Interacting dissimilar semi-elliptical surface flaws under tension and bending

Stress intensity factors for two dissimilar interacting semi-elliptical coplanar surface flaws (cracks) in a semi-infinite elastic body are obtained under overall tension and bending. First the basic equations for a general planar crack normal to the free surface are established, using the method of equivalent eigen- or transformation strains (the body force method). Then the results are specialized for application to elliptical cracks. Numerical values are obtained for various configurations and crack shapes. Results are compared with those of two-dimensional collinear cracks. Finally, an approximate procedure for estimating the stress intensity factors for a general three-dimensional crack is suggested.