INTERACTION OF A CRACK WITH A CIRCULAR INCLUSION IN A THERMALLY STRESSED MATERIAL

The influence of a thermally mismatched inclusion on the stress intens ity factors at the tips of an interacting crack is investigated. The a nalytical expressions for the stress intensity factors K-I and K-II of a crack submitted to the stresses due to the thermal misfit of a cons trained inclusion are given by using an appropriate dislocation densit y function. The stress intensity factors vary with the size, position and the thermal misfit strain of the inclusion. The characteristics of this crack-inclusion interaction problem are analyzed and discussed.