Study on the plane stress mode II crack–inclusion interaction with coupled mechanical and thermal strains

Abstract

The interaction between a mode II crack and an inclusion in an infinite medium is investigated under the coupled mechanical and thermal loads in plane stress condition. Based on the transformation toughening theory and the Eshelby inclusion method, a closed-form formula for the change of the stress intensity factor is obtained. The mismatched thermal expansion strains between the inclusion and the matrix are considered as part of eigenstrains. A composite of NiCrAlY alloy reinforced glass, as well as the inclusion with triangular shape is selected in finite element method to validate the accuracy for the stress intensity factor variation from the developed formula. The effects of temperature-dependent elastic properties on the inclusion–crack interaction are examined. It is found that the mode II crack is easily to propagate into the inclusion for the composite under the conditions of the free load and the decrease temperature.