The Dugdale solution for two unequal straight cracks weakening in an infinite plate

A crack arrest model is proposed for an infinite elastic perfectlyplastic plate weakened by two unequal, quasi-static, collinear straight cracks. The Dugdale model solution is obtained for the above problem when the developed plastic zones are subjected to normal cohesive quadratically varying yield point stress. Employing complex variable technique and the superposition principle the desired solution is obtained. A qualitative study of load required to arrest the plastic zones opening with respect to affecting parameters viz. inter-crack distance, plastic zone and crack length is carried out. The results obtained are presented graphically.