Intersonic crack growth in bimaterial interfaces: An investigation of crack face contact

Steady-state intersonic interfacial crack growth accounting for crack face contact is analyzed. The results clearly predict the essential features of experimental observations based on two different but complementary optical techniques and high speed photography. The solution features a large scale contact zone and two distinct traveling shock waves, one emanating from the crack tip and the other from the end of the contact zone. In addition, the solution predicts a non-zero energy dissipation rate due to crack face con tact. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.