Journal of Elasticity 29: 97-131, 1992.

97
© 1992 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.

The stress field near the front of an arbitrarily shaped crack in a

three-dimensional elastic body

JEAN-BAPTISTE LEBLOND °) and OLIVIER TORLAI

Laboratoire de M~canique des Solides, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France

Received 12 February 1990

Abstract. The problem stated in the title is investigated with special emphasis on the first three
terms of the stress expansion, proportional to r-i/2, t o = 1 and r 1/2 respectively, where r denotes
the distance to the crack front. The particular case of a plane crack with a straight front and of
stresses independent of the distance along the latter is studied first. It is shown that the classical
plane strain and antiplane solutions must be supplemented by a few additional particular
solutions to obtain the full stress expansion. The general case is then considered. The stress
expansion is studied by writing the field equations (equilibrium, strain compatibility and
boundary conditions) in a system of suitable curvilinear coordinates. It is shown that the number
of independent constants in the stress expansion is the same as in the particular case considered
previously but that the curvatures of the crack and its front and the non-uniformity of the stresses
along the latter induce the appearance of corrective terms in this expansion,

Subject classification number: 73M05.

I. Introduction

The stress expansion near the tip of a crack is well known in the two-dimen-
sional case. The fundamental reference on this subject is the famous work of
Williams [1], which considered only the case of a straight crack and was
recently completed by Ting [2] who studied the general case of an arbitrarily
shaped crack. (In fact this author considered a still more general problem,
namely that of a corner or a notch with curved boundaries.)
Much less is known about the three-dimensional case. One essential result
(see e.g. Bui [3]) is that the most singular term of the stress expansion can be
simply obtained by superposing the plane strain (modes I and II) and
antiplane (mode III) solutions. However higher order terms of the expansion
are involved in such questions as the path followed by a propagating crack or
the stability of such a path (see e.g. Leblond [4] and Cotterell and Rice [5]),
so that information about these terms is also needed.

~) Now with the Laboratoire de Mod~lisation en M~canique, Universit~ Paris VI, Tour 66,
4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
98 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

The aim of this paper is to find the form of the stress expansion in the most
general three-dimensional case: arbitrarily shaped crack, arbitrarily curved
front. Attention will be essentially focused on the first three terms of the
expansion, proportional to r 1/2, r0= 1 and rl/2 respectively (where r is the
distance to the front), but extending the analysis to all orders in r would raise
no problem of principle. The results derived will be used in a future paper to
study crack paths in three dimensions. They may also be useful to check the
validity or assess the accuracy of numerical solutions of three-dimensional
crack problems.
We first consider the simpler problem of a plane crack with a straight front
and of stresses independent of the distance along the latter; in this case we
study all terms of the stress expansion. The main problem here is the
following: can all terms be simply obtained by superposing the plane strain
and antiplane solutions? As will be seen, the answer is "almost": other
solutions do exist, but there are very few of them and they do not intervene
in the most singular term.
We then introduce the curvatures of the crack and its front and the
variation of the stresses along the latter. In that case we only study the first
three terms of the stress expansion.
In a first step, the equilibrium equations, the Beltrami equations and the
boundary conditions are written in a system of "well-adapted" curvilinear
coordinates; this is done by writing the equations in a system of "tangent"
Cartesian coordinates and transforming them into curvilinear coordinates.
From the equations derived, it can be seen that extra terms (with respect to
the particular case considered first) appear in the stress expansion; these terms
do not involve new, independent constants but the stress intensity factors,
their derivatives along the front and the curvatures of the crack and its front.
A second step consists in defining methods to solve the equations derived in
order to find the precise form of the new terms just mentioned. These
equations are essentially two-dimensional so that techniques such as analytic
functions and Airy stress functions can be employed.
The methods defined are used in a third and final step to effectively solve
the equations and thus fully define the first three terms of the stress expansion.

II. The particular case of a plane crack with a straight front and of stresses
independent of the distance along the front

We consider a stress-free crack lying in the Oxl x3 plane, with a straight front
located along the Ox3 line (Fig. 1). The stresses are supposed to be indepen-
dent of x3. The equilibrium and Beltrami equations and the boundary
conditions then split into two groups of equations involving a11, a~2, a22, 0"33
 Stresses near the front of a crack 99

x2

Fig. 1. Plane crack with a straight front.

on the one hand and 013 , 023 on the other hand:

Group 1:

0-~,~ = 0; (1)

( 1 "q- V) A ~ t # -q- 0-kk,~lt = O; A0-33----0; (2)

0-:~ = 0, on the crack; (3)

Group 2:

0-3~,~ = O; (4)

A0-3~ = 0; (5)

0"23 = 0, o n t h e crack. (6)

In these equations Greek indices take the values 1 and 2 and Latin ones the
values 1, 2 and 3. The summation convention is employed for both types
of indices. The symbol A denotes the two-dimensional Laplacian, i.e.
A ~ ~2/~x21 q.- 02/~x29.

II. 1. Study of Group 1 of equations

The equilibrium equations (1) imply that the 0-,a's can be expressed in terms
of an Airy stress function ql(xl, x2):

0-~a = 6~a Aq~ -- ~,~a. (7)

100 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

Putting then

0"33 = V m(I) + ( 1 + v)f, (8)

we get trkk = (1 + v)(A~ + f ) , so that Beltrami's equations (2) become

fi~a g g ~ + f ~ a = 0; v A g ~ + (1 + v) Af = O. (9)

Summing eqns (91) over ~ and combining the result with eqn. (92), we get

AA~ = 0; Af = 0. (10)

Equations (91) reduce thus to f.~a = 0, so that the function f ( x l , x2) is of the
form

f =a+b~x~, (11)

where a and the b~'s are constants.

Let us now suppose the stresses to be proportional to r r, where
r = (x21 + x~2)1/2; then f is also proportional to r ~. Several possibilities arise
according to the value of y:

• If ~ ~ 0 and ¢ 1, a and the b~'s are necessarily zero. The a~a's derive from
a biharmonic stress function by eqns. (7, 101), and a33 is connected to all and
a22 by the relation

0"33 ~" ~0"ua,

which is a consequence of eqns (7, 8). Therefore the stress field corresponds to
a situation of plane strain, and the solution is the well-known one given by
Williams [1], which depends on two arbitrary constants (the stress intensity
factors of modes I and II if y = - 1 / 2 ) .
• If y = 0, the b~'s are necessarily zero but a is not. Independent solutions
can be obtained by taking • # 0, a = 0 on the one hand, • = 0, a # 0 on the
other hand. In the first case we obtain the classical Williams plane strain
solution, which depends on one arbitrary constant; this solution corresponds
in fact to a uniform all stress (and a uniform 0"33stress equal to Vail). In the
second case we get a solution which depends also on one arbitrary constant,
and corresponds to a uniform 0"33 stress.
• If ~ = 1, a is necessarily zero but the b~'s are not. For ~ # 0, bl = b2 = O,
we get the Williams plane strain solution which depends on two arbitrary
constants. For • = 0, bl and/or b2 # 0, we obtain a solution which depends
also on two arbitrary constants, and corresponds to a 0"33 stress linear with
respect to the coordinates.
 Stresses near the front of a crack 101

11.2. Study of Group 2 of equations

Let us put

0"31 = h; 0"32= - k . (12)

The equilibrium equation (4) then reads

h., = k,2. (13)

Moreover we get by eqns (4, 5):

(h.2 + k,l).~ = 0-31,21 - 0"32,11 = 0-31,12 + 0"32,22 ~-- (0-31,1 -]- 032,2),2 = 0;

(h,2 + k,j).2 = 0-31,22 - 0-32,12 = - 0 - 3 1 . 1 1 - 0-32,21 = - ( 0 " 3 1 , 1 ~- 0-32,2),1 = 0.

