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CRACK INTERACTION, COALESCENCE AND MIXED MODE FRACTURE MECHANICS
Author(s) -
Wang Y.Z.,
Atkinson J. D.,
Akid R.,
Parkins R. N.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fatigue and fracture of engineering materials and structures
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1460-2695
pISSN - 8756-758X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-2695.1996.tb00979.x
Subject(s) - coalescence (physics) , mechanics , fracture mechanics , materials science , structural engineering , classical mechanics , statistical physics , physics , engineering , composite material , astrobiology
Abstract— Multiple cracks are often observed in engineering structures; and their interaction and coalescence may significantly affect the lifetime of a component or structure. In this paper, the general features associated with crack interaction and coalescence are presented, and the conditions for coalescence in various forms are reviewed. A model has been developed based on the principles of mixed mode fracture mechanics, to provide a rational explanation for the phenomenon of crack interaction and to predict the coalescence conditions. The latter is found to agree reasonably with the experimental observations.