INTERACTION BETWEEN CURVED CRACK AND ELASTIC INCLUSION IN AN INFINITE-PLATE

In this paper, the curved-crack problem for an infinite plate containi ng an elastic inclusion is considered. A fundamental solution is propo sed, which corresponds to the stress field caused by a point dislocati on in an infinite plate containing an elastic inclusion. By placing th e distributed dislocation along the prospective site of the crack, and by using the resultant force function as the right-hand term in the e quation, a weaker singular integral equation is obtainable. The equati on is solved numerically and the stress intensity factors at the crack tips are evaluated. Interaction between the curved crack and the elas tic inclusion is analyzed.