Fracture under initial stresses acting along cracks: Approach, concept and results

The problems of fracture under initial stresses acting along cracks in [A.N. Guz’, Mechanics of Brittle Fracture of Materials with Initial Stresses, Naukova Dumka, Kiev, 1983 (in Russian)] is studied. Other approaches and concepts are also briefly discussed. Results for isolated and near-the-surface cracks are given.