Crack initiation behaviour of orthotropic solids as predicted by the strain energy density theory

The strain energy density theory is applied to determine crack initiation in orthotropic solids. An approach is used to derive the complex variable expressions of the elastic fields. The formulation is used to solve the boundary value problem by superimposing of Mode-I and Mode-II crack problems. It is shown that asymptotic expressions of the crack tip stress and displacement fields are affected by non-singular terms related to biaxial loading. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.