[pt] As estimativas do tamanho e forma da zona plástica, tradicionalmente usada na Mecânica da Fratura Linear Elástica (MFLE), são baseadas na suposição que o fator de intensidade de tensões KI (ou KII ou KIII) é o único parâmetro necessário para descrevê-las. Quando as zonas plásticas são obtidas a partir da solução de Inglis para o campo de tensões em volta de um furo elíptico, ou da solução completa de Westergaard para uma placa com uma trinca central, pode-se observar que as estimativas tradicionais subestimam a localização da fronteira elastoplástica. Isto acontece devido às estimativas tradicionais da zona plástica que não levam em consideração a influencia da tensão nominal no campo de tensões. Como na maioria dos casos a tensão nominal atinge 80% da tensão de escoamento do material é muito importante gerar estimativas melhoradas da zona plástica em volta da ponta da trinca, as quais são apresentadas neste trabalho. / [en] The estimates of the size and shape of the plastic zones, traditionally used in Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM), are based on the supposition that the stress intensity factor (SIF) KI (or KII or KIII) is the only necessary parameter to describe them. However, when the linear elastic stress analysis problem is solved in an Inglis plate, or the cracked infinite plate is analyzed using the stresses generated by the complete Westergaard function, it is verified that those traditional estimates significantly underestimate the position of the elastoplastic border. This happens because those solutions ignore the influence of the nominal stress on the stress field. However, as in most of the practical cases nominal stresses of up to 80% of the yielding strength are used, it is worthwhile to generate better estimates ahead for the plastic zones of the cracks, which are presented in this work.

La taille de la zone plastique en pointe de fissure dans un matériau est directement liée au facteur d’intensité de contrainte pour une configuration donnée. Cette étude utilise la technique d’indentation avec une très faible charge afin d’étudier la taille de la zone plastique cyclique et monotone au voisinage de la fissure. La zone plastique est caractérisée par la relation entre la dureté, le module réduit, le travail élastique, le travail plastique, l’indice de plasticité et la distance par rapport à la pointe de fissure. Les essais sont menés sur une éprouvette CT pour un alliage d’aluminium 2024T351. Dans une étude complémentaire, le contour des zones plastiques en fond de fissure en mode mixte, le rayon minimum de zone plastique (MPZR) et la direction de la fissure initiale pour l’alliage d’aluminium 2024T351 sur un “Compact Tension spécimen” est déterminé en utilisant le logiciel Matlab. Nous avons calculé la forme, la taille de la zone plastique au fond de fissure, le rayon minimum de la zone plastique par rapport à l’angle de chargement et le facteur d’intensité de contrainte en utilisant le critère de Von Mises. L’étude est effectuée pour les divers angles de chargement. Nous avons constaté que le chargement en mode mixte (13 = 600) est le plus néfaste pour le matériau. / The plastic zone size associated with a propagating crack in a material is directly related to the stress intensity factor for a given configuration. This work utilizes the ultra-low-load indentation techniques to study the cyclic and monotonic plastic zone size at the fatigue crack tip based on the relationship between the hardness, elastic work, plastic work, plasticity index and the distance from the crack tip. The study is conducted essentially on the aluminium alloy 2024T351. In a second part of this work, we study the contour of mixed mode crack-tip plastic zones, the minimum plastic zone radius (MPZR) and the direction of initial crack for the aluminium alloy 2024T351 in a Compact tension specimen by using Matlab software. We have computed the shape, size of plastic zone at crack-tip and the minimum plastic zone radius with respect to the loading angle and stress intensity factor in linear elastic fracture mechanics for plane strain condition according to Von Mises yield criteria, the study is conducted for various loading angle. We found that the mixed mode loading (F36O°) can lead to earlier material fracture earlier than any other biaxial loading.