Plastic relaxation of a shear crack at a circular inclusion

The plastic relaxation of a shear crack situated normal to the interface of a second phase particle of circular cross-section is analyzed using the method of Atkinson and Kay. The ratio of applied stress to yield stress and the relative displacement of the crack faces at the tip of the crack are related to the crack parameters. The results are used to discuss the effect of the shear modulus and size of the circular second phase particle on the behaviour of the plastic zone. © 1975.