Determination of thermal stress intensity factors for rigid cusp cracks under uniform heat flow

Abstract

The steady state thermal stress intensity factors (TSIF'S) are analysed for hypocycloid, symmetric airfoil and symmetric lip type rigid cusp cracks embedded in infinite elastic solids, using Bogdanoffs complex variable approach in plane thermoelasticity. Two thermal conditions are considered, one with an uniform heat flow disturbed by an insulated rigid cusp crack and the other with an uniform heat flow disturbed by a rigid cusp crack with fixed boundary temperature. The tendencies of TSIF's for rigid cusp cracks are somewhat different from those of traction free cusp cracks. However, if κ = − 1, the non-dimensionalized TSIF's for rigid cusp cracks become those of traction free cusp cracks like the tendencies of the SIF's under mechanical loading conditions. The thermal stress and displacement components of a rigid circular inclusion of radius R 0 are derived from the results of a rigid hypocycloid crack.