Nonlocal elasticity and dislocation image force due to cracks

Summary   Fundamental field equations of nonlocal elasticity are presented. With these equations, the image force on a screw dislocation due to a crack is analyzed using the conformal mapping technique. Two cases are considered: one is for a finite-length crack, the other is for an infinite one. All classical singularities of the dislocation image force are eliminated when the dislocation tends to the crack tip. The maximum of the force is obtained at the crack tip. Received 10 June 1999; accepted for publication 8 February 2000