Abstract
In this paper the plane elasticity problem for an orthotropic strip containing a crack parallel to its boundaries is first considered. The problem is formulated under general mixed mode loading conditions. It is shown that the stress intensity factors depend on two dimensionless orthotropic constants only. For the crack problem the results are given for a single crack and two collinear cracks. The calculated results show that of the two orthotropic constants the influence of the stiffness ratio on the stress intensity factors is much more significant than that of the shear parameter. The problem of loading the strip by a rigid rectangular wedge is then considered. It is found that for relatively small wedge lengths continuous contact is maintained along the wedge-strip interface, at a certain critical wedge length the separation starts at the midsection of the wedge, and the length of the separation zone increases rapidly with increasing wedge length.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
