) [1, 2] where
distance ahead of notch.
In Figure 4, the opening stress distribution versus
distance is plotted in bi-logarithmic axes; the relative stress
gradient is also plotted on the same graph relating to an
opening notch angle equal to 45 and notch radius equal to
0.6 [mm]. As it may be seen, the stress distribution at the
notch tip decreases with the distance from the notch tip, and
is characterised by three zones: the first one very near the
notch tip, where the stress is constant and/or increasing to
its maximum value; the second zone between the first and
third zones; and the third, which can be simulated as a
pseudo-stress singularity [11].
4 M. Moussaoui et al.: Study of the Evolution of Elastoplastic Zone by Volumetric Method

Figure 4. Bi-logarithmic diagram of the elastic-plastic stress distribution and relative stress gradient distribution and relative stress gradient

For determination of Xeff, it has been observed that the d ( x)

effective distance is related to the minimum value of the =0 (4)
relative stress gradient . Hence, the position of the
dx
minimum relative stress gradient allows obtaining an Irwin considered that the presence of a plastic zone at the
effective distance precise value. bottom of crack, fact that the length of the crack behaves as
Studies have shown that this distance is not related to the if it was longer than its physical size and the stress
geometry of the notch, but to the stress distribution. This distribution is equivalent to a crack elastic length (a + r),
distance is in relation to a zone of pseudo-stress singularity [8, 10], so its effective length , aeff is
appearing at effective distance Xeff, of notch bottom. To
determine this distance [5], we use the relative stress
a eff = a + rE With R p = 2rE
gradient, defined as follows: For simple estimation of the size of plastic zone along
d (x) equal to zero degree, considering a first approximation that
1 yy
(x) = (1) plastic zone is circular with diameter Rp, for a perfectly
(x) dx elastic plastic material, according to:
yy
An analytical formulation is given by interpolating the 2
1 I
discrete points of the stress distribution under the R
= rE
p 2= (5)
polynomial form: e
n
ai xi
yy ( x) = (2)
4. Analysis of Notch Effect on the
i =0
Maximum Elastic-Plastic Stress
The stress gradient is expressed by:
Figure 5 shows the evaluation of influence of notch
1 d yy ( x) radius and angle of the maximum elasto-plastic stress at the
( x ) =
yy ( x) dx point of notch. The y-axis shows the maximum
(3) elasto-plastic stress and the x-axis presents the notch radius
= n
1
i =0 ai xi
( n
ia xi 1
i =0 i ) for a well-defined notch angle.
This stress takes large values if the notch radius tends to
zero. We can see that when the notch radius increases, the
The function of the stress gradient represents a minimum look of curves of the maximum elastoplastic stress
that corresponds to the effective distance, Xeff: decreases from a maximum, relative to the lower values.
 International Journal of Mechanics and Applications 2015, 5(1): 1-9 5

Figure 5. Evolution of the maximum stress elasto-plastic under the variation of notch angle and radius

Figure 5b shows for an angle of notch equals to zero, the
maximum stress equals to 312.5 MPa and the minimum
value is 168.8 MPa and from a radius 1.5mm, elastoplastic
stress re-establishes moderate growth.
Figure 5c shows for angle of notch equals to 45, the
maximum and minimum elastoplastic stresses are 252.1MPa,
164.8MPa respectively, accordingly an increase of notch
angle decreases the elastoplastic stress.
The superposition of curves shows the effect of variation
of angle and notch radius on evolution of elastoplastic
maximum stress, consequently for small radii where the
notch approaches to acute form, the value of the elastoplastic
stress is important and increasing of notch angle decreases
the elastoplastic maximum stress, Figure 5 shows, for angles
30 and 45 , the stresses are lower relative to angles 0, 5
and 10. Beyond the radius 1.5 [mm] stress resumes its
growth.
Given that the angle of notch is a factor that intervenes in
variation of amplitude of maximum elastoplastic stress, its
increase reduces the stress in a field of notch radius of low
value (notch sharp), and furthermore in the field of large
values of notch radius, the maximum elastoplastic stress
tends to important values.
5. Effect of Changing the Notch
Parameters on Plastic Zone
We admit that the approximation given by Irwin and
volumetric approach to the shape of plastic zone are similar.
The first considers the diameter Rp of circular form and the
6 M. Moussaoui et al.: Study of the Evolution of Elastoplastic Zone by Volumetric Method

