Modelling a Microcracked Zone by 'Weakened' Elastic Material and on Statistical Aspects of Crack-Microcrack Interactions

摘要

Elastic interactions of a crack with large numbers of microcracks (up to 138) are considered. The following aspects are analyzed: whether there is any correction between reduction of the elastic moduli( softening ) of the damage zone and its effect on the stress intensity factors (SIFs) at the main crack tip. This can be seen as a part of a more general discussion on whether a correlation exists between the effective elastic properties of a cracked solid and its fracture-related properties; fluctuation of the interaction effects from one realization of the microcrack statistics to another. We examine whether the effects of stress shielding or amplification are stable and statistically significant and the effects produced by stochastic asymmetries of the microcrack array geometry; the effect of the wake region of microcracking. Reprints, Crack tips. (JES)