Kinking of a crack emanating from the free surface of a beam under pure bending (Q1082163)

A perturbation technique developed by \textit{B. L. Karihaloo}, \textit{L. M. Keer}, \textit{S. Nemat-Nasser} and \textit{A. Oranratnachai} [J. Appl. Mech. 48, 515-519 (1981; Zbl 0463.73100)] is employed to obtain the stress intensity factors at the tip of a kinking crack that emanates from the free surface of a beam under pure bending. Under the condition that the kink extends in the direction of vanishing \(K_{II}\) the crack path is obtained as well as a path stability condition. From conditions on \(K_ I\) a material parameter \(r^*\) akin to that of \textit{M. Ramulu} and \textit{A. S. Kobayashi}'s \(r_ c\) is obtained [Exp. Mech. 23, 1 ff (1983)]. By analysis of the slope of the kinking crack a stability condition is obtained corroborating the stability condition from consideration of vanishing \(K_{II}\). It is shown that for a beam in pure bending the nonsingular remote stress term T must be greater than some positive critical value for kinking to occur confirming the results of \textit{M. Sayir} and \textit{H. J. Schindler} [Int. J. Fract. 25, 95 ff (1984)].