Stress intensity factors for finite interface cracks between a special pair of transversely isotropic materials

An infinite bimaterial system made of two dissimilar, transversely isotropic materials bonded together (with the lower material being mathematically degenerate) and subject to remote loads is considered. An analytical expression for the complex stress intensity factor of a finite crack along the interface between these two materials is obtained. This result is extended to the case of an infinite array of collinear cracks along a similar interface. Next, the finite element method is employed to analyze these geometries for specific material properties. An area M-integral is used to extract stress intensity factors from the finite element results, which compare well with those obtained from the analytic expressions. Different types of loads are considered.