Estimate of the latent free energy and damage at the tip of an opening–mode crack

A method of estimating the latent elastic energy associated with the microinhomogeneity of the stress and plastic–strain fields inside the plastic zone localized near the tip of an opening–mode crack (Dugdale zone) under conditions of plane stresses is proposed. The microinhomogeneity of plastic flow upon small strain hardening is taken into account only in the form of considerable distortion of the geometry of the free surfaces of the plastic zone. The damage that developes because of release of the latent free energy is estimated depending on the magnitude of the crack opening.