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Reference.org
Crack closure
open-in-new
<p>Crack closure is a phenomenon in <a href="/facts/Fatigue_(material)/zmJY8hMt">fatigue</a> loading, where the opposing faces of a crack remain in contact even with an external load acting on the material. As the load is increased, a critical value will be reached at which time the crack becomes <i>open</i>. Crack closure occurs from the presence of material propping open the crack faces and can arise from many sources including <a href="/facts/Plastic_deformation/z1LEmkQX">plastic deformation</a> or <a href="/facts/Phase_transformation/eLP2BY8R">phase transformation</a> during crack propagation, <a href="/facts/Corrosion/lIC7H4we">corrosion</a> of crack surfaces, presence of fluids in the crack, or <a href="/facts/Surface_roughness/o35uJjc4">roughness</a> at cracked surfaces. </p>