These equations imply that

h,2 = -k,1 + c, (14)

where c is a constant.
Now if the stresses are proportional to r 7, the derivatives of h and k are
proportional to r 7- i. Hence there are two cases:

• If ~ :~ 1, c is necessarily zero. Equations (13, 14) imply then that the

functions h and k satisfy the C a u c h y - R i e m a n n relations. Hence
0-3J - i0-32= h + ik is an analytic function of the complex variable z = Xl + ix2,
which means that the stress field corresponds to an antiplane situation. The
solution is well known (see e.g. Bui [3]) and depends on one arbitrary
constant (the stress intensity factor of mode III if 7 = - 1 / 2 ) .
• If 7 = 1, c is not necessarily zero. The functions h - cx2 and k verify the
C a u c h y - R i e m a n n relations; hence the function (0-31- cx2) -/0-32 is analytic.
Furthermore it satisfies the same boundary condition as the function
o'31- i0"32 (eqn. (6)). Therefore it is identical to the antiplane solution. This
means that the stress field is the sum of the antiplane solution and another
solution which corresponds to a o31 stress of the form cx2.

II.3. Summary

Table 1 displays the number of independent solutions for all values of the
exponent 7. The solutions are classified as "plane strain", "antiplane" and
"particular" (i.e., corresponding to non-zero values of a, the b~'s or c). The
102 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

Table I. Number of independent solutions for each value of the exponent ~,.

Exponent value -1/2 0 1/2 1 3/2, 2, 5/2. . . .

Plane strain solutions 2 1 2 2 2

Antiplane solutions 1 1 1 1 1
Particular solutions 0 1 0 3 0
Total 3 3 3 6 3

total number of solutions is equal to 3 for all values of V except for V = 1 for
which it is equal to 6.
The stress expansion up to order r 1/2 thus takes the form

tril = K~,f~(O)r- 1/2 + Tpg~.(O) + B~,h~(O)r 1/2 + O(r), (15)

where the summation convention is employed for the index p = I, II, III. (The
upper or lower position is used for this index for typographic reasons only,
and has no particular mathematical meaning.) The constants KI, KII, Km are
the stress intensity factors. The Tp's are the "non-singular stresses"; T~
represents a uniform tr~l stress (and a uniform a3~ stress equal to Vail: plane
strain solution), Tn a uniform o13 stress (antiplane solution) and Ti11 a
uniform 0"33 stress (particular solution). The expressions of the universal
• p, p'
functions f0' s, g;j~"s and hij s are recalled for completeness in the Appendix.

HI. General case - derivation of the field equations

III. 1. Geometric description o f the crack - definition o f a local basis and some
curvilinear coordinates

We consider now a stress-free, arbitrarily shaped crack with an arbitrarily

curved front (Fig. 2). At a given point O of the front, an orthonormal basis
(El, E2, E3) is defined as follows: E 1 lies in the tangent plane and is orthogo-
nal to the front, in the direction of the propagation (opposite to the crack);
E2 is orthogonal to the tangent plane; E 3 is tangent to the front. Cartesian
coordinates X1, X2, X3 are associated to this basis.
We want to describe the geometry of the crack and its front with a degree
of accuracy such that the deviations of the crack from its tangent plane and
of the front from its tangent be specified by formulae exact to the second
order with respect to the distance from the point O. (This will be seen to be
sufficient to obtain the corrections due to curvature and stress variation along
 Stresses near the front of a crack 103

ks,
\\

\\~...
~.~
"
~ ~

~ ~" X~
" ~'~"' ~
~x
z ~
.-
1
" ~[ ~
E~
%N

"
~

E~ E~

Fig. 2. Arbitrarily shaped crack.

the front which occur in the first three terms of the stress expansion). This is
done by specifying the components C~, C~3, C33 of the curvature tensor of the
crack at the point O and the curvature F of the projection of the front on the
tangent plane at the point O t2). The equation of the crack in the vicinity of the
point O is then

1
x2 = -~c~.x~x. + o[(x~ + x~)3/2]. (16)

where the summation convention is employed for the indices 2, # which take
the values 1 and 3. Furthermore the equation of the projection of the front on
the tangent plane is

F
x, = -~ x~ + o(x~).

Equation (16) then implies that the equation of the front is

F
x, = S x] + o(x]); x2= x~ + o(x]). (17)

Let us now define a local orthonormal basis ( e l , e2, e3) and some curvilin-
ear coordinates Xl, x2, x3 "well fit" to express the stress expansion. For every

(2) It would seem more natural to use the curvature of the front itself (instead of its projection).
However the choice o f this parameter would lead to more complex calculations and final formulae.
104 J.-B. Leblond and O, Torlai

point M located sufficiently near the front, there exists a unique plane ~
orthogonal to the front and containing M (see Fig. 2). Let H be the
intersection of ~ and the front, and (el, e2, e3) the analog of the basis
(E~, 22, E3) but taken at the point H instead of O. Xl and x2 are then defined
as the Cartesian coordinates of M in the plane ~ , the origin and basis chosen
being H and (ex, e2); we will also use polar coordinates r, 0 associated to xt
and x2, and the complex_variable z = x~ + ix~. Finally x3 is defined as the
curvilinear distance s = O H along the front.
Let us now derive the relations connecting the bases (21,22, 23) and
(e~, e2, e3). Let Y~, Y~, Y3 be the Cartesian coordinates of H. Y~ and Y2 are
connected to Y3 by eqns (17). Therefore

dOH
= FY3Et + C33 Y3E2 + E3 + O(Y~). (18)
dY~

It follows that

dx 3 ds dOH
= 1 + o(Y]) =~ x3 = s = Y~ + o ( Y ~ )

=~ Y3 = x3 + O(x~). (19)

Equations (18, 19) imply that the unit tangent vector e 3 to the front is

d O H / d Y3
e3 - []dOH/d Y3 ]1 = Fx3E~ + C33x3E 2 + E 3 + O(x~). (20)

Furthermore eqn. (16) implies that the unit normal vector to the crack is

3OM/3X3 x 0OM/3XI
Ii-
II3OM/OX3 x c ~ o n / o J ( III

= - ( C I l X I q- CI3X3)E1 q- E 2 - (CI3X 1 q- C33X3)E3 q-- O(X21 d- X~). (21)

