Analysis of Bimaterial Wedges Using a New Singular Finite Element

This paper is concerned with the singular stress field at the vertex of a bimaterial wedge under in-plane loading. The boundary value problem is initially formulated in terms of the complex function method. The eigenequations are obtained using the continuity conditions along the interface and the traction-free conditions along the free edges, leading to the development of explicit expressions for the singular stress and displacement fields for a general bimaterial wedge. These expressions are then used to develop a new singular finite element. This element enables the determination of the singular stress field and the associated stress intensity factors reliably and efficiently. To establish the validity of the method, test cases are examined and compared with existing solutions. The method is then applied to evaluate the effect of the wedge geometry and the elastic mismatch upon the resulting stress intensity factors.