3D dynamic stress intensity factors at three rectangular cracks in an infinite elastic medium subjected to a time-harmonic stress wave

Summary Dynamic stresses around three coplanar cracks in an infinite elastic medium are determined in the paper. Two of the cracks are equal, rectangular and symmetrically situated on either side of the centrally located rectangular crack. Time-harmonic normal traction acts on each surface of the three cracks. To solve the problem, two kind of solutions are superposed: one is a solution for a rectangular crack in an infinite elastic medium, and the other one is that for two rectangular cracks in an infinite elastic medium. The unknown coefficients in the combined solution are determined by applying the boundary conditions at the surfaces of the cracks. Finally, stress intensity factors are calculated numerically for several crack configurations. Received 14 July 1998; accepted for publication 2 December 1998