The vector e2 is the value of n at the point H, i.e. by eqns (17) and (19)

e 2 = --C~3x3E ~q- E2 - C33x3E3 -b O(x~). (22)

Finally e I is given by

e I = e 2 × e 3 -- E~ + CI3x3E 2 - 1~x323 at- O(x~). (23)

 Stresses near the front of a crack 105

Let us now relate the two sets of coordinates X~, X2, X3 and x~, x2, x 3. x 3
is easily determined as a function of X1, X2, X3 by writing that the vectors
dOH/dY3 and I t M are orthogonal, using eqns (17) (for the Yi's) and
(18, 19):

dOH
--. nM= r x ~ x , + C~x~X~ + x~ - x~ + O(x], x~X,, x~XO = o
dY~
~ x~ = x~ + r x ~ x ~ + c . x ~ x 3 + o(l[OMll3). (24)

Furthermore

r
Xl = H M ' e ~ = X 1 - ~ X ~
3 + c,~x~x~÷o(llOMll3); (25)

x= = n ~ - e2 : X2 - _C~ x~ - c . x , x3 + o ( IIOMI[ ~) (26)

by eqns (17) (for the Y-'s) and (19, 22-24).

Ill.2. Equilibrium equations, Beltrami's equations and boundary conditions in

curvilinear coordinates

The stress components will be expressed in the local basis (el, e2, e3), as
functions of the curvilinear coordinates x~, x2, x3. It is therefore necessary to
write the field equations using this basis and coordinates. This will be done by
using first the basis (El, E2, E3) and the Cartesian coordinates Xl, X2, X3 and
transforming the equations into the local basis and curvilinear coordinates.
First of all one must relate the components Y-ij's and 0"o.'s of the stress
tensor in the bases (E~,E2, E3) and (el,e2, e3). One gets from eqns
(20, 22, 23):

~11 = 0-11q- 2(r'o13 - - C 1 3 0 - 1 2 ) x 3 "~- O(xi); (27)

Y'22 = 0"22"[- 2(C33 0-23-1- C130"12)x3 At-O(xl); (28)

~-'~33= 0"33- - 2 ( [ ' 0 " 1 3 q- C330"23)x331-O(x~); (29)

~"]'12= 0"12+ [C330"13"q- CI3(0"11 - 0"22) + F0"23]x3 + O(x~)'~ (30)

'~23 = 0"23+ [Ci30"13+ C33 (0-33 - 0"22) - F0"12]x3 + O(xi)'~ (31)

Y31 = 0"31q- [ - C330-12 + 1-'(0"33-- 0"11) - - C130"23]x3 + O(xl)" (32)

106 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

To obtain the equilibrium and Beltrami equations, one must relate the
partial derivatives O/OXi's and 02/0X~ 0X/s to the O/Oxg's and 02/0x~ Oxj's. In
fact this needs to be done only in the plane x3 = 0 orthogonal to the front at
the point O, because the field equations will be written only in that plane (3~.
Using eqns (24-26), one gets

0 0
(e = 1, 2); (33)
OX~ - Ox~'

(0 0)
0 X 3 ~" 0X 3 "JI- C13 x 2 Ox-~ - x l ~ x 2 + d.t.; (34)

02 02
(~,//= 1, 2); (35)
OX, OX~ Ox, Ox~ '

0X---~33= - F ~ - C33 + d.t.; (36)

02 02 (02 02 )
OX1 Ox 3 OxI Ox~ "1- C13 x2 ~ - xl OxI Ox2 O~Ox2 + d.t.; (37)

o2 o2 ( 02 o2 +__o)
"OX2 O X 3 -- OX2 OX~
3 "J[-Cl] X2 OX 1 OX2 Xl Ox~ OxlJ+ d.t. (38)

for x 3 = 0. In these equations some terms, noted "d.t.", have been discarded
because they yield terms proportional to r 1/2 and r - 1/2 (which will be seen to
be negligible) in the equilibrium and Beltrami equations.
Let us now suppose that the stress expansion is given by the same
expression (15) as in the particular case of Section II, the stress components
being those in the basis ( e l , e2, e3) and r, 0 denoting the polar coordinates
associated to the coordinates x~, x2 introduced above, with the only difference
that now the Kp's, Tp's and Bp's are functions of s. Let us consider the
equilibrium and Beltrami equations in the plane x3 = 0. The left-hand sides of
these equations can be obtained through eqns (27-38):

0Y~lk dKp
~ - ds F~3 - C3~KpF~z + C,~K~(x2F~., - x,F~.2 - F~3)

+ FK~(F~ -- F~,) + O(r°); (39)

(3) This is sufficient because the point O of the front is arbitrary, and the plane orthogonal to the
front at O sweeps the whole space when O varies.
 Stresses near the front of a crack 107

OX k - FI~3 -~- C33Kp(F~3 - F~2 ) -[- CI3Kp(x2F]~3,1 - x I F~3,2 -q- F~3 )

- rGF~: + O(r°); (40)

dE3k dKp '~

~X/, - ds F33 - 2C33KpF~3 + C~3Kp(x2F~3"~ - x~F~3"~)

- 2rK, F~ + O(r°); (41)

(1 -I-V) (~2E~tfl ~ ~2Zkk

~x~ ~xk ~x= ~x~

= --(1 + v)C33KpF~#,2 - (1 + v)I~KpF~#,~ + O(r-1); (42)

~ 2)'~33 ~ 2~.~kk
(1 + v ) - - +
~x~ ,gX,,
OX~ = --(1 + v)C33KpF'~,2 - (1 + v)FGF~,,+ O(r-1);
(43)

~2E13 ~2Ekk OG
(1 + v ) - - ÷ - - ds F~,l -- (1 + v)Ca3gvF~,a
~x~ ~x~ ~x~ ~x3

"q- C l 3 g p ( x 2 F ~ k , 1 1 - Xl fl~k,12 -- Fl~k,2) -- (1 + v)t~gpFl~l,i + O(r-~); (44)

3 2~'~23 (~2~kk dG ~
(1 + v ) - - + - - ds F~k,2 -- (1 + v)CaaKpF~2,2
~Xk~Xk ~a'2~X3

"q- c13gp(x2Fl~k,12 - Xlfl~k,22 + Fl~k,l) -- (1 + v)FgpF~2,, + O(r-~). (45)

In these equations the functions F o. s are defined by

F~(x,, x2) = f~(O)r- ~/~; (46)

the commas denote differentiations with respect to the x;'s (not the X,.'s); and
A is the Laplacian with respect to x~ and x2.
Let us now consider the boundary conditions in the plane x3 = 0. The polar
angle of a point M of the crack lying in that plane is

O = _ _ _ n - t a n -1 =___n ~- + O ( r : ) (47)
108 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

,X2
.. = c_~.o(x:)
2

Ion'1( ~_._~
,-.,,~( ",? ~-__~_-_ 0 x~1

Fig. 3. Intersectionof the crack and the plane x3 = 0.

