A frequency-domain BIEM combining DBIEs and TBIEs for 3-D crack-inclusion interaction analysis

The influence of a spherical elastic inclusion on a penny-shaped crack embedded in an infinite elastic matrix subjected to a time-harmonic crack-face or incident wave loading is investigated. A boundary integral equation method (BIEM) combining displacement boundary integral equations (DBIEs) on the matrix-inclusion interface and traction boundary integral equations (TBIEs) on the crack-surface is developed and applied for the numerical solution of the corresponding 3-D elastodynamic problem in the frequency domain. The singularity subtraction and mapping techniques in conjunction with a collocation scheme are implemented for the regularization and the discretization of the BIEs by taking into account the local structure of the solution at the crack-front. As numerical examples, the interaction of an elastic inclusion and a neighboring penny-shaped crack subjected to a tensile crack-surface loading or an incident plane longitudinal wave loading is investigated. The effects of the inclusion are assessed by the analysis of mixed-mode dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) in dependence on the wave number, the material combination of the matrix and the inclusion, and the crack-inclusion orientation, size and distance.

► Frequency-domain problem on the crack-inclusion interaction in 3D elastic matrix is solved.
► A numerical tool based on the DBIEs and TBIEs formulations is developed and applied.
► Numerical results concern the arbitrarily located spherical inclusion and penny-shaped crack.
► The influence of the inclusion is assessed by the mixed-mode dynamic stress intensity factors.
► Dynamic shielding and amplification effects are analyzed.