Analysis of Mode III Collinear Periodic Cracks-Tip Stress Field of an Infinite Orthotropic Plate

Abstract

The cracks-tip field on collinear periodic cracks of infinite orthotropic fiber reinforcement composite plate subjected to anti-plane shear force is studied in this paper. With the introduction of the Westergaard stress function and application of complex function theory and undetermined coefficients method, mechanical problem is changed into partial differential boundary value problem. The undetermined coefficients and the stress function are obtained with the help of boundary conditions. Due to the distribution of periodic cracks, stress intensity factor depends on the shape factor. The results show that interaction happens between the collinear periodic cracks. When the ratio of crack length and crack spacing is less than 1/3, the interaction between the cracks is very small. When the ratio gradually increases to 1, strong interaction between the cracks will be found. Cracks-tip field has scale effect. When the ratio of crack length and the given reference crack length decreases, the displacement field is significantly smaller.