Crack stabilization in a brittle body using stiffeners

The behavior of a crack under uniaxial tension in the presence of reinforcement is studied. The reinforcing members (riveted stiffeners) are modeled by point loads. Only four members nearest to the crack are taken into account. It is shown that stiffeners allow one to arrest a crack and prevent its catastrophic growth. Relations between the geometrical and force characteristics for which the crack is stabilized are obtained. The stabilization mechanism is discussed. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 137–143, November–December, 2006.