Analysis of Crack-Inclusion Interaction in an Anisotropic Medium by Eshelby Equivalent Inclusion Method

Abstract

The problem of a semi-infinite crack in anisotropic medium interacting with a near-tip inclusion is analyzed by the Eshelby equivalent inclusion method. The change of mode I stress intensity factor due to crack-inclusion interaction is evaluated using a novel analytical solution for the model I stress intensity factor at the tip of a semi-infinite crack due to near-tip eigenstrains. Numerical results of the mode I stress intensity factor due to the presence of a near-tip circular inclusion are presented to show the influence of the elastic stiffness of an inclusion on the near-tip elastic field. The present scheme can be applied to calculate the stress intensity at a crack-tip in anisotropic media due to the interaction of inclusions with arbitrary shapes.