Interface Edge Crack in a Bimaterial Elastic Half-Plane

Abstract

The plane strain elastic half-plane problem of an edge crack lying along the interface of two perfectly bonded dissimilar quarter-planes is considered. Moreover, on the boundaries of the two quarter-planes concentrated forces are acting. For the correct formulation of the crack problem at hand, we consider the existence of a small slippage zone near the crack tip where closing stresses act. The mixed boundary value problem is subsequently reduced to a system of two functional equations of the Wiener–Hopf type which are effectively solved. The exact analytical solution of the problem is presented in series form. Numerical results, as well as asymptotic solutions for the most important physical quantities, are also presented. It is shown that there exist certain modes of surface loading of the homogeneous half-space, that result to the formation of two distinct zones at the crack tip region, one where the crack opening occurs and another adjacent to it, where frictionless contact of crack lips takes place. Also, it is demonstrated that in the case of high contrast of Young's moduli of the two quarter-planes, two opening-contact intervals appear consecutively along the crack.