On Energy-Release Rates for a Plane Crack

Abstract

Considered is a plane crack in a homogeneous, static stress field. The component of the Ji integral normal to the plane of the crack (J2) is shown not to be path-independent in the sense of the well-known J integral (≡ J1) parallel to the plane of the crack. The relation between the energy-release rate for rotation L and the integral J2 is established. It is finally suggested that the integrals L and M may provide a more natural description of energy-release rates (or forces) for plane cracks, rather than the integrals J1 and J2.