(see Fig. 3). The normal vector to the crack is given by eqn. (21) with X3 = 0,
i.e. by eqn. (47):

Cllr
n = - - ~ - - e r -- eo + Cl3re3 + O(r2). (48)

It follows from eqns. (47, 48) that assuming again the stress expansion to be
given by eqn. (15), the left-hand sides of the boundary conditions are

CI1 r
(~.n)r(r,O)= C~r r l~Vtr + n ) + KvFP,o.o(r, ++_~)
2 --v--rr,-,-- --~-

+ C~3rKpFrr3(r, +n) + O(r); (49)

CII r
(a" n)0(r, 0) = ~ - KpF~o,o(r, +n) + O(r); (50)

Cllr K F¢ ~r,
(if" n)3(r, 0) = ~ p 3r\ " ~ ) +C~---~-KvF~oo(r,
Z ' ++_z)

-t- C13rKt,F~3(r, +_g) + O(r). (51)

111.3. Corrective terms to the Williams expansion

It is apparent from eqns. (39-45, 49-51) that if the stress expansion is given
by eqn. (15), the field equations are not satisfied; the principal terms of the
left-hand sides of the equilibrium equations, the Beltrami equations and the
boundary conditions are proportional to r -~/2, r -3/2 and r 1/2 respectively,
times dK/ds, CK or F K (where K denotes a stress intensity factor and C a
component of the tensor C). To correct for this, extra terms proportional to
(dK/ds)r ~/2, CKr ~/2 and FKr ~/2 must be introduced in the stress expansion,
 Stresses near thefront of a crack 109

which thus takes the form

~i: = r,~ff~(O)r -'/~ + ~',,gf~(o)

I )
+ ~ 5 ( ° ) +-~s ~5(°~ + G"g'm~"(O) + r~'n'5(O) r'/~+ O(r).
(52)

(Here again the upper or lower position of the indices has no special
mathematical meaning.) If Xij denotes one of the functions added in the
expansion, its introduction induces the appearance of the following terms in
the right-hand sides of eqns (39-45, 49-51):
• X~.... X2~,~ and X3~,~ respectively in eqns (39-41);
• ( 1 + v) AX, a + Xkg,,a, ( 1 + v) AX33, ( 1 + v) AXe3 and ( 1 + v) AXe3 respec-
tively in eqns (42-45);
• -X~o(r, +~), -Xoo(r, +~) and -X3o(r, +~) respectively in eqns ( 4 9 -
51).
It follows that the field equations are satisfied (i.e. the right-hand sides of eqns
(39-41), (42-45), (49-51) are equal to zero up to order r -~/~, r -3/2 and r 1/~
respectively) provided the functions

L~ =/~.(O)r'/2; Mp~U
.._ q = rn~u(O)r~/2; N~ = n~(O)r 1/2 (53)

verify the following equations:

Functions Lqp~ s:

Group 1:

LP~a,a = - FP~3; (54)

(1 + v) AL~a + L~k,~a = 0; AL~3 = 0; (55)

LP~o(r, +~r) = L~o(r, +n) = O. (56)

Group 2:

L~,~ = --F~3; (57)

( 1 "+"V) ALP~3= -- F~k,a ; (58)

L~o(r, +zO = O. (59)

110 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

Functions -'-ij
M p11' S..

Group 1:

MP~
~t~,/~
= 0; (60)

(1 + v) A "~"~
a~'pll
ufl
±
q-
M pll
kk,~tfl = 0"~ AM{~' = O; (61)

Mpll[. +n) r r
ro v, - =-~(F~ro,o(r,+re)-F~,r(r, +__n)); M ~ ( r , +n) =-~F~o,o(r, +n).
(62)

Group 2:

Mpl~
3~t,~t = 0; (63)

AM{~ ~ = 0; (64)

r
M~o'(r, +~) = ~ (F{o,o(r, +~) - F~,(r, ~x)). (65)

Functions M~3's:

Group 1:

~#p13 1
~,~ ~,~ = ~ ( - x ~ F f 3 , 1 + x~ F13,2
~ + F~3);

(66)
Mpl3 1
2u,~ = ~ ( --x2F~3,1 + Xl F~3,2 - F~3);

(1 + v ) ' ~"v~a3a# ~pl3

+ ~,~ kk,~# = 0; ~M~ 3 = 0; (67)

~.~3~.
2varO ~ t ~ +~)
~ ~ ~F~3(r, +z);
~ M~3(r, +_~) = O. (68)

Group 2:

M ~~,,, = ~1 ( - x ~ F ~ , , + x, Fg~,=); (69)

 Stresses near the front o f a crack 111

1
(1 + v) AM~3~3 = ~ ( -x2F~g,~l + XlF~k,12 d- F~-k,2);
(70)
( 1 + v) '~ i.¢p13
,~1,1 1 ( - x 2F ~ , ~2 + x I F~,22 - F ~ , l ) ;
23 = -~

r ~
M ~ 3 ( r , ++_~)= ~F33(r, ___~). (71)

Functions M~33's:

Group l:

l~,~ = F~2;
Mp33 ~
~1.¢p33
2~,~
= F~z - F~3; (72)

( 1 + v) ~,~A
i/~33~ + M~33k~,~= ( 1 + v)F~#,2; AM~333 = F~k,2; (73)

M~3(r, ~)= g~]3(r, ~ ) = 0 . (74)

Group 2:

M~33
3~,~ = 2F~3; (75)

A M ~ 3 = F~z.2; (76)

M ~ z (r, ~ ~) = 0. (77)

Functions N~'s:

Group 1:

= - =
(78)

(1 + ~) A N ~ + N f , , ~ = (1 + r)F~,~; AN~3 = F~k,1 ; (79)

N~o(r, ~ ) = N~o(r, ~ ) = O. (80)

Group 2:

N~,~ = 2F~3; (81)

AN~3 = F~3,~; (82)

N%(r, ~ ) = O. (83)
112 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

The above equations have been divided into two groups for each tensorial
function, involving the components 11, 12, 22, 33 (or rr, tO, 00, 33) on the one
hand and 13, 23 (or r3, 03) on the other hand.

IV. General case - methods for solving the field equations

The various problems to be solved to find the functions Lij19' s, Mff"'s, Ni~P's
offer strong similarities. In fact they are mainly of two types; it is therefore
appropriate to define some general formalisms to solve these two kinds of
problems. (A third, more complex type of problem will also be encountered,
but this will happen only once so that developing a general method of solution
would not be useful in that case.)

