Elastic behaviour of an edge dislocation near a sharp crack emanating from a semi-elliptical blunt crack

The interaction between an edge dislocation and a crackemanating from a semi-elliptic hole is dealt with. Utilizing thecomplex variable method, closed form solutions are derived forcomplex potentials and stress fields. The stress intensity factor atthe tip of the crack and the image force acting on the edgedislocation are also calculated. The influence of the morphology ofthe blunt crack and the position of the edge dislocation on theshielding effect to the crack and the image force is examined indetail. The results indicate that the shielding or anti-shieldingeffect to the stress intensity factor increases acutely when thedislocation approaches the tip of the crack. The effect of themorphology of the blunt crack on the stress intensity factor of thecrack and the image force is very significant.