The interaction of a curved crack with a circular elastic inclusion

The solution to a curved matrix crack interacting with a circular elastic i nclusion is presented. The problem is formulated using the Kolosov-Muskheli shvili complex stress potential technique where the crack is represented by an unknown distribution of dislocations. After an appropriate parameteriza tion, the resulting singular integral equations are solved with the Lobatto -Chebyshev quadrature technique. The accuracy of the current solution is sh own by comparing these results to previously published results. A prelimina ry investigation is conducted to study the effects of crack curvature and i nclusion stiffness on the stress intensity factors and it is shown that in certain instances, the effect of the crack curvature and the inclusion stif fness are competing influences.