IV. 1. Problem of type I

This problem consists in finding some functions X,a's, X33 of xl and x2,
homogeneous of degree 1/2 and verifying the following equations:

X,#., = V,~; (84)

( 1 + v) AX=a + Xkk.=a : 0; AX33 = 0, (85)

where V is a given harmonic function of xl and x2, homogeneous of degree

1/2. Equations (84) are analogous to some equilibrium equations in the
presence of conservative body forces (but the analogy is not complete,
because the "body forces" do not appear in the "Beltrami equations" (85)). In
addition the X~j's are required to satisfy some boundary conditions, which
need not be specified here.
The general solution of eqns (84) is

X~, = 6~,(AO + V) - ~.~,, (86)

where tl) is an arbitrary function of x~ and x 2. Putting then

X33 = v A(1)- 2V + (1 + v)f (87)

and reasoning like in Section II. 1, one finds that • is biharmonic and f of the
form a + b,x~. But f m u s t be homogeneous of degree 1/2 like the X~'s, so it
must be zero.
The solution can thus be obtained by looking for a biharmonic function •
satisfying the boundary conditions, and calculating the unknown functions (in
 Stresses near the front of a crack 113

polar coordinates) by the following formulae:

1
Xrr = --
+_~I~ r -91-V'~ Xoo : • rr "J[-V;
r ~ dP'°° r " '
(88)

Xro : - - ( ! ~,O) X33~--VA~--2V

(which immediately result from eqns (86, 87)).

IV.2. Problem of type H

This problem consists in finding some functions Y3,'s of xl and xz, homoge-
neous of degree 1/2 and satisfying the equations

Y3,,, = h ; (89)

AY3, = j , , (90)

where h and the j~'s are given functions of Xl and x2, homogeneous of degree
-1/2 and - 3 / 2 respectively and verifying the conditions

Ah = 0; j,,, = 0. (91)

Here again some boundary conditions should also be verified.

Since h is harmonic, there exists an analytic function f such that

f =h+ik. (92)

Let us put

F=;f=H+iK; (93)

then Y3~ = H/2, Y32 = K/2 is a particular solution of eqn. (89). Thus the
general solution of this equation is

H K
Y31~---~--~-~,2; Y32=~-Z,I (94)
114 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

where ~ is an arbitrary function. Furthermore eqn. (912) implies that there

exists a function g such that

Jl =g,2; J2 = - g a . (95)

Insertion of these expressions into eqns (90) yields

(AX - g).~ = 0,

which implies that A:t - g is a constant. But A:t and g are homogeneous of
degree -1/2, since the Y3,'s are homogeneous of degree 1/2. Hence A:t - g
must be zero.
The solution can thus be obtained in the following way: evaluate f and F
from eqns (92, 93); evaluate g from eqns (95); determine the function ~ by
solving the equation A:t = g (together with the boundary conditions) under
the form

9
:~"(0) + ~ 2(0) = ~(0), (96)

where 2 and ~ are defined by

r 3/2 g(O)
~=~(0)~; g=~; (97)

finally calculate the unknown functions (in polar coordinates) by the formulae

H* 1 K*
Y3r ------~-+-Z,0;r Y3o = - ~ - - - L , ; H * + iK* = F* = Fe -i° (98)

(which immediately result from eqns (94)). (Note that the function F* in eqns
(98) is not analytic.)

V. General case - effective solution of the field equations

Before solving the field equations for the various functions L,~'s, M,~.~'s, N v~''s,
it is appropriate to make the following remarks.
Firstly, if one considers two solutions of the field equations, homogeneous
of degree 1/2 (as required by eqns (52)), the difference of these two solutions
verifies the corresponding homogeneous equations and is still homogeneous of
 Stresses near the front of a crack 115

degree 1/2. Thus it is of the form

X~j = Aph~(O)r 1/2,

where the Ap'S some constants and the functions hijp~ s are those which
a r e

appear in the third term of the stress expansion (15) for a plane crack with a
straight front. Hence the solution of the field equations is not unique; however
any two solutions, when inserted into eqns (52), yield the same form of the
stress expansion. Therefore it is sufficient to find one solution. The simplest
one will of course be selected.
Secondly, for any of the problems to be solved, either Group 1 or Group 2
of equations will have a trivial (zero) solution, because the functions which
appear in the right-hand sides of the equations (the FP~p's and F~3, or the
F~'s, depending on the group of equations considered) will be zero. Only the
other, non-trivial group of equations will be considered in the sequel. (The
functions which are not given below can be taken as equal to zero.)

V.1. Functions L~j

Mode I
Equations (57-59) (Group 2) form a problem of type II; indeed the fact that
F~3 and FJ,k are harmonic (which results from the 33 component of Beltrami's
equations for the Fij~' s) implies that conditions (91) are verified. Using eqn.
(A14) of the Appendix, one gets

2v 0 2v
h- x~cos~; f=-x//Z~r--~;

F ~ -4v ; F*=-4v e-i°/2 ,

Furthermore g is the harmonic conjugate function of

F~,k 2 0
- - -- C O S --

l+v x/~ 2

(see eqns (A1)), i.e. ( 2 / 2 x ~ ) s i n 0/2; the general solution of eqn. (96) is
therefore

0 30 30
~ = sin ~ + A sin -~- + B cos --~-,
116 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

where A and B are some constants. The boundary condition (59) can be
satisfied by taking A = 1 - 4v/3, B = 0. The solution is then

L~r= -2v cos~+ ~-2v cos-- ;

(99)

L~o:(2v-~)X/-~(sinO+sin3---~).

Mode H
Using eqns (A2), it is easy to see that the problem is again of type II, the
functions h and g being the same as for mode I provided 0 is replaced by
0 + re. Therefore the expressions of F* and of the general solution of eqn. (96)
are also the same provided this replacement is made. Furthermore the
boundary condition (59) can be satisfied here simply by taking A = B - 0.
The solution is then

= - sm-~ ; L3o = 2v - cos 2"

Mode III
The function F~n -- :~m is analytic; let us put
tr32

( F I I I I - - t;-Lr"3I2I ' ") : P -]- iQ. (101)

Then

- Fit I = - P 1; l~'IIl
• -- J:32 ~" Q,I = -- P,2.

It follows that the system (54-56) (Group 1) is of type I, with

V = - P = -Re f (F~'I-~'~'m'
*..Jr 3 2 ] ~--- - - Re f( F~ -- ;L'm' e-i°
I..v 3 0 ]

= Re 2i = - sm (102)
 Stresses near the front o f a crack 117

(see eqns (A3)). Furthermore biharmonic functions • which are homoge-

neous of degree 5/2 (as required by eqns (86, 87)) are of the form (see
Williams [1]):

(
• = r ~/~ A s i n ~ + cos~+Csin +Dcos

where ,4, B, C, D are some constants. The boundary conditions (56) can be
satisfied by taking .4 = 8/15x/~, B = C = D = 0. The corresponding solution
is

l--rr
.'"= 45 ~ f ~ s i n O~ , •
---- t-I"=O; "l-~rO
1-,00
"' ~ -- ~/~ 0
COS ~,
•

(103)

r~-"~3 3
/4+ 0
sin 2
~ --"

V.2. Functions M ~ 1~'s

Mode I
All right-hand sides in eqns (60-65) are zero, as can be checked from eqns
~ , ~ I 11 ~
(A1). Therefore all the ---u v can be taken as equal to zero•

Mode H
Equations (60-62) (Group 1) form a problem of type I, with V = 0. The
boundary conditions (62) read

- ( \1r~ 0 ~. ./,~ ( r , _ _ n ) = +_3 ~~ n ; ~.,,(r, + n ) = O .

