Crack problems in magnetoelectroelastic solids. Part II: general solution of collinear cracks

In this paper, we study mechanically traction-free and electromagnetically permeable crack problems in infinite magnetoelectroelastic solids with linear coupling between the elastic and electromagnetic fields. Using the Stroh-formalism, we first obtain the general solution for collinear cracks in a magnetoelectroelastic medium subjected to arbitrary loads. Then, we give specific solutions for several examples: finite or infinite number of collinear crack subjected to arbitrary remote loads, and a single crack subjected to a line load at an arbitrary point. It is found that in the most general cases, the singularity of electric-magnetic field is always dependent on that of stress. Especially when the medium is only loaded by the remote uniform field, the intensity factor of stress is the same as that of isotropic materials, and the electric-magnetic field inside any crack is uniform. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved