Surface thermal shock cracking of a semi-infinite medium: a nonlocal analysis

This article applies the nonlocal differential elasticity theory to the thermal shock cracking of semi-infinite media. The dynamic temperature field and the nonlocal thermal stress without crack are obtained exactly in terms of the nonlocal parameter of the materials. The thermal stress intensity factor is solved through an integral expression. Effects of the thermal shock time, crack length, depth below the medium surface and nonlocal parameter are discussed in detail. The crack growth behavior is also studied in terms of the relationship between the crack length and thermal shock time. Strong dependence of the thermal cracking behavior on the nonlocal parameter of the material is noted.