The breaking of a non-homogeneous fiber embedded in an infinite non-homogeneous medium

Abstract

The torsion of an infinite non-homogeneous elastic cylindrical fiber, containing a penny-shaped crack embedded in an infinite non-homogeneous elastic material is considered. The cylinder and elastic medium have different shear moduli. Using integral transformation techniques the solution of the problem is reduced to the solution of dual integral equations. Later on the solution of the dual integral equations is transformed into the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind, which is solved numerically. Closed form expressions are obtained for the stress intensity factor and numerical values for the stress intensity factors are graphed to demonstrate the effect of non-homogeneity of the fiber and infinite medium. In the end the stress singularity is obtained when the crack touches the infinite nonhomogeneous medium (matrix).