Modeling Subcritical Crack Growth in a Viscoelastic Body Under Concentrated Forces

Abstract

An algorithm for studying the subcritical growth of a crack in a viscoelastic body with a small cohesive zone is constructed. The algorithm is illustrated by numerical solutions of several problems. The problem statement takes into account concentrated forces acting along normals to the crack. These forces can change the crack growth rate and cause the contact of the crack faces, which strongly affects kinetic curves. It is studied also how the shift of the line of application of the compressive forces relative to the central normal to the crack influences the kinetic curves.