Propagation of thin plastic zones in the vicinity of a normally separating crack

A problem of the development of a plastic zone in the vicinity of a physical cut in the plain strain and stress states is posed and solved on the basis of a discrete deformation model under the assumption of an ideal elastoplastic medium. The Tresca yield condition and the ultimate plasticity condition are used in studying the plane stress state. The dependence of the plastic zone length on the external load is compared with a similar dependence obtained on the basis of the Leonov–Panasyuk–Dugdale model. In contrast to the Leonov–Panasyuk–Dugdale model, the distributions of stresses and lengths of plastic zones in the plane strain and stress states are found to be substantially different if elastic compressibility and compressive-tensile stresses along the cut direction are taken into account.