Crack bifurcation features in laminar specimens with fixed total thickness

A method to analyze the crack bifurcation behavior of symmetric two-component layered composites had been developed. With the method it is possible to compute the layer thickness at which cracks bifurcate. The thickness necessary for cracks to bifurcate depends on the elastic constants of the layers, the number of layers, the difference of thermal expansion coefficients and the temperature gradient. Further, the thickness ratios at which crack bifurcation can occur for layers with tensile and compressive residual stresses were computed. In the work the important case of specimens with fixed total thickness is considered. There are some features of crack bifurcation under these conditions.