They can be met by taking

2r 5/2 0
• =~ cos ~.

The solution is then

Mm~ 9 ~-~r 0 ~.¢m, 15 ~ O.

rr =--2 X/2n c o s ~ ; ,',0o = 2 X/ 2n cos ~,
(104)
o. o
1,. ro = ~ sin 5 .... 33 = COS -~.
118 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

Reference was made in the Introduction to Ting's study [2] of the stress
expansion near the tip of a curved crack, in the two-dimensional case. Then
the dKp/ds's are necessarily zero, and so are also C13, C33, F. Therefore the
only functions which can be calculated in that case are the M,~l's. The results
/~rll I ~S and MijII11 ~_
derived by Ting for the .._;j ~ are identical to those obtained
here. (The comparison cannot be made for mode III because Ting studied
only the plane strain case.)

Mode III
Equations (63-65) (Group 2) form a problem of type II, with h = 0, j, = 0.
Hence the function Z is harmonic; the boundary condition (65) reads

-Z,r(r, +~) = -Y-~

and can be met by taking

r 3/2 30
~ = -- 2 - ~ sin -~-.

The solution is then

..,,,,,
1,,3r = -~ cos~- . . . . 3o = sin-~. (105)

V.3. Functions M p13~

o s

Mode I
Equations (69-71) (Group 2) form a problem of type II. Indeed

A ( _ x 2 F a 3 , 1 + Xl F~3,2) - F 3 3i, 1 2 q- F I33,21 -- 0

' 1=
since F~3 is harmonic, so that condition (911) is satisfied; furthermore

1
-2 ( --x2flkk'~l + xlF~kk'12 + F L , 2 ) = -~
1 (XlFIkk'l + x2F~,,2),2;

1 ~ ~ ~ l
-
2 ( --X2Fkk'12 d- XlFkk,22 - F ~ , ~ ) = ---~ (xlFI,~,l + x2F~k,2),~
 S t r e s s e s near the f r o n t o f a c r a c k 119

since F~kk is also harmonic, which implies that condition (912) is satisfied too.
Using eqns (A1), we get

1 1 FI V 0 iv •

h = ~ ( -xzF~33,, + x , FX33,2) = -~ ~3,0 = 2 " v / ~ sin~; f=- 2V/2r~z,

F = -- iv ; F * = - iv

1 I 1 l+v 0
g = -~ (XlFkk,~ + x2F~k~.2) =~rF~kk., - 2-~ COS~ •

The general solution of eqn. (96) is therefore

~ 3O
= 1 + Vcos-02+A sin + B cos-~-,

where A and B are some constants. The right-hand side in the boundary
condition (71) is zero, so that the latter can be fulfilled by taking .4 = B = 0.
The corresponding solution is

~.,~I13__ 1 -- 3V~ sin__~~ ~'-

21~-I13
30 - 3 - - v ~ cos -0. (106)
~"~ - 8 8 2

Mode H
The problem is again of type II. Like for the functions -Lon' s, the functions h
and g, and therefore the function F* and the general solution of eqn. (96), can
be simply deduced from those for mode I by replacing 0 by 0 + n. The
boundary condition (71) reads

-Z,r (r, +n) = T-v

and can be satisfied by taking

l+v 0 1 - - 3 v . 30
;~ = ~ sin ~ + ~ sin ~ - .
120 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

The solution is then

0
3r -- 8 COS~+3COS-- ;
(107)
MII,3
30 = ~ ( V ~ 3- - s i n ~ + ~09V--3
sin 3~02).

Mode III
Equation (101) implies that F~I= Q,2; wul
-32 = - Q , ~ , where Q is harmonic.
Therefore

~( .. will . [:'Ill -- L'IIIx 1

-- J~2/r"13,1 "F AI/" 13,2 -I-/" 23 ) = -~(XlQ., + x2Q,2),l;

~( . rr~lll . ~TIll ~'lIl~ 1

--.~2_r 23,1 "~ AI_P23,2 -- ~t 13 ! : --~ (Xl Q,t + xzO,2),2.

This implies that the problem defined by eqns. (66-68) (Group 1) is of type
I. Q is the harmonic conjugate function of P, i.e. -2x/r/2n cos 0/2 (see eqns
(101,102)). Therefore

1 1 1 ~-r 0
V = - ~ (x,Q,, + x2Q.2) = - ~ rQ,r = ~ ~ / ~ cos-~.

The boundary conditions (68) read

- - ( !(I)'O),r(r' "[-~)= ~ _ _ ~ ' , (l~,rr+V)(r, _-]-70=0

and are satisfied by taking

2r ~/2 0
• = -- COS--.
2

The corresponding solution is

~ 0 ~ 0 8diI113 1~ 0
Mlrlri13= 2 COS ~ ; MIlll3
oo = 3
_ •
cos 2 . . . . rO
~
~
_o
sin 2'
(108)
MIIII3 0
33 ~-~(4v - 1) ~ COS - - .
2
 Stresses near the front o f a crack 121

V.4. Functions Mi~11133,_~. and ~,~

A/-III,s

Functions /~rI.~133
~t./ 'S
The function ~23K'IIIis harmonic. Furthermore the fight-hand sides of eqns (76)
can be written as

i l l.
F 31.2~ ~-,III ]71II
-t 32,2 = --~t 31,1

for • = 1 and 2 respectively. This implies that eqns. (75-77) (Group 2) form
a problem of type II. Using eqns (A3), we get

h ~--''"~'IIl-
a'~t 23 % /2~ c°s-02", f = X /2~ ' " F = 4 ~ ; F* = 4 [ " e-i°/2;
~/ 2~

1
/TIII __ _ _ - - s i n -0.
g = --~3 - x/~ 2

The general solution of eqn. (96) is

1. 0 30 30
:~ = - ~ s ~ n - ~ + A sin-~-+ B cos-~- ;

the boundary condition (77) can be met by taking A = 5/6, B = 0. The

corresponding solution is

Mlli33
3r = cos-~ + ~ cos ; 30 = - ~ - ~ ( 0
sin -~ + sin ~ ) .

