Failure due to semielliptical surface cracks under arbitrary stress distributions

A procedure is described that is based on the two-dimensional weight functi on equation of Rice. This enables one to determine the equilibrium semielli pses characterized by a constant stress intensity factor along the crack-ti p line for any stress distribution. The applicability is explained for the special case of thermal stresses caused by a thermal shock. Local stress in tensity factors are estimated for the same stresses by using solutions for exponential stress distributions. A comparison of the two methods showed go od agreement.