Energy criterion for crack deflection at an interface between two orthotropic media (Q1339803)

(From authors' abstract) To achieve toughness in many brittle composites, crack deflection at interfaces between fibers and matrix, or between fibers and their protective coatings, is essential. In this paper, an energy criterion for crack deflection at an interface between two aligned, orthotropic media is obtained by using the method of singular integral equations. Only the case of a perpendicularly impinging interface crack is considered. Since the main crack can either be deflected on one (singly deflected) or both (doubly deflected) sides of the interface, the energy release rate ratios (ratio of energy released for crack deflecting along the interface to that penetrating the interface) are calculated for both cases, and the maximum of the two is assumed to govern the interface design. Finally the results of the above analysis are demonstrated by growing wedge-induced cracks normal to the grain boundary of a freshwater ice bi- crystal with \(c\)-axes of the individual crystals oriented normal to each other.