Effect of electric current on migration of point defects near a crack tip

The effect of direct current on migration of point defects dissolved in a crystal near the tip of a crack in tension is estimated. Calculations are carried out with allowance for the plastic strain near the crack tip of a loaded specimen, caused by the motion of dislocations in the active slip planes of the crystal, the Joule heat released, and the effect of gas exchange on the crack edges on the evolution of distribution of interstitial impurity atoms. A numerical analysis is performed for an Fe crystal.