Buckling Analysis of an Orthotropic Layer Bonded to a Substrate with an Interface Crack

The buckling of an orthotropic layer bonded to a half-space with an interface crack subjected to compressive load under plane strain is analyzed. The theory of elasticity related to elastic stability is employed to investigate the buckling behavior of both the layer and the half-space. By the use of Fourier transforms, the boundary value problem is reduced to a system of homogeneous Cauchy-type singular integral equations of the second kind, which is solved numerically to determine the critical buckling loads. Numerical results are obtained for various geometric parameters and material properties of both the layer and the half-space. It is shown that the effect of orthotropy on the buckling load is to be distinct when the ratio of longitudinal modulus of the layer to the substrate is small or the ratio of layer thickness to the crack length is large.