The analysis of stress intensity factors in two interacting collinear asymmetric cracks in a finite plate

This paper uses a Fourier transform technique to solve the problem of two interacting collinear unequal cracks in a finite width plate. This approach reduces the problem to the solution of two coupled integral equations each with a singular kernel which is the solved using Cauchy-Chebyshev polynomials. The solution is first validated by comparing the solutions for the case of two equal cracks in a finite width plate and for the case of two unequal cracks in an infinite width plate with published solutions. The problem of (interacting) cracks that grow from collocated corrosion pits that lie close to the edge of a structural member is then studied. Here it is shown that the closer that the two cracks are to a boundary accelerates crack growth towards the boundary and decelerates linking of the cracks. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.