An elastodynamic analysis of interacting inhomogeneities in advanced composites

This paper presents a theoretical treatment of the dynamic antiplane failur e behaviour of fibre reinforced composites containing matrix cracks acid re inforcing inhomogeneities. A newly developed pseudo-incident wave method wa s used to reduce the original interaction problem into the solution of coup led single microdefect subproblems. The steady-state theoretical solution o f this class of problems is formulated using integral transform techniques and Fourier expansions. The dynamic stress intensity factors at the matrix crack are obtained and numerical examples are provided to show the effect o f the frequency, geometry of microdefects and material properties upon the dynamic stress intensity factor of the matrix crack. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.