Stresses in an orthotropic strip containing A Griffith Crack

Abstract The problem of determining the stress and displacement fields in an orthotropic elastic strip containing a Griffith crack situated symmetrically and oriented in a direction normal to the edges of the strip is considered. A general solution in terms of two potential functions is presented. The mixed boundary conditions lead to dual integral equations, which are reduced to Fredholm integral equation of second kind and are solved by the use of Gaussian quadrature formula. Numerical solutions for a fiber-reinforced composite material and some isotropic materials are carried out and the effect of orthotropy on various quantities of physical interest, in fracture mechanics, is discussed.