(109)

Functions - . ij~Vlll' s

Equations (81-83) (Group 2) form a problem of type II, the functions h and
g, and therefore the function F* and the general solution of eqn. (96), being
the same as for the functions ---iyMII133"~provided 0 is replaced by 0 + n. The
boundary condition (83) can be simply met by taking A = B = 0. The solution
is then

o
~,3r = - ~ sin 2 ' ~,30 = - cos-~. (110)

V.5. Functions M~33"s and N p,

e s (p = L 11)

The systems defined by eqns (72-74) and (78-80) are of a more complex, yet
unencountered type. (They are not of type I because the "body forces" which
122 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

appear in eqns (72) and (78) are not conservative). We will solve them
simultaneously by putting

Z i j = MP.3~
--v 3 +iN~.. (111)

Equations (72, 73, 78, 79) then become

Z~,,, = Fq2 + i(Fq~ - F]3); Z2,,, = F~2 - F]3 + iFq2; (112)

(1 + v) AZ~# + Zkk,,# = (1 + v)(F~#,2 + iF~#,~); AZ33 = F~k,2+ iF~k,~. (113)

Using the f o ~ a l i s m developed by Muskhelishvili [6], we know that there

exist two analytic functions ~ and ~ such that

Fq~ + F~2 = 4 Re ~'; F~2 - - Fql + 2iF{2 = 2(e~" + ~'). (114)

It follows that

F{~ = Re(2~' - ~ " - ~'); F~2 = Re(2~' + $~" + if');

(115)
F~2 = I m ( ~ " + ~'); F~3 = v(F¢~ + F~2) = 4v Re ~',

which implies that eqns (112) can be put under the f o ~

Z~,~ = i( 1 - 2v)(~' + ~') - i ~ " - i~ ';

(116)
Z~,~ = ( 1 - 2v)(~' + ~') + ~ " + ~'.

Using the relations

~f df~z Of df~z=~,;
Ox~ dzOx~ - f ' ; Ox~= d~Ox~
~ ~
(117)
Of_ Of_~; Of_ 0~=_¢=,
~x~ dx~ Ox2 dx~

where f is an arbitra~ analytic function, it is easy to c h ~ k that a particular

solution of eqns (116) is ~ven by

z ~ = z g : = z ° = i(~ - 2~)¢ - i c e ' - i¢; z ~ = 2(1 - v)~. (1~8)

 Stresses near the front of a crack 123

The general solution of these equations is then

Z ~ = Z,°~ + t ~ A~ - ~,~, (119)

where @ is an arbitrary complex (but not analytic) function.

Putting

Z33 -- v(2Z ° + AO) ÷ (1 + v)f (120)

and inserting this expression and eqns. (119) into eqns (113), we obtain

tS~# AA~ + f , ~ = F~,2 + iF~,~ - ~# AZ ° - 2Z,°~ ;

(121)
v AA~ + ( 1 + v) A f = F~k,2 + iF~k,1 -- 2v AZ °.

Summing eqns (1211) over ~ and combining the result with eqn. (1212), we
obtain

AA~ = - 2 AZ°; Af=FP,,.~+iFP~a. (122)

Now, using eqns (117) and (118~), we get

__2i{.~ ~ ' O~ O ~ ' ) = . ,,

az°= ~Ox, ~ ? ~ 8x: ~x:J - 4 , ~ ;

therefore eqn. (122~) reads

AA~ = 8i~". (~23)

F u r t h e ~ o r e , using eqns (115) and (117), it is easy, though somewhat tedious,

to check that for every value of • and fl,

F~a,2 + iF~a.1 + 6,~ AZ ° = - i ( O + f ~ ' + ¢),,a-

This relation and eqn. (122~) imply that eqns (121~) read

( f + i~ + ice' + i¢ + 2z°),,~ = 0,

which means that the function (. • -) is of the f o ~ a + b,x,. But this function
is homogeneous of degree 1/2, since the Z~'s are homogeneous of this degree;
hence it must be zero. Using eqn. (118~), we conclude that

f = i[2~' + ~ + (4v - 3)~]. (124)

124 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

For each mode, the solution can therefore be obtained by the following
procedure: evaluate tO and $ from eqns (114); evaluate the Z°,a's from eqns
( 118); calculate f from eqn. ( 124); determine ¢ by solving eqn. (123) (together
with the boundary conditions) under the form

~ 25
iS"'(O) + iS"O)+ ~ iS(O) = 8~"(0), (125)

where iS and t~" are defined by

r5/2 , tp"= (p"(O) .

• = IS(0) ~ " x/~-~r3/z' (126)

finally get the solution (in polar coordinates) through the formulae

Z,~ = Z,°~ + - ~1 ~ ,oo + 1r¢ ~""

. Z o o = Z ~ o + t ~" ;
(127)
Z,o = Z,°o - (~ tb.o ) ; Z33 = v(2Z° + AO) + ( l + v)f
\ ' / ,r

(which result from eqns (119, 120)).

Mode I
Using eqns (AI), we get

_ 1 0 9" 1 . ~
Ret#" 2---~cos-~; -2x/~ , tp= ;

1
F122- FI, + 2iFl~ = (F~oo - FI~ + 2iF~o) e -2,o = 2 ~x/2nr ( e -io/: _ e - ~,o/:);

~k'= 1 . 1~
4x/~' ~=~ ;

Z°=i~f~n((1-2v) -~
e-i°/2-1e~°/2 -- -'~
1 e- 3io/2 ) ;

Z102=2(l_v ) r eiO/2; f = i r ( 4 v _ 3 ) e_iO/2+_~eiO/2 + e_3io/2 .

 Stresses near the front of a crack 125

From now on, it is preferable to distinguish between real and imaginary

parts. Considering real parts first, we get

ReZ°r+ReZ°o=2ReZ°= f-~n((3-4v) sin ~ - sin ;

Re Z~o - Re Z~° + 2i Re Z~°o = 2i ez~°Re Z°2

= 2i( 1 - v) ~ (e 5i°/2+ e3i°/z),

which implies that

ReZ°,=~f-~nI(~-2v)sinO+(~-v)sin3-~O2 +(1-v)sin5-~02];

= - cos + cos ;

furthermore

Ref = 4v - sin -0
2 + ~ sin .

The real part of ~ verifies the same differential equation (125) as ill itself, the
right-hand side being Re 8itS"= - 2 sin 30/2. The boundary conditions (74)
can be met by taking

~ /4v
Re • = ~ - -
11\ • 0 1
~-~) sm ~ + ~ sin
3_~02+ 4 (l-v) sin~

(This choice is not the simplest one for Re/1~, but it leads to the simplest result
for the -.-ijMI33's,"indeed it allows for the elimination of all sines and cosines of
the argument 50/2 in the expression of these functions.) The corresponding
126 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

solution, obtained by taking the real part of eqns (127), is

_~ir,~~[(~-~)
= 0(~ ) ~1 - sin ~ + - v sin ;

~,~( ~)~(0 3~)

oo = v- sin -~ + sin - - ;

(128)
~,~ ~[(~ ~) 0 (~) ~
rO = -- COS~+ --V COS ;

,~_~[(~ ~ ~).o ,
g~ -
~ +?-g sm~+ ~ (l+v) sin~ .

Considering now ima~nary parts, we get

ImZ~+ImZ~o=2ImZ°=~((1-4~)cos~-cos~);

Im Z~o - I m Z ~ + 2i Im Z ~ = 2i e ~° Im Z ~

= 2(1 -- v) ~ (e5i°/2-- e3'°/2),

which implies that

~m~°~~ [(~-:,,,)~o~+(~-v)~o~-~-,-~,,-~ ~o~-~1~

'm~o~-~ [(~-:'v)~os~+(,'-~)oos-~+,l-,',~os-~l~
,~oo__,v_1~~ (s,n~-~,.~);
~or¢over

~.~[(~_~) o~ ~] cos ~ + g cos .

