FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF A SUBSURFACE CRACK ON THE INTERFACE OF A COATED MATERIAL UNDER A MOVING COMPRESSIVE LOAD

Abstract

A subsurface crack subjected to a moving compressive load is analysed with the finite element method (FEM) considering friction on the crack surface. By comparing the FEM results with semianalytic results of the subsurface crack in a homogeneous medium, it is first verified that the present solution method gives a fairly good result. The fracture parameters for the subsurface crack on the interface of a coated material are then evaluated numerically for various cases such as different combinations of materials of the coating layer and the substrate, changes in the ratio of the length of the subsurface crack to the thickness of the coating layer and changes in the coefficient of friction on the crack surface. The effects of the combination of materials, the geometry of the subsurface crack and the coefficient of friction on the fracture parameters are discussed. The conditions for the subsurface crack to propagate along the interface or to kink out of the interface are also examined.