Shear crack propagation along weak planes in solids: a finite deformation analysis incorporating the linear harmonic potential (Q1434729)

This paper aims at developing a nonlinear elasticity theory directly from the linear harmonic potential of the solid, and at derived studying the finite crack opening displacement of a sub-Rayleigh shear crack propagating along a weak plane solid. The nonlinear elasticity theory is at derived from the linear harmonic potential for plane-stress deformation. The autors establish that a sub-Rayleigh shear crack propagating along a weak plane in solids has a finite crack opening displacement. The crack opening displacement increases rapidly with the crack tip velocity. Moreover, the authors also study the opening of a super-shear crack using the same constitutive model. It is established that, in contrary to a sub-Rayleigh shear crack, the crack opening always vanishes for a super-shear crack.