 Stresses near the front o f a crack 127

The right-hand side in the differential equation (125) for Im/li is

Im 8 i ~ " = - 2 cos 30/2. The boundary conditions (80) are met by taking

,m~-- ( ~ - ~2) ~ o ~ ÷ j o o ~ 5 +30~ . - l4~ c o ~ . 50

Taking the imaginary part of eqns (127), we get then the solution:

N,, = ~ / - ~ [ ( l V--
i~) 0 ( ~ 6 )--V COS~ ] ;
COS-~+

NIoo = ( v - ]-~
9)~f-~n[ 3 cos -~
0 + cos --
3~1 ;
(129)

N~o = v- sin -~ + sin ;

o
N~3= 8vZ-v-~ cos-~+~(l + v) cos .

Mode H
Here making the substitution 0 ~ 0 + ~r is of no help in the search for a
solution. Following the same steps as for mode I, we obtain

tp=-i ; ~b=-~ ,

ZO = ~ (r (2v-1) e - ~ ° / ~ + ~3e '"°'~

/ - ~1e - " )302'
;

Z ~ = 2i(v - l) ~ ei°/~;

~ ,

2
128 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

Considering real parts, we get

~o~,o~--~[(~)cos-~(~-~)oos~- 1,~os~l~
ReZ~0= ~[(~ ) cos~+0(~)
r
~0
v - cos~+(1-v)
+2v cos ~] ;

Re Z,%= (v -1) ~ (r3 0sin~-sin--7) ;

Ref= ~ [ ( ~ - 4v) cos ~ + ~ cos ~ ] .

The right-hand side in eqn. (125) for Re~ is -2cos 30/2. The bounda~
conditions (74) are met by the choice

Re~= (~- ~~)cosi+~eos~+ ,0

0~ ~0 ~ (v-1) cos~.
The corresponding solution is

~,~,~L[(,~
r
~)~o~(~_~)co~;
_13 0 9

~ ~L[(~-~)~o~(~-~)~o~];
M~
(~)L( sin ~0+ sin ~~) ;
33 = v -
(~30)

~,,~_~[(
3~ - 8v : - 5 v + ~) 0,
cos~+~(l+v) cos 7] .
Considering now ima~na~ parts, we get

Im Z~ = ~ [(~-- 2~) sin ~+ (~ - ~) sin ~ + (~ - 1) sin ~ ;

ImZ~o=~[(~-2v) ~,~(~_~)~i~,l_~,
" 0 sinai ~
 Stresses near the front of a crack 129

imZ~O0 ---- (v - - 1 , ~ f ~ ( COS ~30 ÷ COS ~) ;

Imf=~2~I(4v-~)sin~-~sin~l"

The right-hand side in eqn. (125) for Im~i is 2sin30/2. The boundary
conditions (80) are met by taking

4v 31) 0 1 . 30 4 50
Imi~= ~-~ s i n ~ - ~ s l n - ~ - + ] - ~ ( v - 1) sin-~-.

The corresponding solution is

NI)r = ~ /~--~rFf,07
/ ~ 1_\.~-~ 7~) sin _02+ (v _ ~6) sin ~ ] ;

N~ = - v sin ~ + sin
9 ;
(131)
Nlrlo.~~_ r(31
L \ ~ - ~ / cv,~
° s ~ + 0 (~6)
v- ~os _.~0_];
9 s i n ~ - ~ (1l ÷ v )
N~: [_[,~-÷~-~ sin
7] .

VI. Concluding remarks

Only the first three terms of the stress expansion for an arbitrarily shaped
crack were considered in this paper. In principle, the next terms could also be
studied by the same technique. (However it is clear, from the amount of
algebra involved in the determination of the term proportional to r 1/2, that in
practice the calculations would soon become untractable). It would then be
necessary to describe the geometry of the crack and its front with a greater
degree of accuracy, by introducing higher order curvature parameters. The
corrective terms which would appear in the stress expansion would be
proportional to the stress intensity factors, the non-singular stresses ... or
some of their successive derivatives with respect to s, times a product of
curvature parameters (possibly degenerate, i.e. equal to unity).
130 J.-B. Leblond and O. Torlai

Appendix: Expressions of the functions f,~'s, g,~'s and h,~'s

Only the non-zero components are given. For conciseness of the formulae, the
f and h functions are expressed in polar coordinates and the g functions in
Cartesian coordinates.

Functions f~'s:

1 ( 0 3 0 , 1 ( 0 ~)
fJ,~(O) = 4 x / ~ 5cos -~ - cos -~-),• fIoo(O) = ~ 3 cos i + cos ;
(A1)

fio(O)= ~ 1
(sin-~
o + sin ; f~3(0) = =c°s~/2rt 2"
o

f~(0) - 4 v,/ ~ ( _ 5 sin 0 + 3 sin ~ ) ; f~o~o(O)= ~----~

- 3 ( sin -~
0 + sin ~ ) ;
(A2)

fI,~(0)
1(o
4v/~ cos~+3cos ; f~(0)=~sin~.

1 0 1 0
fr3(0)
~ n =l sin ~; f~I(0) = ~ cos ~. (A3)

Functions go s.

g~(O) = 1; g[3(0) : v. (A4)

g~3(O) = 1. (A5)

g[t3x(O) = 1. (A6)

Functions h pe) s:

hIrr(0) = ~ 3 cos 0 50'~. 1 0

~V~,~
(A7)
h~o(O) = , _ sin - sin ; hI33(0) = ~ cos
4x/2-
 Stresses near the front of a crack 131

n 1 ( 0 ~)
h~(O) = 4x/~ 3 sin -~ + 5 sin ; hlo~o(O)- 4v/~ sin -~ - sin ;
(A8)
n 1 ( 0 ~_) 2v 0
h ~0(0) - 4 x / ~ - cos -~ + 5 cos ; h~313(0)-- ~ sin -~.

1 30 1 30
IIl
h~3 (0) =
~ sin -~-, hlor3~(O)= ~
.
cos ~-. (A9)

References

1. M.L. Williams, On the stress distribution at the base of a stationary crack. A S M E J. Appl.
Mech. 24 (1957) 109-114.
2. T.C.T. Ting, Asymptotic solution near the apex of an elastic wedge with curved boundaries.
Q. Appl. Math. 42 (1985) 467-476.
3. H.D. Bui, M~canique de la rupture fragile. Paris: Masson (1978).
4. J.B. Leblond, Crack paths in plane situations - I: General form of the expansion of the stress
intensity factors. Int. J. Solids Structures 25 (1989) 1311-1325.
5. B. Cotterell and J.R. Rice, Slightly curved or kinked cracks. Int. J. Fract. 16 (1980) 155-169.
6. N.I. Muskhelishvili, Some Basic Problems in the Mathematical Theory of Elasticity. Groningen:
Noordhoff (1953).