Dynamic growth of an edge crack in a half space

Abstract

The problem of an edge crack, propagating with constant velocity perpendicular to the boundary of a linear elastic half space, is solved numerically for typical self-similar loading cases. A limiting case of uniform pressure on the crack faces is shown to have a stress intensity factor close to that for the equivalent static problem, which serves as a check on the method. The effect of stress gradients is demonstrated and for impact loading, it is shown that cracks can only initiate under the center of the load if friction is present, and then only at very low crack tip speeds.