Abstract
Stresses around two equal collinear cracks in an infinite elastic medium are evaluated based on the linearized couple-stress theory under uniform tension normal to the cracks. Fourier transformations are used to reduce the boundary conditions with respect to the cracks to dual integral equations. In order to solve these equations, the displacement and the rotation at the cracks are expanded through a series of functions that are zero-valued outside the cracks. The unknown coefficients in each series are solved in order to satisfy the boundary conditions inside the cracks using the Schmidt method. The stresses are expressed in terms of infinite integrals, and the stress intensity factors can be determined using the characteristics of the integrands for an infinite value of the variable of integration. Numerical calculations are carried out for selected crack configurations, and the effect of the couple-stresses on the stress intensity factors is revealed.
