Inhibition of a curvilinear bridged crack by induced thermoelastic stress field

Abstract

ABSTRACTTemperature changes near the end of a curvilinear crack in the presence of end areas with cohesive forces of the material are considered. It is assumed that these areas adjoin to the crack tip and their sizes are comparable with the crack size. The goal of local changes of temperature is to delay or inhibit the growth of a curvilinear crack. A boundary value problem on equilibrium of a bridged curvilinear crack under the action of external tensile loads, induced thermoelastic temperature field, and tractions in the bonds preventing its disclosure is reduced to the system of nonlinear singular differential equations with a Cauchy-type kernel. Normal and tangential tractions in the bonds are found from the solution of this system. The stress intensity factors are calculated. The condition of limit equilibrium of a curvilinear crack with an end area is formed based on two-parameter fracture criterion.