The end zone of a shear crack propagating at an intersonic velocity

An asymptotic solution of the problem for a shear crack propagating at an intersonic velocity is given that determines the size of the end zone, the distribution of the displacement jump in it and the dependence of the propagation velocity on an effective stress intensity factor, introduced in this paper. Numerical data are presented for the case of linear softening in the end zone and a comparison is made with the results for the Leonov–Panasyuk–Dugdale model. It is established using an effective stress intensity factor that the propagation is unstable at velocities close to the velocity of transverse waves; it becomes stable when approaching the velocity of longitudinal waves.