A Crack Close to and Perpendicular to an Interface: Resolution of Anomalous Behavior With a Cohesive Zone

In this investigation, we consider a crack close to and perpendicular to a bimaterial interface. If the crack tip is at the interface then, depending on material properties, the order of the stress singularity will be equal to, less than, or greater than one-half. However, if the crack tip is located any finite distance away from the interface the stress field is square-root singular. Thus, as the crack tip approaches the interface, the stress intensity factor approaches zero (for cases corresponding to a singularity of order less than one-half) or infinity (for a singularity of order greater than one-half). The implication of this behavior is that for a finite applied pressure the crack will either never reach the interface or will reach the interface with vanishing small applied pressure. In this investigation, a cohesive zone model is used in order to model the crack behavior. It is found that the aforementioned anomalous behavior for the crack without a cohesive zone disappears and that the critical value of the applied pressure for the crack to reach the interface is finite and depends on the maximum stress of the cohesive zone model, as well as on the work of adhesion and the Dundurs' parameters.