Critical value of the generalized stress intensity factor for a crack perpendicular to an interface

Abstract

When a crack tip impinges upon a bi-material interface, the order of the stress singularity will be equal to, less than or greater than one-half. The generalized stress intensity factors have already been determined for some such configurations, including when a finite-length crack is perpendicular to the interface. However, for these non-square-root singular stresses, the determination of the conditions for crack growth are not well established. In this investigation, the critical value of the generalized stress intensity factor for tensile loading is related to the work of adhesion by using a cohesive zone model in an asymptotic analysis of the separation near the crack tip. It is found that the critical value of the generalized stress intensity factor depends upon the maximum stress of the cohesive zone model, as well as on the Dundurs parameters (αandβ). As expected this dependence on the cohesive stress vanishes as the material contrast is reduced, in which case the order of the singularity approaches one-half.