Analysis of two-dimensional finite solids withmicrocracks

general method is presented for solving the plane elasticity problem of _nite plates with multiple microcracks[ The method directly accounts for the interactions between di}erent microcracks and the e}ect of outer boundary of a _nite plate[ Analysis is based on a superposition scheme and series expansions of the complex potentials[ By using the traction!free conditions on each crack surface and resultant forces relations along outer boundary\ a set of governing equations is formulated[ The governing equations are solved numerically on the basis of a boundary collocation procedure[ The e}ective Young|s moduli for randomly oriented cracks and parallel cracks are evaluated for rectangular plates with microcracks[ The numerical results are compared with those from various micromechanics models and experimental data[ These results show that the present method provides a direct and e.cient approach to deal with _nite solids containing multiple microcracks