CRACKS LOCATED ON A SINGLE LINE IN AN ORTHOTROPIC ELASTIC MEDIUM IN WHICH BODY FORCES ARE ACTING

Plane strain problem of determining the distribution of stress in the neighborhood of cracks located on a single line is examined. The medium containing cracks is infinite, orthotropic and acted upon by an asymmetrical distribution of body forces. The crack surfaces are free from tractions and the crackline coincides with an axis of orthotropy. Fourier transform methods are employed to reduce the problem to that of solving a singular integral equation of Cauchy type. The solution is completed in the case when the infinite orthotropic medium contains a single crack. Particular distributions of concentrated loads and moments are considered in detail. The stress intensity factor and crack shape are determined and shown graphically for oak wood. The results in special and limiting cases are compared with those available in the literature.