3D dynamic stress intensity factors around two parallel square cracks in an infinite elastic medium under impact load

Summary  Transient stresses around two parallel cracks in an infinite elastic medium are investigated in the present paper. The shape of the cracks is assumed to be square. Incoming shock stress waves impinge upon the two cracks normal to tzheir surfaces. The mixed boundary value equations with respect to stresses and displacements are reduced to two sets of dual integral equations in the Laplace transform domain using the Fourier transform technique. These equations are solved by expanding the differences in the crack surface displacements in a double series of a function that is equal to zero outside the cracks. Unknown coefficients in the series are calculated using the Schmidt method. Stress intensity factors defined in the Laplace transform domain are inverted numerically to the physical space. Numerical calculations are carried out for transient dynamic stress intensity factors under the assumption that the shape of the upper crack is identical to that of the lower crack. Received 2 February 2000; accepted for publication 10 May 2000