Elastodynamic Stress Intensity Factor History for a Semi-infinite Crack Under Three-dimensional Transient Loading

The dynamic stress intensity factor history for a semi-infinite crack in an otherwise unbounded elastic body is analyzed. The crack is subjected to a pair of suddenly-applied point loadings on its faces at a distance L away from the crack tip. The exact expression for the mode I stress intensity factor as a function of time is obtained. The method of solution is based on the direct application of integral transforms, the Wiener-Hopf technique and the Cagniard-de Hoop method. Due to the existence of the characteristic length in loading, this problem was long believed a knotty problem. Some features of the solutions are discussed and graphical result for numerical computation is presented.