Thermal Stress Intensity Factor of a Thin Strip Using Zone Heating

A thermal stress field induced by local temperature change near a crack tip often causes a crack extension. In this paper, based on the plane thermoelasticity and linear fracture mechanics, a time dependent thermal stress intensity factor for a edge crack was investigated when a semi-infinite strip was heated by two point heat sources near the crack tip located symmetrically with respect to the crack line. The point heat sources generate no shear stresses on the crack line and hence cause only mode I singularity. The thermal stress intensiy factor varies with heating location. It was found that appropriate heating location and appropriate shape of the zone for a crack extension may be prospected. Moreover, with use of the results of the two point heat sources, the thermal stress intensity factor due to a circular zone heating was estimated