Variations of the stress intensity factors for a planar crack parallel to a bimaterial interface

Abstract

Stress intensity factors for a planar crack parallel to a bimaterial interface are considered. The formulation leads to a system of hypersingular integral equations whose unknowns are three modes of crack opening displacements. In the numerical analysis, the unknown displacement discontinuities are approximated by the products of the fundamental density functions and polynomials. The numerical results show that the present method yields smooth variations of stress intensity factors along the crack front accurately. The mixed mode stress intensity factors are indicated in tables and figures with varying the shape of crack, distance from the interface, and elastic constants. It is found that the maximum stress intensity factors normalized by root area are always insensitive to the crack aspect ratio. They are given in a form of formula useful for engineering applications.