Stability of an advancing crack to small perturbation of its path (Q5958028)

The authors consider the quasistatic extension of a crack subjected to loads that travel with it. The perturbated path is defined by a function \(\psi\) and small parameter \(\varepsilon\). In addition, it is supposed that the crack will select its path in such a way that the second mode stress intensity factor equals zero. For a wavy crack, the results show that the stability of the crack path depends on the position of applied body forces and on the value of uniform stress acting parallel to the crack. The crack is unstable if the remote stress exceeds a critical value, and when the crack faces are loaded by a pair of point forces. The crack path instability is also due to the component of the stress applied parallel to the crack, both for compression and tension.