Stress concentration due to a finite rigid ribbon in the presence of a finite kinked crack: SH case

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the stress-concentration problem when a plane wave strikes a finite rigid ribbon in an infinite medium in the presence of an inclined (kinked) crack of finite length. Chebyshev polynomial expansions are used for the solution of the governing integral equations which are singular and are not otherwise easily amenable for simple solution. Numerical results are included to give the effects of various parameters on the stress intensity factors particularly at the rigid ribbon ends. The model is chosen to provide some insight towards the stress states near the asperities (hard regions) that seems to play a significant role in seismic fault propagation in realistic media. The solution also incorporates possible rigid body motion of the inclusion.