Inl. I. Engng Ski.. 1976,Vol. 14, pp. 925-933. PcrgamonPress.

Printed in Great Britain

THE ELASTIC PROBLEM FOR AN INFINITE SOLID

CONTAINING A CIRCULAR HOLE WITH A PAIR OF
RADIAL EDGE CRACKS OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS

J. TWEED
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508,U.S.A.

and

D. P. ROOKE
Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hants, England

Abstract-By using the principle of superposition and the results of an earlier paper the problem is reduced to
that of solving a pair of singular integral equations. A number of special cases are considered and numerical
results given.

I. INTRODUCTION
IN THIS paper we consider the plane strain problem for an infinite elastic solid containing a circular
hole with a pair of radial edge cracks of unequal length under general loading conditions. By using
a superposition principle it is shown that the stress intensity factors and crack formation energy
are related to the solution of a pair of simultaneous singular integral equations which are solved
by Gaussian quadrature. We assume (see Fig. 1) that, in plane polar coordinates (p, e), the hole is
given by the relations 0~p s R, OS 8 s21r and the cracks by R s p s Rc, 8 = 0 and
R s p s Rb, 6 = P. It is further supposed that the hole is ‘traction free’ and that the cracks are
subject to a symmetric pressure loading of the form

(Tee(P,0) = -p&p/R), R c p s Rc (1.1)

cw(ptPI= -pog(plR), R s P s Rb (1.2)

where p. has the dimensions of stress. The crack lengths are denoted by aI and a2 respectively
where a, = R(b - 1) and a2 = R(c - 1).

Fig. I.

2. REDUCTION OF THE PROBLEM TO INTEGRAL EQUATIONS

In terms of the dimensionless quantities r = p/R, s,(r, 0) = (um(p, d))/p,, sle(r, 8) =
(0, (P, ~mh, h(r, 0) = (u~P, m/PO, u(r, 0) = (Eu,(p, e))/@,(l+ v)R) and u(r, 0) =
(Eue(p, fl))/@,(l + v)R) (E is Young’s modulus and v is Poisson’s ratio) it is clear that the
problem is equivalent to that of finding a solution of the (dimensionless, plane strain) equa-
tions of elasticity in the region 1 < r < m, 0 < 0 < g which is such that

(1) r2s,(r, e), ru(r, e), ru(r, e) are still O(V) at infinity for some (L>O,
(2) srg(r, 0) = s@(r, P) = 0, 1 S r 4 m,
(3) ~(1, e) = ~~(1, e) = 0, 0s 8 s IT,
(4) u(r,O)=O, cdr<w,
926 J. TWEED and D. P. ROOKE

(5) u(r,7T)=O, bSr<m,

(6) sse(r, 0) = -f(r), 1 d r < c,
(7) ses(r, 7~)= -g(r), 1 d r < b and
(8) @‘+t(au/ar)(r, 0) < m, liiit (au/ar)(r, 7r) < m.

We begin by superimposing the solutions of Problems 1 and 2 below.

Problem 1. Find a solution [u”‘(r, 0), u”‘(r, 19)]of the (dimensionless, plane strain) equations
of elasticity in the region 1 < r < m, 0 < 0 < 7~ which satisfies conditions (1) through (4) and is
such that

(5’) u(')(r,r)=O, lSr<m.

This problem has been investigated by Tweed and Rooke [ 1] and from their equations (2.14),
(2.16), (2.20), (2.22), (2.30) and (2.31) it follows that

c
PU) &-+k(-r,t) dt, lsr<m,
I, I I

and

u”‘(r,O)=-2(1-v) ‘p(t)dt, l<r<c

where p (t ) is arbitrary and

k(r t)=pt2)2
-- N-0
~-- t -1-t*
t(l-rt)3 (l-ti)2 l-U+ r2t ’
(2.1)

Problem 2. Find a solution [u”‘(r, e), u”‘(r, 0)] of the (dimensionless, plane strain) equations
of elasticity in the region 1 < r < y0 < 0 < 7~which satisfies the conditions (1) through (3) and (5)
and is such that

(4’) uc2)(r,0) = 0, 1G r < m.

The solution of this problem is easily obtained from that of problem 1 by replacing 8 by 7~- 0
and is clearly such that

and
b

uC2)(r,r) = -2( 1 - V)
I,
q(t)dt, lsrsb

where q(t) is an arbitrary function of t.

