A new solution for an edge dislocation with applications to the stress and fracture analysis of multilayered media

The stress and fracture analysis of multilayered materials and structures containing crack-like defects is of interest in many research areas, such as composites, bio-mechanics, and geomechanics, and engineering applications, such as coatings, electronics, and adhesive joints. The main objective of this thesis is to further develop a general methodology and utilise it for the examination of fracture problems in multilayered materials. The general methodology is based upon the distributed dislocation technique and edge dislocation solutions obtained within the framework of plane theory of linear elasticity. This methodology has been shaped by the seminal contributions of many researchers over the past fifty years and currently represents a powerful tool for the analysis of crack problems. New theoretical models and techniques are developed in the present thesis for a range of multi-disciplinary problems utilising the adopted methodology. The research gaps and objectives are formulated specifically for each problem and discussed in separate chapters of this thesis. The solution of each of these problems represents an original and substantial contribution towards the respective area of research. The significant outcomes of this thesis include: a new approach for the analysis of reinforced cracks in layered media, a new mechanism for height control of hydraulic fractures in layered hydrocarbon reservoirs, and a new predictive model for skier-triggered avalanches. The original contributions of this thesis also include a new fundamental solution for an interfacial edge dislocation, which recovers all previously published solutions for edge dislocations in isotropic multilayered media. The obtained solution can be utilised to derive the governing integral equations for a wide variety of quasi-static crack problems in linearly elastic and isotropic multilayered materials, without any restrictions on the crack orientation or number of elastic layers. Therefore, the newly obtained solution further extends the general methodology to effectively solve a wide class of fracture problems in multilayered materials and structures. This thesis is presented in the form of a compendium of publications in high impact specialist journals. The main body of the thesis contains four articles which are united by the above mentioned theme and methodology. Three appendices are also included, which represent a compilation of the candidate’s publications on related topics. A complete publication list is provided in the forthcoming pages.

Author dc:creator

• Khanna, Aditya

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kotousov, Andrei Georgievich

• fracture mechanics
• multilayered materials
• distributed dislocation technique

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/2440/100862

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.adelaide.edu.au:2440/100862