Penny-shaped crack in a sphere embedded in an infinite medium

We consider the problem of determining the stress intensity factor and the crack energy in an Isotropie, homogeneous elastic sphere embedded in an infinite Isotropie, homogeneous elastic medium when there is a diametrical crack in the sphere. We assume that the crack is opened by an internal pressure and the sphere is bonded to the surrounding material. The problem is reduced to the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind in the auxiliary function φ($\text{t}$). Expressions for the stress intensity factor and the crack energy are obtained in terms of φ($\text{t}$). The integral equation is solved numerically and the numerical values of the stress intensity factor and the crack energy are graphed.