A Study of Edge Cracks in an Interfacial Orthotropic Composite Material under the Normal Load

Abstract

In this article, an elastostatic problem with two symmetrically situated edge cracks of finite lengths in two bonded orthotropic strips, under the normal loading is considered. Two harmonic functions are considered which are expressed in terms of displacement and stress components. The problem is reduced into a pair of simultaneous singular integral equations of the first kind with Cauchy-type singularities, which have been solved using Chebyshev polynomials. The analytical expressions of stress intensity factors at the edges of the cracks are found. Variations of stress intensity factors for different depths of the strips and various cracks’ length are shown graphical for different particular cases taking the composite with Steel-Mylar and Boron-epoxy materials. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature India Private Limited.