Frictional contact induced crack initiation in incompressible substrate

Surface crack initiation in an incompressible substrate induced through frictional fretting contact is analyzed using an energy-based fracture mechanics model. A closed-form energy release rate for surface crack initiation at the contact boundary has been derived with the crack growth angle determined by the mixed mode singular stress field at the contact edge. The driving forces in the form of Ji-integral, the critical energy release rate and the critical load for crack initiation from the crack free surface have been formulated. The relations between the friction coefficient and crack initiation angle, critical load have been specified.