INTERFACIAL CRACK-TIP FIELD IN ANISOTROPIC ELASTIC SOLIDS

FOR INTERFACIAL cracks in anisotropic elastic solids, controversies exist in that several different definitions for the crack-tip field have been proposed in the literature. In this paper, we first devise a novel and convenient scheme for constructing the interfacial crack fields and then carry out a mismatch analysis for understanding the oscillatory structure of the crack-tip stress singularity. It is hoped that the mismatch analysis can shed some light on the controversial issues from a different perspective. Among different definitions for the stress intensity factors, it is found that the solution proposed by WU [Int. J. Solids Struct. 27, 455 (1991)], which conforms to a general definition suggested by RICE [J. appl. Mech. 55, 98 (1988)], is consistent with the analysis of local interface mismatch near the crack tip. Critical quantities governing the oscillation and mismatch are numerically evaluated for a number of materials including two fiber-reinforced composites and a group of crystals of cubic symmetry.