The equivalent through-crack model for the surface part-through crack (Q1071586)

The three-dimensional problem of a surface part-through cracked plate is reduced to a two-dimensional problem by introducing an equivalent through-crack model, loaded by a convenient tension and bending stress distribution along the lips of the crack. The principle of the model is based on a similar idea as in the line-spring model, introduced by \textit{J. R. Rice} and \textit{N. Levy} [J. Appl. Mech. 39, 185-194 (1972; Zbl 0229.73092)]. In this model the singularities existing at the extremities of the surface lips of the part-through crack on the near face of the plate, indicated by experiments, were taken into account, whereas, in the line-spring model these extremities were considered as free. According to this model the effect of the surface part-through crack was replaced by a continuous distribution of forces N(x,0) and moments M(x,0) along the near-face crack lips applied to an equivalent through crack. These forces and moments were represented by power functions completely determining the boundary conditions along the crack. In this way the two-dimensional problem, derived from the model, can be readily reduced to a well-known Hilbert problem yielding integral equations containing the functions expressing the N(x,0)- and M(x,0)-distributions along the length of the crack. These equations were solved by an approximate numerical procedure. From this solution the expressions of stress- and displacement-fields for the surface part-through crack may be evaluated, expressed in terms of the distribution of the stress intensity factor function calculated along the whole front of the equivalent through crack.