Analysis of Crack Problems in Multilayered Elastic Medium by a Consecutive Stiffness Method

We propose a boundary-element-based method for crack problems in multilayered elastic medium that consists of set individually homogeneous strata. The divides the along slit-like surface so effects elements placed one become distinguishable from those other surface. As result, direct cannot be directly applied turns out to applicable. After that, we derive recursive formula obtains “stiffness matrix” each layer by exploiting chain-like structure system, enabling sequential computation solve displacements on “consecutively” descending order very top bottom one. In our method, final system equations only contains unknown surface, ensuring efficiency method. numerical examples demonstrate better accuracy and broader applicability compared displacement discontinuity more-acceptable conventional