Multiple crack problems for torsion thin-walled cylinder

Multiple crack problems for a torsion thin-walled cylinder are studied in t his article. The boundary value problem is reduced to the solution of a Dir ichlet problem of the Laplace equation. For the considered doubly connected region, a constant k is involved in the boundary condition which is determ ined by the single-valuedness condition of the warping function. The finite difference method is suggested to solve the Dirichlet problem. The torsion rigidity coefficient can be evaluated numerically. The inverse of the tors ion rigidity coefficient is known as the compliance coefficient. With the k nowledge of the compliance coefficient, the stress intensity factor (SIF) c an be evaluated. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the use of the proposed method. Interaction effects between the cracks are also investiga ted. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.