Time-dependent boundary element analysis for an interface crack in a two-dimensional unidirectional viscoelastic model composite

Interfacial stress singularities in a unidirectional two-dimensional laminate model consisting of an elastic fiber and a viscoelastic matrix have been investigated using the time-domain boundary element method. First, the interfacial singular stresses between the perfectly bonded fiber and the matrix of a unidirectional laminate subjected to a uniform transverse tensile strain have been investigated near the free surface, but without any edge crack. Such stress singularity might lead to fiber-matrix debonding or an edge crack. Then, the overall stress intensity factor for the case of a small interfacial edge crack of length a has been computed. The numerical procedure does not permit calculation of the limiting case for which the edge crack length vanishes.