An analytical solution for two equal-length collinear strip yield cracks

The development of plasticity at the tips of two equal-length collinear cra cks is assessed through the strip yield model of Dugdale and Barenblatt. Fo r this simple configuration, the necessary conditions ensuring a bounded st ress field in the vicinity of the crack tips, from which the unknown plasti c zone sizes may be obtained, are established in closed form. This analytic al solution, which corrects a previously published solution: may be of serv ice in the validation of more general iterative or numerical procedures. (C ) 2001 Airbus UK LTD. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.