A hypersingular boundary integral equation for antiplane crack problems for a class of inhomogeneous anisotropic elastic materials

An antiplane multiple crack problem is considered for a class of inhomogene ous anisotropic elastic materials. The problem is reduced to a boundary int egral equation involving hypersingular integrals. The boundary integral equ ation may be solved numerically using standard procedures. Some crack probl ems for a particular inhomogeneous material is considered in detail and the stress intensity factors are obtained in order to assess the effect of the anisotropy and inhomogeneity on the stress field near the crack tips. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.