Stress intensity factors for interlaminar cracked composites under arbitrary normal crack surface loading

model is constructed to evaluate the stress intensity factors (SIFs) for composites with an inter-laminar crack subjected to an arbitrary normal loading. A mixed boundary value problem is formulated by the Fourier integral transform method and a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind is derived. The integral equation is solved numerically. The mode I SIFs are evaluated for various ratios of shear moduli of successive layers and ratios of crack length-to-layer thickness. Furthermore, the terms as well as the shape of crack surface polynomial loading and the number of layers affect the variation of SIFs. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved