Kinked crack in anisotropic bodies under in-plane deformation

Crack kinking solutions based on Stroh formalism are presented for a monoclinic material with symmetry plane at x₃ = 0. The explicit expressions of the stress intensity factors and energy release rate at the kinked crack tip are presented in terms of nondimensional coefficients together with the stress intensity factors, T-stress, and the coefficients of the third term acting on the main crack tip prior to kinking. The role of T-stress and the third-term applied at the main crack field are determined which can be significant in the kinking and the stability of the kinked crack. Based on the energy release rate fracture criterion, the stability condition of the kinked crack is derived. The influences of anisotropy and loading mixity on the implications of crack kinking behavior are also given. Numerical results for the stress intensity factors at the kinked crack tip and the energy release rate ratio are provided.