Dynamic Caustic Analysis of Propagating Mode II Cracks in Transversely Isotropic Material

Dynamic stress singularities of the Mode II propagating crack tip in transversely isotropic media are analyzed numerically by the reflection optical method of caustics. Parametric equations of dynamic caustics and their respective initial curves for moving crack tip are established by introducing appropriate scaling coordinate. Theoretical caustics and the initial curves for different relative crack velocity are simulated. The influences of crack velocity and stress intensity factor on the size and shape of caustics and initial curves are analyzed. Dynamic Mode II SIFs of propagating tip are evaluated by the maximum longitudinal distance of the caustics and the correction factors with velocity effects.