General solution of a certain mixed boundary value crack problem

An exact analytical solution is derived for a certain class of mixed boundary value crack problems which occur for example when analysing crack closure effects during fatigue crack growth. A general analysis is presented which is derived from the solution of a singular integral equation. The analysis is checked by comparing the general results to a known special solution (the triple crack problem). A technique is described for calculating the stress intensities for a central crack opened by two wedges of general shape which preserve symmetry about the crack plane and its perpendicular bisector. The stress distribution acting on the wedges is also calculated.