Environmentally assisted growth of multiple cracks grouped in stacked configurations

Abstract

The effect of interaction of rectilinear cracks of different lengths, grouped into stacks, under uniaxial tension normal to the cracks, on their stress-corrosion growth is studied. We examine whether the circular relaxation zone around a pre-existing crack may suppress the growth of other cracks inside the zone. It is found that the farther away neighbors may affect the growth of the considered crack not only quantitatively but, also, in a qualitative way.