DISLOCATION DISTRIBUTION IN PLASTIC ZONE AT A CRACK TIP WHILE THE HARD SECOND PHASE EXISTS

Recent observations by electron microscopy have shown that a dislocation-free zone (DFZ) exists between the crack tip and the pile-up of dislocations in the plastic zone. Shang, S. J., Ohr, S. M. and Majumdar, B. S., Burns, S. J. have discussed the problem of the plastic zone at a crack tip in isotropic elastic medium. We know that the hard second phase, which neither causes very large stress concentration nor leads to micrographic split, can improve the bearing capacity of the materials. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the problem of the plastic zone at a crack tip while the hard second phase exists.