SOLUTION OF QUASI-PERIODIC FRACTURE PROBLEMS BY THE REPRESENTATIVE CELL METHOD

A general scheme for the solution of linear elastic quasi-periodic fra cture problems is presented. The simplest type of such problems is cha racterized by a nonperiodic stress state in a domain with translationa l symmetry. Employing the discrete Fourier transform reduces the initi al problem to a problem of a representative cell with specific boundar y conditions which may be solved analytically or numerically. The proc edure for solving the problem by the finite element method is develope d. The suggested technique is employed for the solution of the problem of antiplane deformation of a strip weakened by a periodic array of a rbitrary loaded cracks.