Alternating iteration method for interacting multiple crack problems

An alternating iteration method was applied to evaluate the stress intensity factors (SIFs) for interacting multiple cracks. The averaged image stresses along crack surfaces were invoked to simplify the alternating procedures. Good correlation was achieved between the iterated solutions and the available solutions in the literature. The link-up load for the contact of plastic zones between adjacent crack tips was considered as the critical load for using the alternating method. An applied load above the link-up load may destroy the evaluation of the elastic interaction between cracks in the alternating method. Link-up loads for different mixed-mode configurations were calculated in this study. Plastic zone sizes are estimated using Bueckner's superposition principle in conjunction with the von Mises yielding criterion.