Cracks in anisotropic bodies in a state of generalized plane deformation

Abstract

Studied in detail is the influence of the rotation of the axes of elastic symmetry on the elastic strain energy stored in the cracked body undergoing plane deformation. It is found that when one of the preferred directions coincides with the crack line, the strain energy becomes a maximum or minimum depending upon the orthotropic nature of the material. Such information can assist in the understanding of the possible direction of crack propagation in materials possessing anisotropy