On stress analysis for a penny-shaped crack interacting with inclusions and voids

An analytical approach to calculate the stress of an arbitrary located penny-shaped crack interacting with inclusions and voids is presented. First, the interaction between a penny-shaped crack and two spherical inclusions is analyzed by considering the three-dimensional problem of an infinite solid, composed of an elastic matrix, a penny-shaped crack and two spherical inclusions, under tension. Based on Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method, superposition theory of elasticity and an approximation according to the Saint–Venant principle, the interaction between the crack and the inclusions is systematically analyzed. The stress intensity factor for the crack is evaluated to investigate the effect of the existence of inclusions and the crack–inclusions interaction on the crack propagation. To validate the current framework, the present predictions are compared with a noninteracting solution, an interacting solution for one spherical inclusion, and other theoretical approximations. Finally, the proposed analytical approach is extended to study the interaction of a crack with two voids and the interaction of a crack with an inclusion and a void.