Superimposing these results we obtain a solution of the equations of elasticity in the region
1~ r < QI, 0 < B < B which satisfies conditions (l)-(5) and is such that

(2.2)
 The elastic problem for an infinite solid 927

&&,a)=~
I,h 1
-l-+k(-r,I)}dt+~~,bq(t)(~+k(~,~)}dl,
ttr
l~r<m (2.3)

v(r,O)=-2(1-z+(t)dt, 1SrSC (2.4)

I

and

~(r,7r)=-2(1-u) ‘q(t)dl, lcr~b (2.5)

Ir

where p(t) and q(t) are unknown functions to be determined from conditions (6)-(8).
On applying (6) and (7) we see that

~tktr,r))dl+~f~bqtf)I
At k(-r, t)) dt = -f(r), 1s r < c (2.6)

and

~+k(-r,l)]dft~~b(l(f)[~+k(r,f)]dt=-g(r), lsr<b (2.7)

and therefore on introducing the functions

h(t) = P(t)mc - t)(t - 111, lat<c

-q(-t)V/[(-l- t)(t + b)], -b < t s -1 (2.8)

and

M(r, t) = &+k(r, t) (2.9)

that h(t) must satisfy the singular integral equations

1 -’ h(t)M(r, t)dt 1 ’ h(t)M(r, t)dt 3(-r), -b<r<-1

(2.10)
i I -b V/[(-l- t)(t t b)] ‘?r I , v[(c - t)(t - l)] = -f(r), lSr<c.

Similarly, on applying (8) and making use of (2.4), (2.5) and (2.8) we find that h(t) must also
satisfy the conditions

h(l)= h(-l)=O (2.11)

3. THE STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS AND CRACK FORMATION ENERGY

The stress intensity factors at the crack tips (Rc, 0) and (Rb, P) and the crack formation
energy W are defined by the equations

(3.1)

(3.2)

and

PS2(l •t VI 0)dr + ~b&)v(r,

r) drj
w =

E If,cftr)vtr, (3.3)
928 J.TWEED andD. P.ROOKE

respectively and therefore on substituting from (2.4) (2.5) and (2.8) we find that

kc
=--$h(c) (3.4)
poda2

(3.5)

and

2R2 -I
W h(t)
j,‘f(r)drdr)
WOE 7r[a:+ a:] II -b d[(-l-t)(t+b)] I ,-‘g(-r)drdt- I ,I d/[(c 2;;t - l)]
(3.6)

where we have written

w = 41 - v')P: [a:+a:].
0 (3.7)
E

4.UNIAXIAL AND BIAXIAL TENSION

The first special case we consider is that in which the solid is subject to a uniform tension T
perpendicular to the line of the cracks and a uniform tension (YT parallel to the line of the cracks.
In this case (p. 290, Sokolnikoff [21) the appropriate loading is given by

PO= T (4.1)

and

f(r) = g(r) = f,(r) + afAr) (4.2)

where

f,(r) = i (2 t P t 3P) (4.3)

and

f2(r) = k(r-* - 3P). (4.4)

Let h(t) = h,(t) t ahZ(t) where

hi(t)M(r, t)dt 1 c hi(t)M(r, t)dt

(4.5)
d[(-I-t)(ttb)]% v’[(c-t)(t-l)]=-fi(r)

for(-b<r<-l)U(l<r<c)and

hi(l)=hi(-l)=O, (4.6)

i = 1, 2. Then

k
--L-z - -$+ [h,(c) + &(c)I, (4.7)
TV/a2

-i!L= fi [h,(b)+ aht(b)l, (4.8)

TV/a, b-l
 The elastic problem for an infinite solid 929

and

(4.9)

where

-‘h,(t)[21-t-‘-t-3]dt+_L “h,(t)]2t-f-‘-P]dt
(4.10)
I4(-1-f)O-+-b)l n .\/NC--t)(f-l)l ’
w,=L -‘h,(t)[2t-t-‘-t-‘]df+l_ ch,(t)[2t-t-‘-t-3]dr
(4.11)
7r Y’K-1 -f)(# +b)l ?r t/[(c - f)(f - 111 ’

ch,(t)(t-3-t-‘)dt
(4.12)
d/[(C-f)(t-l)l’

and

hz(f)(f-3-f-‘)df +1 ch&)(f-3-f-‘)df
(4.13)
I/[(--l-f)@ +611 7r ti[(c -f)ff - l)]’

It follows from Betti’s theorem that W, = W,.

The problem is now reduced to that of solving the singular integral eqns (4.5) subject to the
subsidiary conditions (4.6). Let

cos [(2j - l)n/2m], j = 1,2,. . ., m

Ui =
@i-mr j = m + I,. . ., 2m

cos (jr/m), j = 1,2,. . ., m

Vi =
1 V]-l?i j==m t1,...,2m
t (b - I)uJ2-lb + 1)/2, j = 1,2 ,..., m
f
(c - t)u,/2+ (c t 1)/2, j = m t 1, . . ., 2m
and

+ 1)/2, j = l-2,. . ., m
Xi = ( (b - l)v,f2-(b
(C - l)Uj/Z+ (C f 1)/z, j = m + 1, . . ., 2m

then following Erdogan and Gupta[3] we reduce the eqns (4.5) and (4.6) to the linear algebraic
system

~~h;(fi)Mfx,.1,)=-~(x,), k=l,2,...,m-1

ia hi(fj)(m)j(2)t’2=0

~,~6(fj)M(x,.fj)=-d(~~), k=m+1,...,2m-I

ii $+, hi(fj)(-Y (%)I’* =0

I
i= 1,2.

