Dynamic crack growth under Rayleigh wave

A nonuniform crack growth problem is considered for a homogeneous isotropic elastic medium subjected to the action of remote oscillatory and static loads. In the case of a plane problem, the former results in Rayleigh waves propagating toward the crack tip. For the antiplane problem the shear waves play a similar role. Under the considered conditions the crack cannot move uniformly, and if the static prestress is not sufficiently high, the crack moves interruptedly. For fracture modes I and II the established, crack speed periodic regimes are examined. For mode III a complete transient solution is derived with the periodic regime as an asymptote. Examples of the crack motion are presented. The crack speed time-period and the time-averaged crack speeds are found. The ratio of the fracture energy to the energy carried by the Rayleigh wave is derived. An issue concerning two equivalent forms of the general solution is discussed. & 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.