Edge and Corner Interface Cracks

Chapters 4 and 5 cover delamination in multilayers that have interface crack lengths that are extremely large in comparison to other dimensions, in which case the energy release rate becomes independent of the crack size (i.e., the steady-state limit). However, when the interface crack length is comparable to other dimensions in the problem, the energy release rate generally depends on the interface crack length, and as such, numerical solutions are needed. This chapter describes the relationship between crack length and crack tip parameters, and in so doing provides guidelines that identify crack lengths for which the steady-state solution is accurate.