Dynamic stresses created by the sudden appearance of a transverse crack in periodically layered composites

The time-dependent stress field generated by the sudden appearance of a transverse crack in a periodically layered composite that is subjected to a remote loading is determined. The resulting two-dimensional elastodynamic problem is solved by combining two approaches. In the first one, the representative cell method, which has been presently generalized to dynamic problems, is employed for the construction of the time-dependent Green’s functions generated by the displacement jumps along the crack line. This is performed in conjunction with the application of the double finite discrete Fourier transform. Thus the original problem for the cracked periodic composite is reduced to the problem of a domain with a single period in the transform space. The second approach is based on a wave propagation in composites theory which has been presently generalized to admit arbitrary types of loading. This theory is based on the elastodynamic continuum equations where the transformed time-dependent displacement vector is expressed by a second-order expansion, and the equations of motion and the various interfacial and boundary conditions are imposed in the average (integral) sense. The time-dependent field in any observation point in the plane can be obtained by the application of the inverse transform. This field is valid as long as no reflected waves from external boundaries have been arrived. Results along the crack line as well as the full field are given for cracks of various lengths for Mode I, II and III deformations. In particular the dynamic magnification with respect to the static case is determined at the interface within the first unbroken stiff layer.