HALF-PLANE CRACK UNDER NORMAL LOAD - COMPLETE SOLUTION

A half-plane flat crack in a transversely isotropic elastic space subj ected to arbitrary normal load is considered. An exact closed-form sol ution is obtained in terms of elementary functions to the complete fie ld of stresses and displacements in the whole space due to a point for ce loading. Both transversely isotropic and purely isotropic cases are considered. The solution is based on the results previously reported by the first writer. The transversely isotropic solution does not seem to have been reported in the literature. The isotropic case was consi dered by Ufliand who used the integral transform approach. A compariso n with his results shows exact correspondence. Explicit formulas are a lso given for the stress intensity factor, as well as for the stresses and displacements in the plane of the crack.