A generalized crack problem in plane elasticity

The plane isotropic elasticity problem of a simple curvilinear crack with non-coincident edges (contrary to the idealization usually made) is considered. The maximum opening between the edges of the crack may be as great as 0.2 of the crack length. For the solution of this problem, the model of replacing the real crack by a continuous distribution of poles (concentrated forces and edge dislocations) along a single are lying between the real crack edges is introduced. The problem is reduced to an almost singular integral equation and an approximate method for its numerical solution is proposed. An application to the case of a symmetric crack in an infinite plane medium under uniform loading at infinity is also made.