The inclusion problem with a crack crossing the boundary

Abstract

A solution is given to the problems of a crack in an elastic inclusion with one or both ends approaching and terminating at the interface, of two collinear cracks (one in the inclusion and one in the matrix), and of a crack crossing the interface. The problems are formulated in terms of a system of singular integral equations. In the second case, the dominant parts of the kernels become generalized Cauchy kernels giving rise to stress singularities of powers other than one over the square root. For this case stress intensity factors are defined and some detailed results are presented for various crack-inclusion geometries and material combinations.