On solving these equations for the hi(fj) we calculate the stress intensity factors from the
Gauss-Chebyshev interpolation formulae
930 J. TWEED and D. P. ROOKE

and

and the energy integrals from the quadrature formulae

w, = -&$, h,(tj)(2tj - t;’ - t;‘),

w2 = i,$, h#j)(2tj - t;’ - t;‘),

w&$, h&)(tr3- G’)

and

w4 = J-j$,
h2(fj)(f;3 - try.

Some results for the cases a = 0 (uniaxial tension) and (Y= 1 (biaxial tension) are given in Figs. 2
and 3 which show respectively the variation of WI W. and kcITda2 with a21R for several values
of al/R. For very small cracks we find
k
. c= l.l2K,
brn Tda2
024
where K,, the stress concentration at the edge of a hole diametrically opposite a radial slit, is
given by Wigglesworth[4]. In particular for al/R S 1, K, - [3 + l.S~(a,/R)].
For large values of az we find that kc I( TV/a) + 1, where 2a = a1 t a2 + 2R. For all values of
az, k,/(Tda) does not vary much with a,; the variation is less than 20% for 0 G aI < 10R.

5. POINT LOADING IN THE HOLE

The second case we consider is that in which the cracks are traction free and the hole is
subject to point loads of the form

-a=0
___-a=,
60

Fig. 2. The variation of W/W, with a,/R for several values of al/R for the cases in which (I = 0 (uniaxial
tension) and (I = I (biaxial tension).
 Theelastic problem for an infinite solid

-----a=0
-___a=1
TTtTf

--z__

Fig.3. The variation of kclTda2 with at/R for several values of at/R for the cases in which a = 0 (uniaxial
tension) and D = 1(biaxial tension).

his case(Green and Zerna[5])

W
-zG

WO 7rya: 4”ai)
4Rf II -j (t-’ - 2t[I 5 ty -2 tan-” t - n/2)k(t) tit
-b V’H- I- txt + 611

lin the solution is obtained by the method of Erdogan and Gupta[3];the results are given in
S.4 and 5. For this problem it is found that

Fii.4. The variation of Wj W, with aJR for several vatues of al/R.

932 J. TWEED and D. P. ROOKE

Fig. 5. Thevariationof kc/pQdaz with a,/R for several valuesof al/R (p. = P/2R).

since K, = 4/~.
Consider a Griflith crack of length 2a = a, + a2 + 2R whose tips are the points (Rc, 0) and
(Rb, n) and which is opened by point forces of magnitude P at the origin. For this crack the
stress intensity factor at the tip (Rc, 0) is given (Paris and Sih[6]) by

and we find that kinks is almost independent of al/R.

0.6

05

04

ST

1 O3

02

0.1

5.0 I , , I
00
0 05 IO I5 20

o2 /R

Fig. 6. The variation of I+‘/W, with az/R for several values of o,/R.
 The elastic problem for an infinite solid 933

Fig. 7. The variation of k,/pda, with oJR for several values of an/R.

6. CONSTANT PRESSURE IN THE HOLE

Lastly we consider the case in which the hole is subject to a constant pressure p and the
cracks are ‘traction free’. In this case (Green and Zerna[S])

PO = p, f(r) = r2

and W/W, takes the form

W 2R2 (1 +t-‘)h(t)dt ’ (1- t-‘)h(t) dt

wO= T(u:t a:) V/[(-1 - t)(t + b)l_ I 1 V/[(c - t)(t - I)1 .

The results for this problem are shown in Figs. 6 and 7. In this case, if aI = 0, then

and if k, = (RPV/~ )d{(al+R)/(a2 - R)] that &/k, is almost independent of a,/R.

REFERENCES
[I] J. TWEED and D. P. ROOKE, Inf. 1. Engng Sci. 11, 1185(1973).
[2] I. S. SOKOLNIKOFF, Mathematical Theory of Elnsticity, McGraw-Hill, New York (1956).
[3] F. ERDOGAN and G. D. GUPTA, Q. Appl. Math. 29, 523 (1972).
[4] L. A. WIGGLESWORTH, Mafhematika 5, 67 (1958).
[5] A. E. GREEN and W. ZERNA, Theoretical Elosricity, Oxford (1954).
[6] P. C. PARIS and G. C. SIH, ASTM Special Technical Publication No. 381 (l%S).

(Receiued 23 December 1975)