A discrete-fibers model for bridged cracks and reinforced elliptical voids

A model of crack bridging and reinforced elliptical voids is proposed, in which the fibers joining the surfaces of the void or crack are modelled as discrete, linear elastic bars. We show that a theory recently developed by us to analyze structural interfaces permits analytical attack and solution of multiple important previously unsolved problems of stress concentration and fracture. In particular, an analytical solution is provided for a reinforced elliptical void, which, by superposition, allows treatment of arbitrary fiber distributions, which can be even randomly distributed and oriented. In the special case of small or null ratio between a void's axes, new stress intensity factor expressions are obtained, which account for fibers’ inclination and geometry.