An employment of the catastrophe theory in fracture mechanics as applied to brittle strength criteria (Q1310335)

The catastrophe theory is applied to the analysis of strength criteria delivered by the mechanics of brittle fracture. Introduction of a potential function of a specific kind enables one to examine brittle strength criteria in a broad class of multiparametric problems. Two example problems of fracture mechanics with two independent loading parameters are considered in detail. The first one concerns the development of two symmetric cracks issuing from a circular hole under the effect of biaxial compression-extension at infinity. The second one is that of an isolated rectilinear crack stretched by two concentrated forces and tension at infinity.