Closed Form Solution For A Semi-Infinite Crack Moving In An Infinite Orthotropic Material With A Circular Crack Breaker Under Antiplane Strain

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the influence of a circular crack breaker on mode-III deformation behaviour of a semi-infinite crack in a homogeneous, elastic orthotropic material subjected to longitudinal shear loads. The Galilean transformation is employed to convert the governing wave equation to Laplace’s equation which is time-independent, rendering the problem amenable to analysis within the realm of the classical theory of two-dimensional elasticity. By using conformal mapping and Mellin integral transform methods , an analytic solution of the displacement is obtained, leading to closed expression for mode III stress intensity factor, K111. The asymptotic values of the fields are obtained and shown to depend on the radius of the crack breaker. For a fixed loading interval, a crack breaker of larger radius leads to increased stress intensity factor.