Analysis of a sector crack in a three-dimensional Voronoi polycrystal with microstructural stresses

The Mode I stress intensity factor of a sector crack in a three-dimensional Voronoi polycrystal is computed by the body force technique. Microstructural stresses arising from the elastic anisotropy of grains (cubic and hexagonal) and the random grain orientations are estimated using the Eshelby procedure and incorporated in the stress intensity factor calculations. For metallic polycrystals, it is shown that the stress intensity factor depends significantly on the elastic anisotropy ratio, the grain orientations, the remote stress state, and the microstructural stresses. [S0021-8936(00)03401-2]