Kotooussov, A.Codrington, J.Sook Ying Ho,2011-05-242011-05-242010Structural Analysis and Prediction Methods for Aerospace Vehicles and Structures, 2010 / Sook Ying Ho, (ed./s), pp.96-1329781608050246http://hdl.handle.net/2440/63872The work presented here is a compendium of theoretical results obtained by the authors between 2005 and 2009. Among these results are comprehensive analysis of the three-dimensional elastic stress and displacement fields near a tip of a through-the-thickness crack, generalization of the classical strip-yield model for plates having a finite thickness, and development of an analytical approach for calculating the plasticity-induced crack closure and crack growth rates at constant and variable amplitude loading. As an application of the developed approach, new predictive models of various non-linear fatigue crack growth phenomena in plates of finite thickness were developed. These include computational models of crack growth under small-scale yielding conditions and constant amplitude loading, growth of a fatigue crack emanating from a sharp notch, and crack growth retardation phenomenon following an overload cycle. All theoretical predictions were extensively compared with previous numerical and experimental studies demonstrating a great potential of the refined plate theory in the analysis of fracture and fatigue problems.en© 2010 BenthamBook chapter002010653410.2174/978160805024611001012-s2.0-8488264156830658Kotooussov, A. [0000-0001-9337-5095]