Abstract
A very efficient numerical scheme for solving fracture problems involving two-dimensional elastic interaction between multiple microcracks and a main crack in a semi-infinite medium is proposed. The analysis is based on a singular integral equation method in which the microcracks and main crack are represented by distributions of edge dislocations. It is seen that this interaction could produce either an enhancement or a shielding effect on the stress intensity factors depending on the positions and orientations of the microcracks relative to the main crack in a semi-infinite medium. Typical examples are presented for one parallel microcrack, two equal microcracks and a semi-infinite array of periodically distributed collinear microcracks subjected to a remote mode I loading. For one collinear microcrack, the present solutions are compared with the exact solutions given in terms of elliptic integral; very good agreement is obtained.
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