Three-dimensional analysis of cracking through the boundary of a two-phase material

The penetration through a two-phase boundary by a biplanar (kinked) crack of arbitrary shape is considered in this paper. The two-phase boundary is modeled as the interface between two perfectly-bonded elastic, isotropic, homogeneous half spaces with different elastic constants. The planar crack on either side of the interface may be arbitrarily orientated with respect to the interface boundary. The body-force method is used to derive a set of coupled two-dimensional singular integral equations which are solved numerically. The solution yields the three crack opening displacements as well as the three modes of stress intensity factors along the crack contour. Numerical results are given for a penny-shaped crack symmetrically oriented with respect to the interface. Mode I stress intensity factors are given for the biplanar crack that experiences a kink when passing through the interface.