Determining stress intensity factors in orthotropic composites from far-field measured temperatures

We demonstrate the ability to determine stress intensity factors in orthotropic materials directly from measured temperatures away from the crack and using far-field expressions for the stresses. This is advantageous, recognizing that recorded thermoelastic data can be very unreliable near the tip of a crack. In addition to singular terms that govern in the immediate vicinity of the crack tip, the present series expressions for the stresses contain higher-order finite terms. Little measured input information is needed and data acquisition positions can be selected largely at the user's discretion.