Near-tip behavior of a crack in a plane anisotropic elastic body

The asymptotic form of the stress and displacement components near the tip of a straight crack in a generally rectilinear anisotropic plane elastic body are resolved. As in the isotropic analysis, the solutions for the stresses display a $\text{r}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ dependence, where r is the distance from the tip, while the angular dependence depends upon the anisotropy in a complicated way. The effect of some special anisotropies upon these solutions is fully explored. Finally, these solutions are used to solve the problem of a finite length straight crack in an anisotropic elastic plane when uniform stresses are applied far from the crack. This solution includes obtaining the stress intensity factors, and the nature and magnitude of the crack face displacements.