AN EDGE CRACK IN AN ORTHOTROPIC HALF PLANE

Using the Wiener-Hopf method an accurate solution is given of the problem of a crack entering onto the boundary of an orthotropic half-plane perpendicular to it. The half-plane is assumed to be loaded at infinity by tensile forces. A simple equation is obtained for the stress intensity factor K//I and the relationship of K//I to the properties of a wide range of orthotropic materials is found.