Stress intensity factors for side-by-side edge cracks under bending

Abstract This note concerns the Mode I and II stress intensity factors occurring at twin cracks on the tension side of a strip in bending. Both cracks penetrate the strip normal to its edge and to a depth that is halfway through its width. By applying an appropriately-tested finite element procedure, the effects on the stress intensity factors of interaction between the cracks can be tracked as a function of crack separation.