A source function for a dynamic bilateral brittle shear fracture

Abstract

A two-dimensional brittle bilateral shear crack was numerically simulated to form and stop in an elastic isotropic medium. The crack surface remained a straight line but underwent rotation that was attributed partially to the starting of the crack and partially to the stopping of the crack. If the crack did not stop, the magnitude of rotation would be about half of the value obtained for this study. The largest displacement was parallel to the fracture and near the line of nucleation. The largest displacement perpendicular to the fracture occurred near the crack tips. Symmetric points across the fracture surface were found to have asymmetric displacements. The percentage of difference among the displacements was largest beyond the crack tips, but the magnitude of the displacement difference was larger near the crack tips. The results of the study are displayed graphically.