Mode II stress intensity factors for central slant cracks with frictional surfaces in uniaxially compressed plates

The effect of crack surface friction on mode 11 stress intensity factor (SIF) of a central slant crack in a plate uniformly loaded in uniaxial compression is quantified. A previously developed two-dimensional finite element analysis was utilised after its modification to accommodate the friction between the crack surfaces. The plane strain state was assumed. A new numerical technique was devised to avoid the iteration procedures, which had to be employed due to the existence of frictional forces. The crack inclination angle varied between zero and 75degrees measured from the horizontal direction. The coefficient of friction of the crack surfaces changed from zero to 1. In case of relatively sliding crack surfaces, mode 11 SIF existed. As is well known, the resulting mode 11 SIF decreased with increasing the coefficient of friction of the crack surfaces. Further, mode 11 SIF increased with increasing crack line inclination angle and then decreased after reaching a maximum value. The angle corresponding to that maximum SIF increased as the coefficient of friction of the crack surfaces increased. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.