Abstract
The theory for the constant rate of crack closure was investigated. The aim of this theory is to explain why the rate of crack closure is constant during the wetting stage of healing. Assuming that a surface crack in a material is treated by compression or with solvent, its crack closes up at a constant rate and its shape is independent of time. This approach was based on the Gibbs energy of an atom near the boundary between healed and unhealed zones. The results are in satisfactory agreement with experimental data in the literature. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.