IMPACT RESPONSE OF SYMMETRICAL EDGE CRACKS IN AN ORTHOTROPIC STRIP

The elastodynamic response of symmetric edge cracks in an orthotropic strip under normal impact is considered in this study. Two edge cracks perpendicular to the edges of the strip are placed symmetrically. Laplace and Fourier transforms are used to reduce the transient problem to the solution of a pair of dual integral equations in the Laplace transform plane. The solution to the dual integral equations is then expressed in terms of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. A numerical Laplace inversion routine is used to recover the time dependence of the solution. The dynamic stress intensity factor is determined and numerical results for some practical materials are shown graphically to display the influence of the material orthotropy.