Mixed-mode I/II fields around a crack with a cohesive zone ahead of the crack tip

Considering a cohesive zone ahead of the crack tip, the linear elastic crack problem under Mode I, Mode II or mixed-mode conditions is formulated in an elliptic coordinate system, so that the cohesive surfaces are conveniently represented by straight line segments. It is shown that the displacement and stress fields around the crack tip and the cohesive zone, expressed in terms of elliptic coordinates, have a simple mathematical form, which does not contain a stress singularity at the crack tip due to the existence of the cohesive zone. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.