Interface crack in periodically layered bimaterial composite

An interface finite length crack in a periodically layered bimaterial composite plane is considered. The solution method is based on the combined use of the representative cell and the dislocation approaches. First, after applying the discrete Fourier transform, the analytical expression of the Green function for a single interface dislocation in a periodically layered media without the crack is derived. Using this result the problem is then reduced to the system of two singular integral equations of the second kind which are solved numerically. Comparison of the fracture behavior of the periodically layered and the three layered sandwich composites revealed several significant qualitative differences. In particular, the study of the energy release rate dependence upon the loading angle φ have shown that the case of the pure normal loading φ=0 may correspond to a maximum as well as to a minimum value.