Crack induced slip processes in 3D

The paper presents three-dimensional molecular dynamic simulations of bcc iron single crystals with embedded cracks of two different orientations. The cracks are loaded in tension mode I. The results show that crack stability or crack growth is significantly influenced by the temperature and mutual orientation of the crack and slip planes at the crack front. Various slip processes induced by the crack may have different consequences for crack stability. The results from molecular dynamic simulations are compared with continuum models, experimental observations, and our previous plane strain simulations.