An equilibrium penny-shaped crack in an inhomogeneous elastic medium

The problem of a penny-Shaped tensile crack in a continuously-inhomogeneous space is considered. The problem reduces to a dual integral equation for which an approximate analytical solution is constructed. It is proved that the approximate solution of the integral equation is asymptotically exact for both small and large values of the dimensionless geometric parameter of the problem. The accuracy of the solution obtained is investigated. Expressions are presented for the stress intensity factor, the energy of the opening of the crack, the displacements of its sides and the normal components of the stress tensor in the neighbourhood of its contour. In the numerical analysis of the solution of the problem, special attention is paid to analysing of the problem when the first derivative of the change in the elastic properties of the material changes sign. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.