On the thermoelastic stresses of multiple interacting inhomogeneities

An analytic solution is presented for the two-dimensional thermoelastic pro blem of multiple interacting circular inhomogeneities of different sizes an d thermoelastic properties embedded in an isotropic elastic medium. Based u pon the complex potentials of Muskhelishvili, the analytic solution is deri ved for the single circular inhomogeneity problem under arbitrary thermal l oadings. The solution is then applied to the problem of an infinitely exten ded medium containing randomly located multiple inhomogeneities successivel y. This procedure leads to a series solution derived with perturbation tech nique. Study examples show the elegance and robustness of the present appro ach. The results reveal the dependence of the resulting thermal stresses up on the mismatch of the thermoelastic properties and the configuration of th e inhomogeneities. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.