Effect of residual surface stress on the fracture of nanoscale materials

The problem of a mode I crack in nanomaterials under a remote mechanical load is investigated. The effect of the residual surface stress on the crack surface is considered and the solutions to the crack opening displacement (COD) and the stress intensity factor (KI) are obtained. The results show that the surface effect on the crack deformation and crack tip field are prominent at nanoscale. Moreover, COD and KI are influenced by the residual surface stress not only on the surface near the crack tip region but also on the entire crack surface.