A circular inclusion with inhomogeneously imperfect interface in plane elasticity (Q1969326)

A method is suggested for the rigorous solution to the plane elastostatic problem of a circular inclusion embedded in an infinite matrix. The bonding at the inclusion-matrix interface is considered to be imperfect, under the assumption that interface imperfections are circumferentially inhomogeneous. Using analytic continuation, the basic boundary value problem for four analytic functions (two for the matrix, and two for the inclusion according to Muskhelishvili's formulas) is reduced to two coupled first-order differential equations for two analytic functions. The solutions include a finite number of unknown constants determined by analyticity and by other auxiliary conditions. The method is illustrated by considering a particular class of circumferentially inhomogeneous interfaces, with explicit results derived for a specific variation of the interface parameter. The results show that replacing the inhomogeneous interface by its homogeneous counterpart leads to significant errors in the calculation of averaged stresses induced within the inclusion.