Vidler, J.Kotousov, A.Ng, C.T.2023-09-182023-09-182023Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, 2023; 127:104034-1-104034-100167-84421872-7638https://hdl.handle.net/2440/139491Available online 9 August 2023A new method for the analysis of plasticity-induced closure of finite cracks is developed based on the distributed dislocation technique. The method is applied to analyse closure and opening processes for an embedded fatigue crack propagating under constant amplitude cyclic loading. The obtained solution and presented results can serve as a benchmark for numerical procedures utilising the same yield-strip methodology. Comparison with past numerical studies reveals similar trends, though there are some differences in the crack tip opening values, particularly for low and negative R-ratios. The latter may indicate the need for a better approach to the discretisation of the contact, direct and reverse plasticity zones in the numerical procedures which utilise the same methodology. The developed method is general, and it can be adapted to evaluate the crack tip opening stress for other crack geometries and loading conditions.en© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Crack closure; Strip-yield model; Crack tip plasticity; Fatigue crack growth; Distributed dislocation technique; Chebyshev–Gauss quadratureJournal article10.1016/j.tafmec.2023.1040342023-09-14654872Vidler, J. [0000-0002-6564-0813]Kotousov, A. [0000-0001-9337-5095]