A closed-form solution to the equivalent through-crack model for surface cracks (Q1066725)

A closed-form solution for plates containing surface cracks is obtained by using an equivalent through-crack model, which reduces the three- dimensional problem of the surface cracked plates to a two-dimensional Hilbert problem. The effect of surface crack is replaced by a continuous distribution of forces N(x,0) and moments M(x,0) applied along the crack face of the equivalent through-crack model. A convenient form of expressing these forces and moments is by using power polynomials. Then the singular integral equation, expressing the solution of the Hilbert problem can be readily integrated.