second admits the cylindrical shape of diameter Xeff effective
distance. The curves given in Figure 6 show a comparison
between the evolution of effective distance and the distance
of the plastic zone Rp of Irwin, versus notch radius. The
calculation by finite elements method leads to assessment of
effective distance, and the dimension of diameter Rp of the
plastic zone.
For small radii where the notch tends to a more acute form,
the size of the plastic zone tends to large values for the two
approaches, but when the notch approximates the shape of a
crack, i.e., when the radius tends to zero and the angle
becomes zero, the estimate of effective distance is
approximately twice the value of the dimension of Irwin
plastic zone (Rp). Increasing the notch radius increases the
extent of the plastic zone.
The maximum is given by the volumetric approach, and is
equal to 3.504[mm], and the minimum is given by the
approach of Irwin, is equal to 1.247[mm], with an angle of
notch equal to 0, (Figure 6). Furthermore increasing of the
angle of notch tends to attenuate the extent of plastic zone at
an angle of 45. The maximum of effective distance reaches
a value of 3.344[mm] and the minimum is obtained by
approach of Irwin, and is equal to 0.8467[mm], (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Effective distance Xeff & plastic zone Rp versus radius and angle of notch
 International Journal of Mechanics and Applications 2015, 5(1): 1-9 7

Figure 7. Development of plastic zone.a) Dimension Rp calculated by Irwin. b) Dimension of Xeff calculated by volumetric method

Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the effective distance and the
dimension plastic zone of Irwin, for different angles of
notch: 0, 5, 10, 30 and 45.
Figure 8a shows the comparison between the different
effective distances obtained as a function of notch radius.
The acute angles develop a larger effective dimensions
compared to less acute notches (blunt notches) and the high
stress concentration will take place under the effect of
morphology of the notch
The Maximum of effective distance is equal to 3.758[mm],
obtained for an angle of =5, unlike the approach of Irwin
where the maximum is obtained for an angle equal to zero
and it is equal to 2.343[mm]. The change in parameters of
notch, radius and angle, changes the morphology of plastic
zone near the bottom of notch.
Smaller the radius decreases, the plastic zone increases,
and when the notch shall be infinitely acute (lower to
1.5[mm] radius) plus the notch angle increases, the plastic
zone decreases. This rule is valid for angles greater than 15.
Calculating the dimension of the plastic zone depends
essentially on the type of the test specimen and the values of
radius and angle of notch.
8 M. Moussaoui et al.: Study of the Evolution of Elastoplastic Zone by Volumetric Method

Figure 8. Evolution of plastic zone, as a function of notch parameters (radius, angle): a) Effective distance Xeff, b) Dimension Rp Irwin

6. Conclusions
The present study was based on the use of two theoretical
approaches, volumetric and Irwin, in order to model and
analyze the evolution of plastic zone around the tip of notch.
The variation of radius and angle of notch affects directly on
the distribution of maximum elastic-plastic stress and on
extent of plastic zone. The change in parameters of notch,
radius and angle, changes the morphology of plastic zone,
near the notch root.
More radius decreases more the plastic zone increases and
when the notch is infinitely acute (less than 1.5mm radius)
more the notch angle increases and the size of the plastic
zone decreases. This rule is valid for angles greater than 15.
The calculation of the size of the plastic zone depends mainly
on the type of specimen, the radius and angle of notch.
Given that the angle of notch is a factor that intervenes in
variation of amplitude of maximum elastic-plastic stress, its
increase reduces the stress in a field of notch radius of low
value (notch sharp), and furthermore in the field of large
values of notch radius, the maximum elastic-plastic stress
tends to important values.
 International Journal of Mechanics and Applications 2015, 5(1): 1-9 9

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