Dynamic fracture mechanics with contact interaction at the crack edges

This paper deals with elastodynamic contact problems with unilateral restri ctions rind friction for bodies with cracks. General dynamic loading and a relevant case of harmonic loading are considered. The mathematical aspects of this problem are briefly discussed. The variational formulation of the p roblem, variational boundary inequalities and boundary functionals are used to solve it. The problems of a tension-compression plane harmonic wave interaction with one and two co-linear cracks of finite length with the allowance of unilate ral contact interaction at the crack edges are solved. The influence of the contact interaction between the crack edges on a stress intensity factor i s investigated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.