Multiple cracks in an elastic half-plane subjected to thermo-mechanical loading

Abstract

An analytical solution is presented for the thermoelastic problem of a half-plane with several cracks under thermo mechanical loading using distributed dislocation technique. The uncoupled quasi-static linear thermoelasticity theory is adopted in which the change in temperature, if any, due to deformations is neglected. The stress field in a half-plane containing thermoelastic dislocation is obtained by means of the complex Fourier transform. Then, the problem is reduced to the solution of a set of simultaneous integral equations with Cauchy type singularities for dislocation density functions. Numerical results for the modes I and II stress intensity are presented to illustrate the effects of crack geometry and loading conditions on the stress intensity factors.Finally, the different cases of crack configurations and arrangements are examined.